New Zealand Trade and Enterprise – Chair

About New Zealand Trade and Enterprise

As the Government’s international business development agency, NZTE’s purpose is to grow companies internationally — bigger, better, faster — for the benefit of New Zealand. NZTE works to increase New Zealand companies’ international success by helping them boost their global reach and build capability, as well as attracting investment that benefits New Zealand. It does this using its knowledge and international connections. For more information about NZTE and the Board see their website.

New Zealand Trade and Enterprise(external link) – nzte.govt.nz

NZTE as a Crown entity

NZTE is a Crown agent under the Crown Entities Act 2004. The Crown Entities Act provides a framework for Crown entity governance and accountability, including responsibilities of board members, disclosure of interests, and the roles of Ministers. As a Crown agent, NZTE can be directed to give effect to government policy that relates to the entity’s functions and objectives.

The Minister for Economic Development and the Minister for Trade are the responsible Ministers for NZTE.

Board membership

The NZTE Board has a strategic management function and is not expected to conduct the day-to-day affairs of NZTE. The Board’s role is to focus on the critical strategic and operational issues by which the overall success of NZTE in achieving its objectives will be measured.

Role of the Chair

The Public Service Commission’s guidance sets out that a Crown entity Chair should:

• Provide effective leadership and direction to the board and entity, consistent with the purpose of the entity and Ministers’ expectations.
• Chair board meetings, including:
  • setting the annual board agenda and ensuring there is sufficient time to cover issues, ensuring the board receives the information it needs and that contributions are made by all board members and assisting discussions towards the emergence of a consensus view and summing up so that everyone understands what has been agreed.
• Ensure effective accountability and governance of the entity, consistent with the requirements of relevant legislation, including the Crown Entities Act.
• Develop and maintain sound relationships with Ministers and their advisors including:
  • leading any formal entity discussions with Ministers, particularly on budget and planning cycles, including the Statement of Intent and Letter of Expectations
  • signing off on formal governance documents (Statement of Intent, Annual Report, others), generally in conjunction with the Deputy Chairperson (if appointed)
  • acting as spokesperson for the board to ensure that Ministers and other key stakeholders are aware of the board's views and activities, and that Ministers' views are communicated to the board
  • ensuring that the Ministers are kept informed under the 'no surprises' obligations.
• Act as the leader of the entity, including presenting the entity's objectives and strategies to the public. Represent the entity to government and stakeholders, including attending any select committee appearance by the entity.
• Ensure appropriate policies and structures are in place to support the board, including processes in accordance with Schedule 5 (Appointment of chairperson, etc, and board procedure for statutory entities) of the Crown Entities Act.
• Take the lead in providing comprehensive tailored induction for new board members.
• Ensure that the development needs of individual board members are identified and addressed and, where necessary, dealing with underperformance by board members.
• Ensure that regular performance evaluations are conducted of the board as a whole, as well as of the chairperson and members individually.
• Participate in the recruitment process for new board members. This is likely to include maintaining a view on the desired composition of the board, considering succession planning for members and Chairperson and supporting Ministers and monitoring departments in appointing and reappointing board members.
• Oversee the employment of the Chief Executive, including considering succession planning, and organising induction for a new Chief Executive.
• Provide guidance and support to the Chief Executive to ensure the entity is managed effectively. This includes establishing and maintaining an effective working relationship with the Chief Executive while also taking an independent view to challenge and test management thinking.
• Represent the board in formal assessments of the Chief Executive's performance and in the required discussions with the Public Service Commission with respect to Chief Executive terms and conditions at time of appointment and performance reviews.
• Ensure that appropriate interest registers are in place, in accordance with the Crown Entities Act, and that members' conflicts of interest (including those of the Chair) are dealt with appropriately.

Note: where the Chair is unavailable, absent or conflicted, the Deputy Chair (if appointed) will fulfil the role. A Chairperson may also delegate various roles at times, for example to another board member.

NZTE Board responsibilities:

• setting and monitoring the strategic direction of NZTE
• setting the culture and tone of NZTE as an organisation
• taking decisions that it has reserved for itself under the delegations policy
• appointing a Chief Executive
• monitoring the performance of NZTE and its Chief Executive
• maintaining appropriate relationships with the Ministers, Parliament, the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, and the public
• ensuring the entity has financial sustainability and manages risk appropriately
• complying with the New Zealand Trade and Enterprise Act 2003, the Crown Entities Act, and other relevant legislation.
• the Chair is required to advise the Minister via MBIE of any interests that they have, or are likely to have, in matters relating to the entity, and of any new interests which may arise during their term.

Collective and individual duties of Board members

The collective duties of Board members are to ensure the Board’s functions are performed efficiently, effectively and consistently in the spirit of the public service, and in a financially responsible manner.

The individual duties of Board members are:

• to act with honesty and integrity
• to act in good faith and not at the expense of the entity’s interests
• to act with reasonable care, due diligence and skill
• not to disclose, or make use of information that would otherwise not be available to them.

Further information on the relationships between Crown entities, Ministers, and departments can be found at It Takes Three: Operating Expectations Framework for Statutory Crown Entities(external link).

Board members’ term of appointment

Members are appointed for terms of up to three years. Board members continue in office despite the expiry of their term until they are reappointed, their successor is appointed, or the member is informed that they are not to be reappointed and that no successor is to be appointed at that time.

Members of the NZTE Board may resign by written notice to the responsible Ministers. The responsible Ministers may, at any time and entirely at their discretion, remove any members of the Board. This removal must be made by written notice.

Remuneration and meetings

The current remuneration for an NZTE Board Chair is $56,000 per year.

The Board member positions are part-time. Full Board meetings are held bimonthly, or as otherwise required, including at least one annual strategic planning meeting. In addition, Board members will also have committee responsibilities and attend additional meetings for those purposes. The expected time commitment is approximately 40 days a year.

Person specifications

We are seeking expressions of interest from experienced governors motivated to contribute to building of a more prosperous and sustainable economic future for New Zealanders with the following:

• Extensive governance experience, including prior Chair experience
• Strategic agility, vision and ambition
• The presence and experience required to act as the external face and champion of NZTE
• A genuine interest in the work of NZTE and its economic importance for New Zealand
• Proven track record in international trade and export industries
• Stakeholder and relationship management experience
• Demonstrated business and commercial acumen
• An understanding of public accountability
• The ability to understand NZTE’s role in the public policy context and broader government system

Additional skills, experience and attributes sought

• Connections to the export sector, including the primary industries or high value manufacturing
• Knowledge of the role of marketing and branding, domestically and internationally
• Strong credibility within, and extensive knowledge of, the New Zealand economy
• Financial acumen, including assessing value for money and experience evaluating investment opportunities
• Past experience successfully leading organisations through change.

Applicants must have the legal right to work in New Zealand.

Additional information

For further enquiries about the position, email: boardappointments@mbie.govt.nz