With a background of private and public sector leadership and governance experience, I am a highly organised and articulate person with strengths in relationship management and communication. My peers describe me as reliable, trustworthy and resourceful. I address problems through collaborative relationships and a balance of creativity and common sense. My first career in turf management spanned 22 years culminating at Abu Dhabi International Golf Club, in the United Arab Emirates, where I managed a team of up to 37 staff of varied ethnicity. Whilst maintaining a practical, hands-on approach to my work, I developed skills in planning, staff management, resource management, problem solving and project management. Since joining the public sector in 1997, I have taken on many ambiguous challenges and gained a wide range of experience dealing with senior ministers, chief executives, local government, governance groups, iwi advisors and community stakeholders. I balance work time developing our 4 ha block in Okuku, North Canterbury with my wife, looking after our dogs, cats and goats and getting in plenty of adventure motorcycling.