Linda Sanders

Phone: 027 471 5593 Email: linda.sanders@xtra.co.nz

Relevant experience

Extensive stakeholder management – including political, iwi, environmental groups, media, industry, communities of interest etc.

Developed suite of communications and stakeholder management for a start-up company operating in a controversial area.

Senior leadership experience in public and private sectors. Worked in government in senior leadership - communications manager at Department

of Building and Housing in its start-phase, bringing together three organisations. Worked on Budget cycle communications for Justice (courts roll out project) and a range

of initiatives with DBH. Familiar with managing Minister expectations and requirements. Extensive contact with a wide range of Government entities from a customer

perspective as a corporate and through involvement with community organisations in the health and education sectors (as a trustee) - useful in assessing public response.

Extensive communications, media and people management experience. Board governance experience with a range of commercial and community organisations. Knowledge of financial/investor markets and extensive investor relations experience in

New Zealand and internationally. Knowledge of government process, media, telecommunications, building, health,

education, mining and resources, communications and consulting sectors.

Key strengths

Strong media and issues management skills Strong analytical and commercial focus. Managed significant budgets. Able to work across all levels of an organisation. Expert verbal and written communication skills. Strong networks in a wide range of sectors. Lateral and original thinker who understands big picture. Empathetic, good listener and with a community/stakeholder focus.

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Summary of relevant experience:

Corporate Affairs Director, Director, Chair of Chatham Rock Phosphate 2008 - present Developed full programme of corporate, investor and stakeholder relations for start-up

seabed mining company, all media and investor communications, annual reports, website, promotional literature, advertising, events etc.

Previously chair of board, which included two international directors. Maintained information flows between board and management (mostly consultant experts).

Gained respect of opponents - e.g. Environmental Defence Society said in media release “We acknowledge that Chatham Rock Phosphate principals have put an enormous amount of effort into this project and to give credit where it is due, the level of interaction and consultation with us has been exemplary.”

Department of Building and Housing: Recruited and managed team of 10, plus contract and consulting staff during challenging

establishment phase - Department had huge work programme in politically sensitive area

Developed organisational systems and policies Built and managed complex relationships with Government Ministers and senior

managers of partner organisations. Part of senior leadership team.

Consulting: Ministry of Justice - coordinated major communications initiative for Budget 2005 Department of Child Youth and Family Services - managed media relations at a time of

crisis, involving sensitive handling issues relating to life-threatening situations under considerable time and other pressures and in a hostile media environment

Immigration - communications for business immigration programme Community – designed and managed stakeholder and media programme for large

community health project

Summary of key roles:

2008 - Present Corporate Affairs Director - Chatham Rock Phosphate (from 2008)Director – Aorere Resources (from 1988)

2012 - 2014 Money columnist – The Listener (from 2012) 2007 - 2010 Consulting and community projects2005 - 2007 Communications Manager - Department Building and Housing 2003 - 2005 Consulting 2001 - 2003 Public Relations and Sponsorship Manager - Telecom Mobile1996 - 2001 National Media Relations Manager, Shareholder Communications

Manager - Telecom New Zealand1992 - 1996 Business Editor - Evening Post1989 - 1992 Senior Consultant and General Manager - Baldwin Boyle Barnett1980 - 1989 Economics Editor, Deputy Business Editor - The Dominion1976 - 1980 Reporting roles on provincial and community newspapers

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Other current roles

Chair, Director Aorere Resources (previously Widespread Portfolios) 1989 - present Chaired Aorere/Widespread for 22 years (10 as listed company) - stepped aside for

independent chair, remain a director Venture capital investor in mining projects ranging from developing a nickel mine in

Vietnam to green-fields exploration in China and a shareholding in CRP

Chair of the Golden Bay Workcentre Trust 2007- present District’s tertiary education and training provider providing literacy, computer and

information technology, land-based skills, youth training and sponsoring community development projects

