Winepress - June 2024

Changing of the guard

Marlborough Research Centre farewells long-time CEO Gerald Hope and welcomes his successor John Patterson

BEV DOOLE

WHEN MRC chief executive Gerald Hope officially opened the new Ormond Nurseries building in Grovetown last month, it took him full circle back to the early days of his work to support the region’s primary industries.

In 1992 Gerald was tasked by the newly established Marlborough Winegrowers Research Committee to find a commercial nursery operator to set up in the region. He cold-called Ben Wickham at Ormond Nursery in Gisborne and soon had a meeting set up. Land was found at Grovetown Research Block and work began to replace the region’s phylloxera-infected vines.

This ability to see opportunities, connect people, track down research funding and drive growth for Marlborough is the key to Gerald’s success with MRC. In his 34 years at the helm MRC has expanded from the Grovetown Park campus to the Budge Street site including offices, laboratories, a new Experimental Future Vineyard and the New Zealand Wine Centre Te Pokapū Wāina o Aotearoa, a collaborative hub for education, research and innovation.

Gerald’s legacy is described by people who’ve worked with him over the past three decades:

Bernie Rowe, Chair of the MRC Trust: Gerald has played his part in promoting and supporting research and development to benefit primary producers and the wider economy. He always reminds us that Marlborough District Council funding has anchored much of the work of the Trust. Gerald is a person we hold in such high regard that we confidently gave him the freedom to work in ways that have benefited the Research Centre and the Trust.

Dr Mike Trought, Retired Principal Scientist at Plant & Food Research: Gerald managed the Trust assets, which provided limited but extremely valuable seed funding for a variety of research, including the Sauvignon Blanc programmes. His ability to demonstrate to government funders the value the industry puts on the research played a significant part in the success of the funding applications. The Budge Street campus required a rapid development of concept to funding application. The New Zealand Wine Centre is also the result of funding becoming available, applications being submitted, and work undertaken

Paul Millen, Project Manager NZ Dryland Forests Innovation: Gerald was an early and enthusiastic supporter of our research programme to grow durable hardwood for vineyard posts. MRC provided seed funding and took a leadership role in establishing the NZDFI and continues to administer our research projects. We now have forests being planted in durable eucalypts, thanks to Gerald’s support. He’s a great communicator, always available to meet VIPS to explain what MRC is doing and promoting the work and capability of the centre.

Dr Murray Broom, CEO of DNAiTECH: DNAiTECH started in our home garage but to secure grants we really needed a proper laboratory environment. I met with Gerald about finding lab space on MRC’s Grovetown campus. Gerald was incredibly generous, we had rent-free for a period which was just the boost we needed. We are very grateful for Gerald’s belief in the potential of our company and I’m sure we’re not the only ones who feel this way.

Jo Grigg, Chair of the Marlborough Environment Awards Trust: MRC is a long-term sponsor of the Marlborough Environment Awards. Gerald always attends the Awards Event and flies the flag for MRC (literally, one year he put their banner up the front in prime position!) When Gerald presents the Supreme Award he always takes the opportunity to raise awareness of the work of the MRC. He is ambitious in his thinking, which we need in a small community.

Marcus Pickens, Wine Marlborough General Manager: MRC in Budge Street has been home to Wine Marlborough for many years and Gerald and the Trust’s continued development of the site has been truly visionary. The New Zealand Wine Centre is a centrepiece for collaboration, and external funders such as Kānoa, the Regional Economic Development & Investment Unit, have backed a winner.

John Patterson, left, and Gerald Hope have worked together on MRC projects promptly. Much of these projects’ success can be attributed to Gerald.