Avocado New Zealand CEO steps down

After 12 years at the helm of the NZ Avocado Growers’ Association, Jen Scoular is stepping down.

“Jen has served us tirelessly over the past 12 years and her achievements along the way are many. When Jen took up the role after a four year term as a trade diplomat in Hamburg, Germany, our industry was struggling and lacked engagement, communication and systems, which gave Jen a lot to focus on,” says the association’s chair Linda Flegg.

“Under her leadership industry value has increased from $82m in 20112012 to $231m in 2021, and the New Zealand market value from $19m to $62m in 2021-2022.

“During her tenure the industry successfully achieved market access for avocados into both the China and India market, joined the biosecurity partnership with the government and achieved the rst horticulture primary growth partnership in 2014, which nished in December 2022.

“ e successful primary growth partnership, with Crown investment allowed real change in how the industry operated, with strong external investment across a number of areas, where investment from grower levies alone was not enough to make the required change.” e PGP required the industry to put together a ve-year plan, and later a business plan to extend the programme and funding for a further three years. ose strategic plans were reviewed and approved by an independent panel of experts, and the PGP itself had a MPI/industry steering group with an independent chair. at external, independent contribution to the strategy and governance of our sector provided additional, independent thinking, and ensured the plan optimised delivery for the industry.

“She has left a legacy that will require some big shoes to ll.”