Chamber welcomes new board member

The Waikato Chamber of Commerce welcomes a new board member Caroline Batley, while Peter Nation and Emily Zhang have been re-elected.

They join current board members Senga Allen, Jason Cargo, TJ Asiata, Tracey Clark, Andrew Boyd and Quinton De Bruin who weren’t up for re-election this year.

The chamber board had three positions available. Peter Nation, Phil Monahan and Emily Zhang being at the end of their three-year term were standing again for re-election and were automatically nominated.

In addition to Peter, Phil, and Emily’s nominations, there were four other nominations: Caroline Batley, Grant Coombes, Janey Haringa and Tim Pearson.

Caroline Batley has worked as a solicitor at Bell Gully and is currently a banker for ANZ. She has governance experience through Otago University academic boards, as a sheep and beef farm trustee, president of Auckland Young Professionals, and committee member for Seddon Cricket Club and Waikato Women’s Fund.

Peter Nation has been on the chamber board for three years, and is currently CEO at NZ National Fieldays Society Inc.

Emily Zhang has 12 years’ banking experience, is a founder of several businesses and has also been on the chamber board for three years.

The chamber extends its appreciation to Phil Monahan for his three years of service on the board, and all those that stood this year.

Chamber chief executive Don Good says he was encouraged by the high standard of business people who had put their names forward for election.

“The competition for places and the quality of the candidates this year is validation of the strong position the chamber is in.

“Despite the disruptions by Covid, the chamber has managed to successfully hold a twice-delayed Waikato Business Awards, the first standalone Hall of Fame and dozens of other events for members.

“The chamber is in good heart, with good people, strong finances and a large body of work ahead to support out members and improve their prosperity. And to top it off we have a board comprised of highly competent people who each bring their own unique skillset to the table and, collectively, they will help the chamber to build on our success in the coming year.”