Trustee Golden Bay Community Health Te Hauroa O Mohua Trust 2010 - present On steering group since 2009 to integrate health services in Golden Bay (community

hospital, medical centre and rest home) Co-developed detailed business case to ensure project viability Devised intensive stakeholder programme to achieve community buy-in, including major

fund-raising effort (raised $1 million by community of 5000 people) Trustee since 2010 of trust owning $9 million facility - overseeing construction,

financing and fundraising

Previous career roles

Money Columnist The Listener 2012 - 2014 Weekly Money column drew on 30-plus years of experience as financial journalist and

editor, senior manager and director

Consulting roles 2007 - 2010 Department of Immigration, Telecom, aviation company, community projects

Department of Building and Housing - Communications Manager 2005 - 2007 Recruited and managed team of 10, plus contract and consulting staff during challenging

establishment phase - Department had huge work programme in politically sensitive area

Developed organisational systems and policies Built and managed complex relationships with Government Ministers and senior

managers of partner organisations. Part of senior leadership team

Public Relations Consultant 2003 - 2005 Ministry of Justice - coordinated major communications initiative regarding Budget 2005 Department of Child Youth and Family Services - managed media relations at a time of

crisis, involving sensitive handling issues relating to life-threatening situations under considerable time and other pressures and in a hostile media environment

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Telecom - stakeholder management involving contentious issue at annual shareholders meeting - preparation of directors and close coordination of large team

Telecom New Zealand Public Relations Manager - Mobile 2001 - 2003 Member of Telecom Mobile’s senior management team managing communications

strategy Led communications relating to launch of Mobile’s 027 CDMA network and new brand Responsible for sponsorship and brand initiatives, issues management, public relations

and strategic communications planning

Telecom National Media Relations and Shareholder Communications Manager 1996 - 2001 Telecom’s primary media spokesperson, working closely with chief executives Sir

Roderick Deane and Theresa Gattung, chairman, board, senior leadership Member of Corporate Communications management team which led 50 staff Built strong media team, managed budgets and projects Focus on building positive profile, managing issues ranging from corporate

restructurings to customer service, new technologies, financial and corporate events Thrived in ongoing change management environment

Evening Post Business Editor 1992 – 1996 Initiated makeover of look and content of business pages, planned and oversaw new

design, refocused content to be more reader-friendly with personal finance local business interest and managed a team of journalists

Baldwin Boyle Barnett Senior Consultant and General Manager 1989 – 1992 Account manager for Bank of New Zealand (Bank used consultancy as its in-house

communications resource) during period of financial crisis Managed financial announcements, executive speeches, media relations, major people-

culture change, industrial issues and launch of the Kiwi Recovery Trust Account manager for AMP, media and financial communications

Dominion/Sunday Star Times Deputy Business Editor and Economics Edito 1980 – 1989 Wrote weekly analytical column and features, daily business and economics news News-edited up to 16 business news pages a day, plus Sunday Star Times business pages Co-managed team of 10. Worked with and trained some of New Zealand’s best

journalists Received awards for analytical writing

Relevant Education and Courses

Completed Mentoring for Diversity programme (to promote women as directors on large boards) through Institute of Directors 2013

Completed Governance Development Programme through Institute of Directors 2013 Regular Media Training, Speech/Presentation Training, Crisis/Issues Management

Training Range of management training including Advanced Dynamics leadership programme

2005-6 and earlier programmes at Telecom

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Creative Writing – Massey University 2004 Measuring the Value of PR 2002 Corporate Responsibility 2001 Year 2000 Preparedness Training Investigative Journalism – Open Polytechnic 1994 Investment Analysis – Otago University 1986 Diploma in Journalism, Wellington Polytechnic 1976

Awards

Asia 2000 journalism travel award to India 1996 Westpac Economic and Financial Journalism Award 1986 NZI Finance Journalism Award 1985 Japanese Government goodwill travel award 1983

Professional groups

Institute of Directors Straterra International Association of Business Communicators

Past Community Involvement Secretary Takaka Golf Club (2007 – 2012) Trustee Golden Bay Community Gardens Trust (2004 – 2009)

Referees

Suzanne Pollard, Brent Anderson, Mark Verbiest, Colin Beyer

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