The Reserve Bank of New Zealand (RBNZ) has announced the appointment of agribusiness executive Hayley Gourley as the newest member of its Monetary Policy Committee (MPC).
Gourley’s four-year term begins on Oct. 1, succeeding professor Bob Buckle, who steps down at the end of September after serving as one of the MPC’s inaugural external members since 2019. She will participate in her first Monetary Policy Review next month.
The MPC is tasked with making decisions to support price stability and contribute to a sustainable economy.
Minister of Finance Nicola Willis appointed Gourley on the recommendation of the RBNZ Board.
RBNZ Board deputy chair Rodger Finlay said the committee would benefit from Gourley’s broad experience.
“We are delighted to welcome Hayley to the MPC. She is a highly qualified candidate with the appropriate knowledge, skills and experience from an extensive career in corporate, rural and financial services sectors to join the MPC and assist in its decision-making,” Finlay said.
“Her business experience at both board and executive management positions in some of New Zealand’s leading agribusinesses will add a fresh perspective to Committee discussions.”
RBNZ Governor and MPC chair Christian Hawkesby also expressed confidence in Gourley’s appointment.
“The MPC remains laser-focused on its job to control inflation and Hayley will play an important part in our discussions,” Hawkesby said.
He also thanked Buckle for his “significant service” during a challenging period. “Bob is the sole remaining inaugural external member of the MPC, starting in 2019, when the committee was first formed.”
Gourley brings more than 20 years of agribusiness and financial services experience in New Zealand and abroad.
From 2019 to 2023, she served as agri divisional manager at Skellerup Industries Limited. Prior to that, she spent 17 years at Rabobank, including as general manager of country banking New Zealand. She also held roles as director of dairy research and senior credit analyst at Rabobank London.
Currently, she is a non-executive director of Seeka Limited and has previously served on the board of Landcorp Farming Ltd.
Academically, Gourley holds a master of science in agricultural economics from the University of London/Imperial College and completed the Rabobank senior leadership programme at London Business School. She earned her bachelor of applied economics in agricultural economics from Massey University.
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