DWC Welcomes New CEO As at 29 February 2016 DWC Had Total Assets of $126.3M and Equity of $110M

• Advertisement DWC Monthly Update March 2016 Financial Overview As DWC has previously indicated, the fall in the equity markets through January and February has seen a loss of investment value in excess of $1m. YTD revenue to 29 February of $5.9m is $500k below budget. Expenses remain below budget. However taking into account the District Economic Stimulus Fund (DESF) and Digital Enablement Fund which were not budgeted, at the end of February DWC had recorded a loss of $1.8m; almost $4.4m behind target. DWC welcomes new CEO As at 29 February 2016 DWC had total assets of $126.3m and equity of $110m.

DWC’s new Chief Executive, Chris Mackenzie, will start his new role on 18 May. Mr Mackenzie’s appointment was Business lunch to focus on announced by DWC Chair John Sturgeon last month. “The Trustees are delighted Chris has agreed to join DWC. He is well qualified for economic profile service the position, and has a unique knowledge of the organisation and how it operates,” says Mr How the latest economic profile data can Benje works within both the forecasting and Sturgeon. help your business will be the focus of a DWC regional teams at Infometrics and has a strong Chris Mackenzie has had a long involvement luncheon in April. awareness of how macroeconomic factors with DWC. He was the Government DWC has recently begun providing access to affect sectoral and regional outcomes. He will Appointed Trustee on the Interim West Coast Infometrics profiles, which include economic share his latest insights on the economy and its Development Trust prior to the establishment data, trends in key industries and tools to relevance to the West Coast and will introduce of DWC. In the last few years he has been measure economic impact and compare the Infometrics Economic Indicators tool that involved in the review of the Trust Deed and regions. is now available to all West Coast businesses. DWC’s ten year Strategic Plan. To help businesses make the most of this To register for these events ring DWC on He is currently working as a Senior Advisor data DWC will host events in Greymouth 03 769 7000 or email [email protected]. with the Canterbury Earthquake Recovery and Westport on 21 April with guest speaker, To access the data now, go to http://www. Authority (CERA) and will move to the West Infometrics economist, Benje Patterson. dwc.org.nz/Live/Work/Invest/2015ei.html Coast with his wife when he takes up the Chief Mr Mackenzie says he is looking forward Executive position at DWC. As well as being to working with DWC. “I have had a long involved with the implementation group of relationship with the Trust and look forward CERA, he is the Independent Chair of the to the new role. My first few months in the Horizontal Infrastructure Governance Group, job will involve driving the length of the West responsible for setting the priorities for the Coast talking to councils, business people and UpcomingEvents infrastructure rebuild. industry groups,” he says. Development West Coast Economic Profile Data with Benje Patterson 21 April Greymouth Luncheon: $25/person 12pm – 1.30pm Afternoon Tea: $10/person 21 April Westport 3.30pm – 5pm Opportunity to join Leadership Email: [email protected] or phone 03 769 7000 for more information or to register. and Governance Programme Canterbury Employers’ Chamber of Commerce (CECC) Health & Safety Changeover Training 9 May Hokitika Essential Training for Health and Safety Representatives 10 - 11 May Hokitika (Stage 1) 5 - 6 September Hokitika Advanced Training for Health and Safety Representatives 18 - 19 October Hokitika (Stage 2) Visit www.cecc.org.nz/whats-on and search “West Coast” for more information and to register. Tai Poutini Polytechnic (TPP) KiwiHost: Dealing with Difficult Customers 8 April Westport KiwiHost: Advanced Customer Service 15 April Greymouth KiwiHost: Active Listening 19 May Greymouth KiwiHost: Advanced Customer Service 17 June Westport Traffic Management and Workplace Safety Courses Various Greymouth Visit www.tpp.ac.nz or phone 0800 800 411 for more information and to register.

Some of the recent graduates: Murray Perks – Westland Milk Products, Rebecca Beaumont – Westland District Council, Michelle Blanch – Martin & Co Mitre 10, Shannon Hollis – Buller Electricity, Sonya Perkin – Westland Milk Products, Dearne Thompson and Liz Burke – Grey District Council. Time to start thinking about Businesses wanting to upskill staff in leadership Products, Grey District Council, Buller District and governance are being encouraged to get in Council, Westland District Council, Martin & Co touch with DWC. Mitre 10 Westport, Buller Holdings and Buller your business awards entry Last month 14 business people from a variety Electricity. of backgrounds graduated from the fourth West Karamea dairy farmer Paul McClintock was The 2016 West Coast Leading Light Business DWC’s Helen Wilson says the awards are Coast Leadership and Governance programme, sponsored onto the most recent programme by Excellence Awards will be celebrated at a gala the highlight of the West Coast business bringing the total number of graduates to 50 Westland Milk Products. dinner at Shantytown on Friday 14 October. calendar. people. Participants study all aspects of leadership “As a small business owner I would highly This year businesses can enter one of “This year, aside from Tourism & Hospitality and governance as part of the intensive 12 month recommend the programme and found the five categories: Large Enterprise 25+ FTEs, and Not for Profit, categories will reflect the programme. governance aspects the most valuable. DWC Medium Enterprise 10+ FTEs or Small size of the businesses rather than the individual DWC Business Support Manager Nelia Heersink deserves kudos for organising the programme and Enterprise under 10 FTEs, Tourism & sectors. Entering offers an opportunity to step says she is now working on organising a fifth people should take advantage of it if they get the Hospitality or Not for Profit. back and look at your business, and becoming programme and she would love to talk to new opportunity to take part,” he says. As in previous years, there will be a a finalist or winner boosts your company businesses keen to get involved. Past graduates have gone on to join boards of Workplace Safety Award sponsored by ACC, profile,” she says. “A couple of our founding sponsors are not West Coast and New Zealand businesses, not for and Environment Award sponsored by DOC. Entries will open in July and close at the end partipating in the next programme as most of their profit organisations and community groups. DWC is also hoping to add a Rising Star Award of August with the new entry form available senior staff have now completed the programme. DWC Chair John Sturgeon says the sponsors for businesses that have been operating for less online at leadinglight.org.nz from the This leaves room for new businesses to come on who support the programme should be than 5 years. beginning of June. board which will widen the industry base and add congratulated. “Their involvement benefits both a new dynamic to the programme,” she says. their own business and the wider community DWC launched the programme in 2011 in with dozens of graduates ready to step up into a conjunction with Westland Milk Products. This variety of governance roles on the West Coast,” DWC’s phone number has changed – it is now 03 769 7000 year participants came from Westland Milk he says.