Heather Carnegie The country's largest glbti business group has a woman president for only the second time in its three-decades long history. At this evening's AGM of the Gay Auckland Business Association Heather Carnegie displaced sitting president Skot Barnett. Her success was greeted by warm applause from the 100-plus members present and enthusiastic cheers from a table of her female friends and associates. Carnegie is a health and safety specialist with a double Masters in Management and Occupational Safety. During her time on the GABA executive committee she led the team which operated the VIP and Glamzone area at the 2014 Pride Parade. In a short address to the members before voting closed Carnegie spoke of her long membership of the organisation and her passion for building on its "success, purpose and identity." After her win was announced she said she is an "action-orientated" person who wants to "encourage collaboration" and build on the GABA calendar of events, including "some fabulous parties coming along." She told GayNZ.com daily news she wants to strengthen the organisation's community and business relationships. Asked about the cheering from many of the women present, Carnegie laughed "that's what women do!" before adding that she intends to be a president "for everyone." GABA's only other female president was Judith Thompson who served in the role fifteen years ago before going on to chair the GABA Charitable Trust. Outgoing President Skot Barnett reported that GABA is in good heart and financially sound, making its largest net profit in over five years. He highlighted the organisation's work with Outline on the 100% OK project, its support for the Rainbow Tick initiative and the ongoing success of the annual pre-Christmas charity auction.
Credit: GayNZ.com Daily News staff
First published: Wednesday, 20th August 2014 - 9:25pm