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.
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.
“Our poultry producers are great people who are in the business to put food on people’s plates. They are like fishers. They work to help others. People like that deserve a voice, and I love helping in that way,” she said.
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.
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.
MacMillan said she’s had some great career highlights, including working on interesting news stories with some of New Zealand’s great broadcasters, giving opportunities to great talent, and getting solid work done in the seafood industry with amazing people.
She added that the poultry industry was substantial and made a huge contribution to New Zealand, driven by some fabulous individuals, and she’s really looking forward to meeting more of them.
“There are lots of incredible and inspiring people in our industry. I want to call out one, and that’s Judith Mair at Zeagold, based in Dunedin. She does it all,” said MacMillan.
“Super focused, professional and generous with her time and talent. Always up for helping others and massively strategic. There are many others, of course, and that’s what makes this industry a joy to work in.”
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