NEXT Foundation Board Update

NEXT Foundation has today confirmed its Chairman Chris Liddell is stepping down as non-executive Chairman. Chris’ resignation follows his appointment as Assistant to the President and Director of Strategic Initiatives in the United States Administration.

NEXT director Barrie Brown, a former Partner and Head of Private Client Services at PwC will assume the role of NEXT Foundation Chair on an interim basis. Retiring First NZ Capital Chief Executive Scott St John will join the NEXT Board as a Director.

“As Founding Chair of NEXT, Chris has made an enormous contribution to launching and building NEXT Foundation over the past three years, and introducing the concept of strategic philanthropy to New Zealand,” says new NEXT Chair Barrie Brown. “Chris’ vision, energy, professionalism and integrity have set values for NEXT. His input has ensured NEXT is on track to building a legacy of excellence in the environment and education for future generations of New Zealanders. That is at the very core of NEXT’s ideals.”

Barrie Brown is an experienced Company Director. Since retiring from PwC fifteen years ago, he has held several Board positions including NEXT environmental initiatives Project Janszoon and the Rotoroa Island Trust, and was Chair of the Auckland City Mission Capital Foundation. He is Chair of private equity investor Waterman Capital, an independent trustee of the WA Stevenson Memorial Trust and a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Australia and New Zealand.

Scott St John has been Chief Executive of First NZ Capital for 15 years and is stepping down next month. He will remain a non-executive director. Scott is Chancellor of the University of Auckland, a director of Fonterra, The Fonterra Shareholders Fund, Fisher & Paykel Healthcare, and a former Chair or member of a number of Government appointed and financial industry bodies.

NEXT CEO Bill Kermode says Barrie Brown and Scott St John will ensure NEXT governance continues to be of the highest calibre, led by New Zealanders with the passion and drive to make the country better for our land and our people. He praised Chris Liddell for his contribution over the past three years to setting up NEXT and its agenda for a better New Zealand. “Chris has done an outstanding job as Founding Chair for NEXT. His strategic thinking, rigour, commitment, integrity and passion for New Zealand have set NEXT up well to make a permanent difference in education and the environment in this country. He will be sorely missed, and we wish him all the best in his new role.”

Further enquiries:-

Polly Hudson
NEXT Communication Director
Ph: 021 772 482