Regional Forum chair announced
25 July 2019
At the public session of the Regional Forum tonight (Thursday 25 July), Environment Southland chairman Nicol Horrell and Te Ao Marama board chairman Don Mowat announced that the elected chair of the Regional Forum is Fiona Smith. Working alongside her will be deputy chair Phil Morrison.
The Regional Forum is made up of 15 individuals, chosen for their skills, experience, knowledge and passion for Southland. The forum will advise Environment Southland on how to achieve the communities’ aspirations for freshwater. Members of the forum will consider the specific policies and rules as well as the on-ground initiatives required to make change and improve Southland’s water and land for generations to come.
Newly elected chair Fiona Smith lives in Winton with her family and works at AB Lime looking after their compliance and environmental management.
Fiona initially put her name forward for the Regional Forum because she felt that she wanted to have meaningful input into a process around water rather than criticise. “It was an opportunity for me to use the skills that I have and the interests that I have to be able to contribute to something that I believe in.”
Coming from a science background and with her previous chairmanship experience, Fiona thinks she is in a good position to understand the issues and challenges, and lead this forum. She can look at the science, the social requirements and needs of our communities, and the need for change in a particular type of way.
Fiona says she hopes her calm, balanced approached, and her ability to listen and put herself in other people’s points of view will be reflected in her ability to chair the forum.
The Invercargill workshop (25-26 July) is the fourth for the forum. It completes phase one of their journey, which focused on sharing their knowledge, learning about the region and coming together as a group. The forum will meet regularly over the next 2-3 years, and there will be opportunities for the public to engage along the way.
