“I am looking forward to working as a board member to continue the development of the Waipaoa Cadet Training Trust.
“I will also be alert to any areas where the work of the trust and the Wi Pere intern programme might share ideas for their mutual benefit.”
Mr Williams ran his own sheep and beef property at Ruatoria until he was appointed sheep and beef manager for Ingleby in New Zealand, a position he held for 10 years.
He points to the overall lack of training opportunities in New Zealand's sheep and industry.
“I have always been a major supporter of the Waipaoa Training Trust from the outside and I am now very pleased to have the opportunity to be able to contribute as a board member.”
Growing Future Farmers (GFF), a sheep and beef training initiative with which trust board member Tam Jex-Blake has been closely involved, recently received a grant from the Provincial Growth Fund for its continuing development.
“Tam has advised the Waipaoa training trust board that GFF has asked her to become interim general manager of GFF until September this year,” Mr Sherriff said.
“Tam is stepping down from the trust board until then to take on that role and we wish her success in establishing her GM role.”
Mr Sherriff said with the addition of Mr Williams and Mr Rhodes, the trust has “a well-rounded board with broad experience”.
The other board members are Phillip Colebatch and Chris Torrie.
Mr Colebatch owns the 45,000-stock-unit Te Hau Station of which the Waipaoa property has become part and on which the cadets do practical training under the supervision of station staff.
He has been a major investor in the Gisborne area over the last 11 years and has extensive experience as a board director.
Mr Torrie, a partner at BDO Gisborne, is accountant and adviser to a number of large sheep and beef properties in the Gisborne region.
All board members are volunteers.
The board meets six times a year to review operations and consider its future development.
