Nextgen

NextGen mentoring – can you help?

As you know Nextgen is a group designed for the under 35 to encourage knowledge and networking with the ultimate goal of producing talented and skilled professionals for the horticultural industry. Like any new group starting off, experience in running a group and holding meetings can be daunting and a challenge at times.

Nextgen would like to implement a Mentoring system which would give Nextgenners as a group or as individuals a go-to person for advice, ideas, protocols and just general guidance regarding the group. This is not designed to be time consuming or a hindrance at these busy times so if you think this is something that would interest you, contact Kathryn Scott on (09)416 6981 or sales@liners.co.nz

Nextgen Mission, Objectives and Structure

Nextgen Mission:
Nextgen NZ exists to encourage participation and nurture professional development of young nursery and garden industry professionals, by providing unique networking and career development opportunities. The group aims to encourage a sense of ownership of the industry through comradeship and mentorship with the ultimate goal of producing talented and skilled professionals with a long term commitment to the industry.

Nextgen Objectives:

To produce a bi monthly newsletter keeping members informed of industry events and group initiatives.
Encourage members to contribute to the newsletter.
Hold three - four meetings/ social occasions per year which provide opportunity for networking, mentorship, industry involvement, access to key industry players and have fun.
Ensure the young people of the industry have a voice.
Promote exciting careers and career paths within the industry and pathways to take to achieve career goals.
To ensure the New Zealand horticultural industry will maintain its reputation as a world leader with innovative and knowledgeable young staff and business leaders
Work closely with other Nextgen groups internationally to share information and provide exchange opportunities.
Encourage established members to involve themselves in other industry groups and organisations to share the groups idea’s thoughts and suggestions about how to improve the industry.

Nextgens Structure:
The group has been designed to provide an opportunity for young industry players to experience how committee’s work providing a base to establish themselves in other initiatives to help shape our industries future.

To operate as a free of charge enterprise for eligible people and avoid having a bank account or having to deal with incoming funds.
At meetings: to balance informality and fun with the serious side of achieving group goals.
All input provided voluntarily
Admin support provided by NGIA
Free or low costs events put on through sponsorship or subsidy from industry partners.

Nextgen Roles:
Chairperson:-

has an overview of the groups structure and direction coordinates yearly planning and allocations of tasks.
Creates agenda and keeps meeting discussion on track and relevant
Is responsible for communication and publicity with NGIA, commercial horrticulture and other bodies.
Liaises with potential sponsors.
Writes and arranges group emails to the membership base via NGIA support person.

Editor:-

Co-ordinates yearly planning of newsletter
Reminds and prompts members to get article in within timeframe
Proofreads, collates and compiles newsletter
Liaises with NGIA support person on Newsletter deadlines and forwards newsletter at appropriate time.
Assists with other committee roles

Secretary:-

Takes minutes at meetings and collates and disseminates to all members to keep all informed.
Manages social occasions/meetings and ensures social occasion organisational tasks are complete.
Produces thank you letters for sponsors
Assists with other committee roles

Other committee roles:

Provide copy for newsletter
Assist where possible in email discussions on relevant issues
Attend meetings