Mark has joined GMD as a Principal Consultant and our Primary Sector Lead. Mark is an experienced and respected leader in the sector, Mark has significant experience in policy implementation and engagement, having worked across regional government and the primary sector. Most recently, Mark worked for DairyNZ, where he led their regional and national policy projects to ensure the dairy sector, including farmers, are prepared for the impending national and regional policy changes; and challenges the sector is currently facing.

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Mark has also held leadership roles at Waikato Regional Council, where he led engagement with the primary sector and farmer-led groups around improving farming practices to enable water quality restoration. This experience has seen Mark work closely with central government Ministry for the Environment and Ministry for Primary Industries, most recently representing the dairy sector in discussions and working groups around the implementation of freshwater farm plans and intensive winter grazing regulations.

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Mark also has experience in Civil Defence, where he has been seconded into various responses, most recently as Intelligence Manager for the Waikato Civil Defence and Emergency Management Groups response to Covid-19.

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Speaking of Mark joining the GMD team, Managing Director Gavin Donald noted “the significant pressures the primary sector was under from both legislative change and consumers, making this the ideal time to broaden GMD’s advisory services offering. Mark is a highly regarded professional in this space, with experience that will be invaluable to clients old and new.”

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If Mark or the broader GMD team could be of assistance to you, drop Mark a line at mark@gmdconsultants.co.nz or Gavin at gavin@gmdconsultants.co.nz