Contact the business support team

Peter Harris has managed the Economic Development Unit since 2002. He oversees the staff and projects of the Unit, and contributes to economic development projects. Examples of projects instigated by Peter include the Student Entrepreneurship support offered to tertiary students, and Succession planning advice for business owners considering moving on from their business. Peter is a board member of the Upstart business incubator and the Economic Development Association of New Zealand (EDANZ). Prior to working with the EDU he was the Managing Director of a design-orientated company he co-founded in 1990.

Des Adamson is directly involved with the engineering and manufacturing industries, working with cluster groups and individual companies to help facilitate growth. In the past year he has also been involved with the Otago Institute of Design, which is a collaboration between the University of Otago and the Otago Polytechnic with a focus on improving design capabilities both in Otago and nationally. Des is also involved with projects that may result from oil and gas exploration in the Great South Basin.

Areas of specialisation: 

• Engineering
• Manufacturing
• Industrial Land
• Skilled Staff Attraction.

Graham Strong has been working in for the team since 2004. Graham focuses on supporting businesses and cluster development in the Primary Industries (Agriculture, Forestry, Commercial Fishing); Technology (ICT, Biotechnology, Research); Maori Business Development and Health Care sectors in the Dunedin and Otago area. With a PhD in Plant Science, Graham was doing postdoctoral crop research in the United States prior to starting in EDU. Of Ngai Tahu descent, Graham also works closely with the Maori business community.

Areas of specialisation:

• Biotechnology
• Agriculture
• Research

Ross has ten years experience in economic development in both Southland and Otago. He is heavily involved with various grant programmes that assist with research and development and is coordinator of the TechNZ and Global Expert programmes on behalf of the Foundation for Research Science and Technology (FRST).

Ross also works alongside the Food industry including acting as the coordinator of the Kitchenlink programme, a service which matches people with commercial kitchens that have "down-time" with food businesses wanting to hire a kitchen. As well as this Ross also handles enquiries relating to film activities within the Dunedin area. He is able to provide local industry contacts and assists with any Council permissions or special requirements.

Areas of specialisation:

• Film
• Small Business
• FRST

Ryan Priemus, Business Development Advisor, is the Audacious Business Coach for tertiary students at the University of Otago and Otago Polytechnic. The Audacious programme has been running since 2005 and provides mentoring, resources and contacts for students to turn their business ideas into reality. Ryan is a Chartered Accountant having previously worked at Deloitte before working overseas in Australia and London 2000-2007. Ryan works on campus meeting students, running the NBR Audacious Business Plan Competition, managing the Start-up Lounge and co-ordinating Audacious's 'Food for Thought' business networking programme.

Areas of specialisation:

• Audacious

Fi McKay brings 25 years of Social and Community Development background to her position of Settlement Support Coordinator within the EDU. This position provides assistance and support to newcomers to our city. Fi has developed the Strategic Plan for migrant settlement for Dunedin for the next 3 years and developed a website and booklet of settlement information, which is freely available. Fi is currently developing a package to assist employers as we believe they are in a key position to settle migrants and their whole families.

Sophie Barker joined the team in November 2008 in the new position of Business Development Advisor (Visitor Industry).

The new job focuses on supporting businesses within the visitor sector, and helping Council improve the visitor experience. Sophie has a wide range of experience and contacts within the industry. Her membership of the Visitor Strategy steering group during development of the strategy gives her a unique insight into how the Economic Development Unit can work alongside the industry, Tourism Dunedin and other Council departments to make a positive difference.

Ms Barker held a wide range of positions at Larnach Castle including marketing manager over the 20+ years she was involved in the family business. Since 2007, Ms Barker has been working part time for the Otago Peninsula Trust. Ms Barker was raised in Dunedin, and completed a Bachelor of Commerce at Otago University. She has also studied Tourism at the University of Hawaii

Shaz is the team's support co-ordinator. She joined the team in May 2008 after migrating from England, where she gained extensive experience in local government and event management. Key support duties include co-ordinating the external funding process as well as organising the Otago Forward Board meetings, which address economic development pan-Otago.

Deb Sutton joined the team in April 2009 in the new position of Business Development Advisor (Skills & Entrepreneurship).

The focus of Deb's role is increasing productivity and growth by helping foster, attract and retain "bright" people to work in, and lead Dunedin businesses. This includes:

Assisting businesses with targeting and attracting skilled staff; overseeing succession planning support to business owners wanting to exit their business and supporting those taking over; supporting other entrepreneurial initiatives such as Upstart, Centre for Entrepreneurship; promoting productivity via in-work training and life long learning to employers, employees and education providers; and delivery of the Student Entrepreneurship Strategy whose aim is for Dunedin to become a "magnet" for young entrepreneurial students and to keep their skills in the city on graduation.

Deb has a background in organisational development, management, training and human resources through a variety of roles at Fisher & Paykel Appliances, Drake International, Otago Polytechnic and her own consultancy business.

Deb used this business knowledge and experience to complete a Bachelor of Applied Management (Human Resources) through the Centre for Assessment of Prior Learning at Otago Polytechnic in March 2009