Beekeepers on the rise in NZ, while varroa threat lessons

Picture by Tim Cuff 021 110 5786 - 11 December 2009 - track maintenance and building at the Brook Waimarama Sanctuary, Nelson

New Zealand is positioned to take a lead on global environmental issues, according to former Microsoft CFO Chris Liddell who is addressing business leaders in Nelson this week.Liddell is speaking to the Institute of Directors on Wednesday night, as the guest of the Brook Waimarama Sanctuary.

He has an impressive CV that includes a Bachelor of Engineering (Hons) from Auckland followed by Master of Philosophy from Oxford. He was recently vice chairman and CFO of General Motors. Previously he was CFO of Microsoft, CFO of International Paper and CEO of Carter Holt Harvey. He was also the former chairman of Project Crimson, a director of the New Zealand Rugby Union and a trustee of the New Zealand Sports Foundation.  He is currently involved in a number of philanthropic projects in New Zealand and is a trustee of the New Zealand Institute.

Liddell says people tend to overestimate the short term impact of trends and underestimate the long term impact.

“In the long term it is clear that environmental issues will be a significant threat to both global growth andhuman wellbeing, he says.

“They will also however be an opportunity for some countries to take, and benefit from, a leadership position. New Zealand could be, and should be, one of those countries.”

Hudson Dodd, recently appointed GM of the Brook Waimarama Sanctuary Trust, says having Liddell speak to the Institute of Directors and other business leaders in Nelson is a great opportunity for them and for The Brook Sanctuary project.

“We are ramping up our public profile as part of our capital fund raising campaign for funds to build a 14km pest-proof fence around the sanctuary watershed,” he said.

“Chris Liddell is an inspiring Kiwi, a prominent corporate figurehead, a philanthropist, and a conservationist who can see a strong role for New Zealand as we deal with the issues facing the planet.”

The talk on Wednesday night is only open to members and offered to the Institute of Directors, with pre-registration required and available through their web site: www.iod.org.nz. $5 from each registration fee will be donated to The Brook Waimarama Sanctuary Trust.

Tags: Waimarama