Rebecca Keoghan will become the first woman Chair of the Fire and Emergency New Zealand Board, Internal Affairs Minister Jan Tinetti announced today.
“Ms Keoghan is currently the Board’s Deputy Chair – I am confident her mix of skills and experience is going to be an asset to the Board,” Minister Tinetti said.
“She has a sound understanding of rural volunteering and emergency services, brings specialist skills in health and safety, governance, risk management and culture change, and will provide some continuity for the Board.”
Ms Keoghan was appointed Deputy Chair of the Board for a three-year term in June 2019. She has approximately 10 years’ experience as a company director with a health and safety focus and last year was recognised as a rural woman of influence. In 2016 she was Fonterra’s Dairy Woman of the Year and also received a New Zealand Order of Merit for services to business in 2017.
The Minister also announced today that Wendie Harvey and Malcolm Inglis have been reappointed to the Board.
She said Ms Harvey had made significant contributions in her first three years on the Board, where her background in law, advocacy and employment relations provided important insight as the Chair of two sub-committees.
“Mr Inglis has taken the lead on a number of complex financial matters for Fire and Emergency, including Chairing the Risk and Assurance subcommittee and providing advice and guidance on the fiscal implications of COVID-19.”
“I want to also acknowledge and thank members of the Board who will be leaving at the end of this term,” Ms Tinetti said.
“Hon Paul Swain has been Board Chair for five years and has overseen significant change to the Board and to FENZ.
“He led the independent Fire Service Review in 2012 which resulted in reform of the fire service. He has overseen substantial, and immensely positive, change in the organisation as a result, and leaves it in a good space to continue to grow and thrive.
“Te Arohanui Cook will also be leaving the Board at the end of this term. She has an extensive history with the Fire Service in New Zealand and has worked with local councils in a regulatory capacity with regard to the health, safety and wellbeing of the community,” Minister Tinetti said.
A separate appointments process is currently underway to fill the remaining two Board positions by late August this year.
