Who is the trust?

Trustees

Chrissy Pedersen
Chair Rural Communities Trust

Chrissy farms, in partnership with her husband, an 1850 acre farm with 1400 cows plus beef finishing and cropping. She is a Director and Administrator of Ballahooley Farming Ltd, which employs seven full time as well as seasonal staff.

Chrissy qualified as a Diagnostic Radiographer at Palmerston North Hospital and has spent 30 years working in a variety of roles within the radiography sector.

In the mid-90's Chrissy qualified in Magnetic Resonance Imaging at UNITEC Auckland which led to her working in Palmerston North's newly constructed Central MRI unit as a Team Leader. She resigned from this position in 2003. Chrissy has four adult children.

Don Nicolson
Federated Farmers of New Zealand Representative

Don farms 212 ha consisting of sheep, deer and forestry at Waimatua, Southland. Don Nicolson elected the President of Federated Farmers of New Zealand in June 2008.

Prior to this, Don served on the National Board of Federated Farmers from 2003, and was President of Federated Farmers Southland for three years.

In 2006 Don was appointed the Federation's representative on the ACC Stakeholder Reference Group and has held the position of Chairman of Local Government Forum since 2004.

Don was elected in 1999 as a Trustee to the Southland Electric Power Supply Consumer Trust. Don is married with two daughters.

Charles (Charlie) Graham
National Bank of New Zealand
Elected Trustee

Charlie completed a Bachelor of Agricultural Science at Massey University before joining The Rural Bank. When The National Bank acquired The Rural Bank in 1992, Charlie became the Northern Area Manager.

In 1996 Charlie was appointed General Manager of Rural Banking for The National Bank. Formerly a Registered Valuer and a member of the New Zealand Property Institute, Charlie is a former member of the New Zealand Society of Farm Management. He is married with four children.

Rebecca Wilson
Transpower New Zealand Limited
Elected Trustee

Rebecca is Transpower New Zealand's Communications Manager based in Wellington. Her role involves managing corporate communications, community relations programmes and media relations.

Prior to joining Transpower in November 2006, Rebecca held a number of communication roles within the public and private sector including Transit New Zealand and Awaroa Partners Limited, a PR consultancy. Rebecca has also been involved as a freelance PR consultant to a number of sporting organisations.

Margaret Chapman
Rural Woman New Zealand Representative

Margaret farms in partnership with her husband a 500ha sheep and beef farm at Kakahu, 15 km out of Geraldine in South Canterbury. She has two adult sons, both involved in the farming business.

Margaret is currently the National President of Rural Women New Zealand. Between 2001 and 2007 she was a member of the National Council of RWNZ representing the Canterbury region.

With a teaching background, Margaret has a deep interest in education and the provision and access of quality education opportunities for all who live and work in rural communities. She is a member of Meat & Wool New Zealand Skills and Mentor Group.

Margaret is also a Director of Access Homehealth Ltd and a Trustee on the New Zealand Landcare Trust.

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