After three years at KVH, next week is my final week and this is my last Bulletin, as I leave the industry to take up an exciting new role as New Zealand’s Chief Biosecurity Officer at the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI).

It’s difficult to reflect on my time at KVH in a few sentences but I want to acknowledge and thank you all for the support of myself and the team.

I’ve been particularly impressed with the leadership demonstrated across the industry. Everyone is willing to tackle the big challenges and issues, while remaining focused on what is best on-orchard, for growers. Late last year we acknowledged the 10-year anniversary of Psa arriving in New Zealand and it was a real reminder that the united front and proactive biosecurity thinking shown in more recent years – with the development of the proposed Pathway Plan; Auckland fruit fly response; and Mount Maunganui stink bug find - have come about because of where the industry has been in the past and what growers have been through.

Many thanks to past and present members of the KVH team and Board too. Bulletin readers will know them well and see them often – they’re a committed group of people who I have no doubt will continue to raise the bar for biosecurity practice and preparedness into the future.

I’m not going far (physically or job wise) so please do say hello if you see me around. I’ll continue to be based in the Mount and with my MPI hat on I’ll be keenly keeping up with the continuing proactive activities of KVH and the kiwifruit industry.