suppliers - CRT

6
PEOPLE
DIRECTORS PROFILE
PETER GOW
The Takitimu mountain range in western Southland is named after
the ancient Maori migration waka. The Ngai Tahu Deed of Settlement
places a topuni, a special recognition of
Ngai Tahu cultural, spiritual, historic and
traditional values over these mountains.
The land in the shadow of the
Takitimu’s is also very special for the
Gow family.
“The roots for our family are here
– they just love coming home,” CRT director
Peter says.
Peter and his wife Kerrie farm 1100ha
at Blackmount in western Southland, a
50/50 sheep and bull beef operation of
9500 stock units. They enjoy the mix of
farm planning and practical hands on
experience, gradually developing the land
rather than trying to make a statement.
It’s hard to imagine a more beautiful
place to farm and I comment about the
quite spectacular scenery I enjoyed on my
last trip through the area. It turns out that
Peter’s father was instrumental in getting
this road opened up through Redcliff,
paving the way for access through to
Manapouri, Te Anau and beyond.
It’s not all beer and skittles, Peter
reminds me, as he relates an anecdote about two cycle tourists he
picked up once on one of the area’s infamous northwesterly days.
“The bikes were blowing backwards before they could even get
underway,” Peter laughs.
Peter and Kerrie have four children. Daughter Janine and her
husband Rikki now live in Te Anau, a stone’s throw away, with their
daughters Grace and Lucy.
Eldest son Brendon is a civil engineer with a surveying company
in Queenstown.
Second daughter Megan was very recently married to Nathan and
they now live on the Gold Coast.
Youngest son Paul, a Lincoln graduate, currently lives in
Christchurch and is considering a move back to Blackmount.
Peter has been a director of CRT since 1995 and has a genuine
passion for the co-operative.
“I’m just delighted with the progress the
co-operative has made, and this has been
driven by all levels of the organisation from the
FarmCentres through to management, to the
board,” he says.
“It’s a great mix of farming and business
experience on the board. And while we all
look at things slightly differently, we share
the passion. It’s a diversity of opinion but with
common goals.”
He makes special mention of the
independent directors and the big contribution
they make with their external business
experience, and then talks about the focused
senior management team with its collectively
very strong abilities.
I observe that the co-operative has
achieved so much and yet it’s been done
in such a seemingly low key way. Peter
acknowledges that this is a guiding philosophy
for CRT.
“Talk about it publicly after you’ve achieved
it,” he says. It’s a philosophy that has served
CRT well, with communications directed to
the shareholders who own the company rather
than at the mass market. With the co-operative’s shareholders also
being their customers, this approach has been an effective strategy
in building understanding of where the board has been directing the
growth.
There’s still more work to do though, Peter believes. He says many
shareholders are still not aware of the full range of benefits that CRT
can deliver to them.
“The more we do for them, the more we are able to do for them,”
he says. The board and senior management need to keep the growth of
awareness as a key objective, and the business can then look forward
to ongoing organic growth which will benefit all shareholders.
Peter was on the board throughout the series of mergers that have
contributed so much to where CRT is today. It’s all about people, and
relationships and the desire to accept change, he says.
CRT’s culture is something that is very particular to the
organisation and a key competitive advantage. It must be maintained,
and Peter says that there are no signs of the culture being impacted by
the growth experienced in recent years by the co-operative.
Many shareholders are every bit as passionate about the company as
the board and the senior management and staff.
CRT CO-OPERATIVE
SOUTHLAND DIRECTOR
OPPORTUNITY
After thirteen years, Peter is reviewing his position on the board. He
believes it is time to start thinking about introducing new blood and
wants to signal this to prospective replacements in Southland.
“If there are people out there who think they’ve got a lot to
contribute to the future of CRT, then I’d encourage them to give me a
call to talk about it,” Peter says.
With two years to run on his rotation, Peter is not looking at an
immediate move, and irrespective of what happens between now and
then, shareholders would still make the decision on their choice from
all candidates come election time.
However, Peter believes that by making this announcement,
the co-operative could potentially benefit through a kind of
succession planning.
CRT chairman Don McFarlane agrees.
“It is this kind of forethought that has grown CRT to where it is
today. The selflessness of the directors on the board, and many of
those who have gone before us has made a major contribution to the
co-operative being able to position itself most effectively.”
To talk about directorship opportunities, please contact Peter Gow
on 03 225 500, or email gowbelmont@farmside.co.nz He’ll advise you
on requirements and expectations of the role, the process of director
elections and potential training opportunities.