Fiona MacMillan, Executive Director, PIANZ (Poultry Industry Association of New Zealand), was drawn to the challenge of helping people prepare for a major and potentially devastating event: the bird flu and the likely arrival of the H5N1 strain, which has had such an impact in other countries.\u00a0<\/p>\n
She confessed to liking tough challenges and helping people get through them, as well as the chance to support businesses and people through this kind of uncertainty.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cOur poultry producers are great people who are in the business to put food on people\u2019s plates.\u00a0 They are like fishers.\u00a0 They work to help others.\u00a0 People like that deserve a voice, and I love helping in that way,\u201d she said.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Before joining PIANZ, MacMillan had spent much of her career in journalism and communications, both here and overseas, in senior newsroom roles, including executive producer positions at CNBC in London, MediaWorks and TVNZ.<\/p>\n
Over time, she moved into corporate communications, holding roles at Sanford Ltd and Seafood New Zealand. Her focus has been on strategic communications, government and stakeholder relationships, and navigating complex issues. These experiences have now shaped her advocacy for the poultry industry.<\/p>\n
MacMillan said she\u2019s had some great career highlights, including working on interesting news stories with some of New Zealand\u2019s great broadcasters, giving opportunities to great talent, and getting solid work done in the seafood industry with amazing people.<\/p>\n
She added that the poultry industry was substantial and made a huge contribution to New Zealand, driven by some fabulous individuals, and she\u2019s really looking forward to meeting more of them.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere are lots of incredible and inspiring people in our industry.\u00a0 I want to call out one, and that\u2019s Judith Mair at Zeagold, based in Dunedin.\u00a0 She does it all,\u201d said MacMillan.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cSuper focused, professional and generous with her time and talent.\u00a0 Always up for helping others and massively strategic.\u00a0 There are many others, of course, and that\u2019s what makes this industry a joy to work in.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n