West Coast Local Advisory Committee - mihi mai rā.
Read more about the members of the West Coast Local Advisory Committee.
| SHOSHY PERCHIG-GIBLI (Chair) | |
 |
Shoshy has 22 years of business ownership and community experience and 13 years of working with young adults in career development. She has an in-depth understanding of the challenges and situations that communities, ākonga, educational institutions, and employers encounter. One of her key strengths is identifying barriers that impede people or projects and connecting people with the resources to succeed. Shoshy has developed excellent relationships with business people, local employers and educational institutes through community projects such as Toki Pounamu Board of Trustees, Careers and Transition Education Association NZ (CATE). |
| ANDY THOMPSON (Deputy Chair) | |
 |
After dairy farming in Nelson for 10 years, Andy moved to the West Coast to establish a family dairy farming business. In 2016 he came off the farm and took up a position with NZME as a local radio presenter of an agriculture programme broadcast on the Coast and in Southland “The Muster”. Andy was Engagement and Stakeholder Manager for the Department of Conservation (DOC) for the Papāroa Track (new Great Walk). He was also on the Westland District Council, and the founder and Managing Director for Agfest West Coast, as well as Public Information Manager – Westland for West Coast Civil Defence. |
|
TERRY DONALDSON (Member) |
|
 |
Terry is a mechanical superintendent involved in coal mining operations across Buller and Grey districts. He has substantial governance experience in the education sector and is currently a Minister-appointed member of the Barrytown School Board of Trustees. He is Chair of the Māwhera, Kahui Ako Stewardship group in the Grey District School Cluster, and previous Chair of both the Ngahere and Barrytown School Boards of Trustees. Terry was previously Senior Firefighter with the Ngahere Volunteer Fire Brigade. He was also Chair for the Greymouth SPCA Board that successfully restored the organisation to financial and operational health. |
| HEATH MILNE (Member) | |
 |
Heath is currently CEO of Development West Coast. He has had a career in international marketing and operations in the meat industry. Heath was elected New Zealand delegate and board member of the UK International Meat Traders Association and has been involved in the advocacy to the UK government and EU agencies on post Brexit arrangements for meat trade access. |
| TAANE JOHNSEN (Member) | |
 |
Taane has a background in underground mining and risk management, having worked for Solid Energy for two decades. He is currently a Business Development Manager at Westland Milk Products, Chair of the Rural Advisory Group for Adverse Events, and holds a leadership role with the West Coast Focus Farm Trust. Taane is also a volunteer firefighter with the Rūnanga Fire Brigade. |
| CHRIS REA (Member) | |
 |
For the past 16 years Chris has held the role of the Executive Director of Hokitika Automotive and more recently, ChatR Communications. He has been a volunteer firefighter for over 25 years and is a former Chair of the West Coast Rural Fire Authority and Westland High School. Chris is a member of the Institute of Directors and his governance experience also includes work for Westland Holdings, Destination Westland, Development West Coast, Tai Poutini Polytechnic and Kaniere Primary School. |
| SAM SPEIGHT (Member) | |
 |
Sam’s background is in horticulture and conservation. He has worked for the Department of Conservation and Nelmac as a Conservation Ranger, Biodiversity Ranger and Community Ranger. During that time Sam was involved in natural environment firefighting which included numerous campaign fires and three deployments to Australia. Currently, Sam works as the West Coast Catchment Coordinator with Landcare Trust and is a Fire and Emergency volunteer. |
The map below shows the area that the West Coast LAC covers
