Move follows retirement of long-serving Professor Bob Buckle
The Reserve Bank of New Zealand’s Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) will have a new face at the table from October, with agribusiness executive Hayley Gourley (pictured) confirmed to begin a four-year term.
She replaces Professor Bob Buckle, who steps down at the end of September after serving since the MPC was first formed in 2019. Her appointment was announced by Finance Minister Nicola Willis following a recommendation from the RBNZ Board. The committee will see her take part in its October review.
Gourley has more than 20 years of experience in agribusiness, both in New Zealand and overseas. Most recently, she was agri divisional manager at Skellerup Industries from 2019 to 2023. Before that, she spent 17 years at Rabobank in a variety of roles, including general manager of country banking New Zealand, director of dairy research, and senior credit analyst in London.
“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,” RBNZ Board deputy chair Rodger 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.”
Alongside executive roles, she has served as a non-executive director at Seeka Limited and Landcorp Farming Ltd. Academically, she holds a Master of Science in Agricultural Economics from the University of London/Imperial College, has studied at the London Business School through the Rabobank senior leadership programme, and earned a Bachelor of Applied Economics in Agricultural Economics from Massey University.
