AnnuAl REPORT 10/11 - Grow Wellington

4
JOint ChaiR & CeO’s
messaGe COnt
The soon-to-open Victoria University Programme
of Computer Graphics combines innovation and
investment from across both the education and
screen sectors. Grow Wellington has worked
alongside world-class Wellington companies,
local and national Government and Victoria
University to create a programme that will be a
beacon for emerging and established digital talent
both nationally and globally. The programme will
address capability gaps for digital companies,
as well as generating graduates and connecting
more businesses to world-leading research and
development. There is significant potential for new
opportunities to emerge, resulting in high-value
commercialisation of ideas and innovation. These
opportunities will be a driving force for economic
growth within our region in the 21st century.
Our Food and Beverage programme continues to have
significant successes with the Visa Wellington On a
Plate festival, and the Sydney Pop Up restaurant WLG,
generating unprecedented levels of Australian public
and media interest in Wellington’s food and beverage
industry. These two activities continue to develop
the global perception of Wellington as the Culinary
Capital of New Zealand.
The Visa Wellington On a Plate festival moved into
its second year in 2010. With the continuing focus
being on sustainable growth for this event, the
results generated by this joint venture are already
impressive. The economic impact study undertaken
by BERL estimated total turnover for participating
restaurants was up by $1.8 million. Local suppliers
and producers involved in Visa Wellington On a Plate
have seen real benefits from the event with around
30% of participating restaurants starting to use their
products. This is expected to increase substantially
for the 2011 event as it has become a requirement
for restaurants to use and name local ingredients on
their menus.
After years of careful planning and establishing
connections, Grow Wellington was proud to see this
culminate in the announcement of Le Cordon Bleu
New Zealand Culinary Institute. This joint venture
of Le Cordon Bleu International, WelTec and Ucol is
another example of Grow Wellington’s ability to work
across sectors and organisations to generate results
that have long-term benefits for the region. Like the
Victoria University Programme of Computer Graphics,
this world-renowned culinary school will attract and
generate talent to the region that will be a key engine
for growth in this sector for years to come.
The end of the financial year has seen changes to our
Board. We say farewell to the previous Chair – Murray
McCaw and goodbye also to John Lumsden and John
McFadzean. The work the Board has undertaken will
stand the organisation in good stead for many years
to come.
Grow Wellington welcomes Anders Crofoot, Richard
Stone, Barry Brook and Karen Fifield to the Board
from 1 July 2011. The calibre of board members
both incoming and outcoming remains very high at
Grow Wellington. We feel confident that the changes
to the board will continue to ensure the success and
relevance of the organisation going forward. The
commitment to the Wellington Regional Strategy
has been made by our shareholders. There have been
many changes in Grow Wellington’s environment
demonstrating the willingness and enthusiasm of
the organisation to meet the challenges of the new
environment. Grow Wellington has been mindful
of the economic conditions it is working in and the
need to ensure investment is made under the most
optimal conditions. The $120,000 underspend for
the 2010/11 year, accumulated largely in the Clean
Technology Centre of Excellence, is indicative of
this. Overall the review of the WRS has reflected the
successes of Grow Wellington and also highlighted
the need for ongoing development of our activities.
Finally, we would like to thank the staff of Grow
Wellington. The results of their quality, hard work,
passion and skill are detailed throughout the pages of
this report. We are consistently impressed with what
the staff have brought to the organisation; they are
genuinely connected and committed to the on-going
success of businesses of this region and they are an
asset to both this organisation and the Wellington
Region itself.
Paul meRsi and niGel KiRKPatRiCK