WE ARE THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AGENCY FOR HOROWHENUA

OUR ROLE

THCL undertakes activities and projects to enable the Horowhenua NZ Trust to achieve its mission to improve the social and economic wellbeing for all of Horowhenua. We champion Horowhenua, understanding the opportunities for growth. We identify and attract investment to achieve the outcomes Horowhenua wants. THCL identifies gaps and takes action on the priorities for Horowhenua - we make stuff happen!

THCL GOALS ARE TO SUPPORT THESE OUTCOMES FOR HOROWHENUA:

Helping to ensure the Horowhenua "system" is effective, with a range of perspectives working together to achieve shared outcomes. People from all areas come together to work on solutions for the wellbeing of the region.

Encouraging a Thriving Business Community.Thriving means businesses are clear about their future aspirations and seize opportunities to achieve them. Linking businesses with opportunities.

Enabling a successful and innovative local workforce. The work force in Horowhenua is productive and proud of what they achieve. Horowhenua attracts skilled and talented workers at all levels and workers develop skills during their career, leading to higher quality of work.

Ensuring there are clear pathways and support for our young people / rangatahi via Get-Go. Ensuring there are clear pathways and support for our young people/rangatahi.

OUR PEOPLE

CATRIONA FINAU-MCKAY, CHIEF EXECUTIVECatriona is the fearless leader for THCL! She is passionate about the forward progress and development of Horowhenua as a place to do business and as a community. Catriona leads the team working with local and central government, business, communities, and iwi to realise economic growth in the Horowhenua district. With 16 years senior management background in Government focussed on large project and programme delivery, business improvement and operational leadership and a background in commercial and corporate law, she brings a huge range of experience and networks to her role as the Chief Executive for THCL. A resident in Horowhenua since 2016, Catriona’s role prior to joining THCL in July 2021 was Principal Advisor Manawatu-Whanganui for Kānoa in MBIE. She credits this work for leading her to focus on how she could make the most impact for her community through driving on the ground development projects and supporting our businesses to thrive.

MEL HANSON, PROPERTY DEVELOPMENT MANAGERExperienced in both the private sector and Local Government, Mel has the unique ability to understand the challenges from both perspectives. She is responsible for building effective relationships between Council Officers, Key Stakeholders, Architects, Engineers, Client Representatives, Contractors, and Developers. Mel brings vast experience in Construction Contracts and Project Management, in all aspects of the Building industry and is currently working on the Horowhenua Health Hub Development. She also has a highly valued network of contacts in Horowhenua.

HENDRIX WARREN, BUSINESS GROWTH MANAGERWith a background in Business Development and relationships, Hendrix engages with local businesses and helps connect them with opportunities and resources. He is an experienced professional with a demonstrated history of working in local government, automotive and financial service industries. Skilled in Marketing Management, Business Planning, Customer Relationship Management (CRM), Sales Operations, and Customer Retention. Hendrix brings strong business development focused on innovative and positive solutions and outcomes for clients.

RENEE COHEN, BUSINESS GROWTH ADVISORWith a business background and proven experience to develop new strategies to pivot direction and take on new opportunities, Renee has developed her business model to adapt to the changing business environment. In the beginning, her degree in Linguistics and French took her to Tahiti to teach English; she then went on to live in the US, in New York and Florida. Since returning to NZ in 2007, she has developed and sold businesses in Horowhenua. She brings her experience to action opportunities for growth and diversification, and develop systems for sound business practice.

VICKI TIMPSON, SENIOR MARKETING & COMMUNICATIONS ADVISORVicki has an extensive background in media and management. Prior to joining THCL, she worked for NZME a multimedia company that has print, radio and digital assets as the GM for the lower North Island regional markets. She is passionate about the Horowhenua, supporting businesses and seeing them thrive in our region. Like the rest of the team, she is based in Horowhenua and spends her spare time on her lifestyle property, gardening and competing horses.

RACHEL MASON, GET-GO OFFICE & PROJECT COORDINATORRachel keeps the office operations and our team running smoothly! Her administrative and organisational skills keep everyone on track. In her spare time Rachel is an artist, working with multimedia.

OUR BOARD MEMBERS

The Horowhenua Company Board consists of five Directors providing a wide range of experience and skill in business, governance and economic development.

BRENDAN DUFFY- CHAIRBrendan has been involved in various areas of community interest during his business career in Levin. He has held a variety of community roles including 21 years on the Horowhenua district council, 12 of those as Mayor. He held a variety of Local Govt roles including a term as Vice President of Local Govt NZ. His business career concluded after 30 years owning Canvasland, which he and his wife Sheryl sold in 2017. Brendan currently holds the role as Chair of the Local Govt Commission, chair of the Palmerston North Foundation, and a trustee of Electra Trust. In addition he has independent director and business advisory roles.

SARAH EVERTONSarah is a chartered accountant and a member of the NZ Institute of Directors with extensive experience operating at an executive level in global organisations in NZ and in the UK. Her particular expertise lies in strategy development and corporate governance where she has had expertise in all manner of running the corporate business, most recently for an investment bank. She was the Chair of a Trustee Company in the UK. She has operated as the CFO in a science research and innovation company, Financial Controller in transport services, consultant in telecommunications and was a partner in a mid-tier chartered accountancy firm. Sarah is experienced at running large scale projects around technology implementation, regulatory change, as well as disaster recovery planning and implementation. Sarah is passionate about involving herself in the strategy journey a company takes and loves to be part of a team to drive this. She particularly enjoys mentoring executives through the process

PHILIP HARPERMy experience across a wide range of business and industry sectors adds a fresh lens to problems and in doing so brings about a competitive point of difference. Having a clear understanding of all aspects of an organisation’s value chain and intimate knowledge of upstream and downstream processes makes me a committed team player. I like to surround myself with people with varied backgrounds and ideas so that they keep challenging me to perform at my best. In the late 2000's I became an accidental Social Warrior, realising that the Social Outcomes for our customers are what drove our operation ... over the last 12 years I have been working in the NFP social sector and have become a mentor and advocate for Social Enterprise. I'm finding it extremely satisfying working for organisations that deliver Social Good in their community.

CAMERON LEWISI am a fourth generation farmer in the Horowhenua. I am married to Catherine and we have three children, Addison 9, Archer 7 and Charlie 5. Day-to-day I am the Managing Director of our family farming business. We grow asparagus, strawberries as well as a pastoral operation incorporating both dairy and beef production. Our business peaks at employing around 150 people, many seasonally. Before returning to the family business in 2011, I was a rural banker for six years in Canterbury, Waikato and Manawatu. My historical governance experience was National vice chair of NZ Young Farmers and I was also the inaugural Chair of The Horowhenua NZ Trust. My current governance roles are locally based in the Horowhenua to ensure I can spend the maximum time with my young family. As well as being a director of our family businesses, I am currently on the Poroutawhao School BOT and of course am a director of The Horowhenua Company Ltd.

RON TURKMore than fifty years ago, Ron Turk and his family moved to Foxton where they founded their successful poultry business, Turk’s Poultry. Since then, Ron has helped transform a small egg business into a prosperous company employing almost 220 people - as well as raising three children. A strong believer in ethical and sustainable farming practices, Turks has been accredited as a Conscious Consumers supplier. Ron applies the same ethics to his community, with Turk’s supporting a variety of community groups and initiatives including the Foxton Rugby Club, the Horowhenua Taste Trail, Manawatu Boating Club and Rescue Helicopter.