NZ China Council names former Consul General as Executive Director

The New Zealand China Council has appointed Rachel Maidment as its new Executive Director.

A fluent Mandarin speaker, Maidment was previously Consul General in Guangzhou, New Zealand’s senior government representative for Southern China. Maidment has also served in legal and policy roles for MFAT in Beijing, Taipei and New York.

Chairman Sir Don McKinnon says Maidment brings an outstanding skill set, knowledge and experience to her new role at the New Zealand China Council.

“Ms Maidment is a highly capable operator with over ten years of experience advancing the bilateral relationship.  She is a skilled diplomat, networker and entrepreneur and these qualities will be a real asset to the work of the Council,” Sir Don says.

Maidment also has extensive private sector experience, previously founding a consultancy which provided services and facilitated business opportunities for New Zealand companies, government agencies and Māori entities in Asia.

“Ms Maidment’s China savviness, Mandarin proficiency and strong networks across the private sector, government and Māori economy will be of huge benefit to the Council, and to the strength of the relationship as a whole,” Sir Don says.

The New Zealand China Council is a New Zealand-led, New Zealand-funded organisation which acts as a cross-sector, peak body for the New Zealand-China relationship.  In December, a new governance and membership structure was introduced to improve the Council’s operational effectiveness and enhance the diversity of its membership.