Media release – immediate circulation
20 April 2020
New Trustee joins Waitomo Energy Services Customer Trust representing major customers
Waitomo Energy Services Customer Trust (WESCT) is delighted to welcome Cathy Prendergast as an elected “B” Trustee by the major beneficial customers.
Mrs. Prendergast was elected on the 12th March prior to the level 4 lockdown. Since then she has had to hit the ground running, having already attended her first Trustee meeting via Zoom. The Trust has two such “B” Trustees with Peter Keeling (WESCT Chairperson) as the other.
“We are delighted to welcome Cathy as a Trustee, she brings years of business experience, strong commitment and a real energy to the role of beneficiary representation,” says Keeling.
Prendergast hails from the Arohena district which is tucked into the northeastern corner of The Lines Company (TLC) and WESCT area. Having lived in Arohena for most of her life and run the family farming business there with husband Nick for 35 years, Prendergast has a strong affinity for Arohena and the King Country.
Along with the decades of business experience and service within the community that Mrs. Prendergast brings to the role, she has also attained an MBA from Waikato University. Mrs Prendergast says the experience of attaining her MBA has assisted in broadening her understanding on disruptive technology practices and the value of relationship building as a way to effect change.
Mrs Prendergast has experienced first-hand the value TLC adds to their business as the family farm has been with the Waitomo Electric power Board (as it was then) since it brought electricity to Arohena in 1955. Prendergast sees TLC as being both a key economic enabler and a fundamental inter-generational asset for the community,
“TLC has a challenging mandate to balance the demands of building and maintaining its asset base, as well as having a sustainable future and providing a return on its assets for its beneficiaries. The Trust’s key purpose is to represent its beneficiaries,”
With that in mind Mrs Prendergast said it was an easy decision to become involved as a trustee.
Elections for 3 “A” Trustees will be held by postal vote in September 2020 with all beneficial customers eligible to vote.