First woman CEO loves Central Otago

Leanne Mash.
Leanne Mash.
Leanne Mash got her first taste of Central Otago on a birthday trip to St Bathans initiated by her husband.

She was, she explained, ''captivated by the beauty and sheer majesty'' of the ''amazing'' region.

Now, the Australian citizen is coming back to Central Otago to help manage the district.

Ms Mash will start her new job as chief executive at the Central Otago District Council in early February, making the migration from her home country with her husband, two children, and Dalmatian dog.

At present, Ms Mash, who is ''... generation X, closer to 50 than 40'', is chief executive for the Hinchinbrook Shire Council, in Ingham, North Queensland.

She will become the first female chief executive at the Central Otago council, and said she was ''very excited'' about the move.

She believed her management and leadership skills gathered during a career in business, tourism, hospitality and local government were transferable to Central Otago.

''I grew up in Brisbane and then on the outskirts of Sydney. I graduated from Queensland Agricultural College in the late 1980s with a business degree, major in hospitality management.

"I spent the next 10 years working in tourism and hospitality."

In 1998 she began work with the Dunedin City Council in the economic development unit. She then moved to the Mackenzie Tourism and Development Board.

Ms Mash said her family had an ''absolute commitment'' to settling in Central Otago, where she and her husband intended to raise their two primary school-aged sons.

She appreciated support from her husband, who grew up in Dunedin, and is the primary caregiver for their children.

''... As a family we are very excited to be returning to Otago. I look forward to working with the mayor and councillors, staff and community to contribute to the wellbeing of the region.''

leith.huffadine@odt.co.nz

Add a Comment

 

Advertisement