The new board of directors, which will govern the activities provided for Tauranga City by Bay Venues Limited, has now been confirmed.
The appointees are Simon Clarke (chair), Julie Hardaker (deputy chair), Adam Lynch, Jeremy Curragh and Nick Lowe, who were amongst 49 people who lodged expressions of interest in the board roles. They formally take-up their positions on 1 July and join the sixth director, Gareth Wallis, Tauranga City Council General Manager: Community Services, whose appointment was confirmed last month.
Bay Venues is a Council Controlled Organisation (a company owned by Tauranga City Council) which operates a number of facilities and activities on the council’s behalf. These range from non-funded, commercially-viable activities and facilities (such as Mount Hotpools and Trustpower Baypark), to Council-funded, community wellbeing-focused assets such as halls, community centres, indoor sport facilities and swimming pools.
The decision to appoint a largely new board was taken by the Council’s commissioners on 27 April, to increase local Tauranga Moana-based representation on the Board and to provide a more-integrated governance model with a closer focus on delivering effective commercial and community outcomes.
Commission Chair Anne Tolley says the board will oversee the implementation of some key changes to Bay Venues’ operations, intended to enhance the company’s performance and sustainability. These include:
- Restructuring and simplifying the organisation’s financing and funding model to provide more transparency between rate funded activity and commercial activity; and
- Developing a clearer statement of intent and performance indicators focused on delivering desired community outcomes.
“Other focuses will include working in close collaboration with Council staff to reposition Bay Venues as an integral part of council’s operations; investigating the viability of moving community halls and community centres back under direct council management; and looking for opportunities to improve performance through shared service delivery models,” she says.
“We thank the outgoing directors for their service and commitment, in particular the interim chair, Mary-Anne Macleod.”
The new director appointments were agreed unanimously by an appointment panel consisting of Commission Chair Tolley, Commissioner Shad Rolleston and independent member, TECT Trustee Pete Blackwell.
Incoming Chair, Simon Clarke says he is delighted to be taking on the role. “Bay Venues is an extremely important organisation for
Tauranga City and I’m excited about working with my fellow directors and the Bay
Venues team to ensure our community is well-served and our assets are well-managed. I’d also like to acknowledge and thank the previous Board for their contribution to our city.”
Director profiles
Simon Clarke is a Tauranga local and is the owner/director of Matua Governance. He brings a strong governance background to the role, which includes being the current chair of Priority One and BayTrust’s Investment Committee. Simon also has an extensive executive management background, including serving as chief executive of Meridian Energy subsidiary Arc Innovations, and senior executive roles with Trustpower Limited.
Julie Hardaker is a former Mayor of Hamilton and is the current chair of the Environment Protection Authority, a role which has seen her champion Matauranga Māori projects. Her local government background gives her an in-depth understanding of the public/private/community requirements of council-controlled organisations.
Adam Lynch is an events and tourism industry leader who brings a wealth of hands-on experience to the board. He also has a strong understanding of health and safety policies and procedures.
Jeremy Curragh is currently Managing Director of accounting firm, Findex. He is a Tauranga-based business executive whose governance career includes serving as a Super Rugby franchise director and director of netball’s Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic.
Nick Lowe brings continuity and experience as an existing Bay Venues director. He is the current Chair of Beds R Us and has acknowledged strengths in strategic analysis, organisational performance and community governance.
