Shaun Fogarty has this month launched into his new life as Seasonal Solutions Cooperative Ltd’s CEO, just in time for the busy and challenging grape harvest season.
This is quite a career change for Shaun, who has just completed 34 years military service in the New Zealand Defence Force, his last military appointment being Defence Adviser for Australia and India.
Other senior appointments have included: Director of Strategic Engagement, Defence Attache Paris France and Belgium, Chief of Staff of the Defence Logistics Command, Commander of the New Zealand Command and Staff College, and Director Defence Communications and Media.
Born and raised in Dunedin, Shaun says,
“My wife Felicity and I have always loved Central Otago and the spirit of the people that live here.
Having spent many Christmas holidays in Central, it’s fantastic that we will now live here permanently.”
Shaun was attracted to the position of CEO, because he has always had a passion for the security and prosperity of New Zealand, with a strong focus on peace and people.
He says, “Now at Seasonal solutions I will be able to contribute to a Cooperative that supports the horticulture and viticulture industries that make a significant contribution to the prosperity of New Zealand and our Pacific partners.”
He plans to focus on ‘backpacker and RSE work force in the orchards and vineyards, our hard-working corporate team, and of course our committed shareholders whom the cooperative is formed under’.
Shaun is married to Facility, and has ‘three beautiful daughters, Hannah, Molly and Imogen and a yellow labrador.
Over his military career, he has conducted various operational deployment, including United Nations Peacekeeper duties in the former Yugoslavia, several in Timor Leste, and in the Persian Gulf and Afghanistan.
In 2000 he was appointed as a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit in recognition of his operational service and humanitarian work in Timor Leste.
He is a Fullbright Scholar, studying United States National Security Policy.
Other achievements include the planning and delivery of New Zealand’s WW100 national centenary commemorative in France and Belgium. He was also responsible for planning the 2006 dedication of the New Zealand memorial in London, where he also served as Equery to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.
Locals will be interested to know that he has had a long association with Defence Sport, particularly rugby.
He was the Deputy Chairperson of NZDF Rugby and for eight years was the Chairperson of the Royal New Zealand Navy Rugby Union. Earlier in his career he played representative rugby for the Navy and North Harbour Rugby Unions, and represented the Navy in volleyball and basketball.
He remains a serving member of the Royal New Zealand Naval Reserve at his retiring rank of Captain.
Shaun and his family have regarded Central Otago as their ‘Kiwi home’ for a while now, having had a crib in Clyde.
He says, “While I thought that the transition out of the military would be more challenging, it’s been pretty seamless.
Seasonal Solutions is such a great ‘people-focussed’ organisation.
The team here, and those new faces I’ve met so far in Central Otago, couldn’t have been more welcoming.”
