Kinetic CEO
Earlier this year Alison Adams took up the reins as the Chief Executive Officer for ChristchurchNZ, charged with leading the city’s sustainable economic development. Several months into the role, Metropol editor Lynda Papesch catches up with her to see how it’s progressing.
Alison is an innovative thinker and great communicator, willing to experiment and always honing her leadership, putting fresh thinking into action, according to her LinkedIn profile. Alison is Alison Adams, aka Ali Adams, who heads one of Christchurch’s most important economic organisations.
ChristchurchNZ is the city’s sustainable economic development and city profile agency. Its purpose is to stimulate sustainable economic growth for a more prosperous Christchurch, to grow jobs, improve the economic, social and environmental competitiveness of Christchurch businesses, and promote Christchurch nationally and globally to people who want to do business, invest, study and live in the Garden City.
It’s a big ask, yet one that falls on experienced shoulders. Ali is committed to Christchurch, and, having lived in the region on and off for 20 years, considers herself to be a Cantabrian.
“What’s not to love about this city?” she enthuses, having watched it evolve during the last two decades.
“In November 2021, when we returned from four years overseas, it was striking to see how much new development had happened, especially in and around the central city.
“Riverside Market, Tūranga, the Arts Centre, and Te Pae are simply stunning, and add so much vibrancy and energy to the city for visitors and residents alike. “I wouldn’t want to live anywhere else.” UK born and bred, Ali discovered and fell in love with the “whole of the South Island” during her OE.
“My ex-husband and I made the decision to move to New Zealand while on holiday here in 2002. We stumbled across a 12-acre plot on the Banks Peninsula with a run-down 1915 villa on it, and 1500 olive trees, which we fell in love with immediately. We literally bought the place on the day we saw it,” she remembers.
Despite spending the last four years in Europe, her connection and love for Canterbury, holds strong.
“Everything is on your doorstep,” she says. “It’s small city with big energy and plenty to do. “The beach is one direction, nature walks and adventure activities in another, with ski fields a short drive away.
“I love how the central city has come to life as well. It’s walkable and there are so many beautiful greenspaces. I think Hagley Park is a real treasure. The commute to work is quick and easy too, which really helps to provide a lovely balanced lifestyle.”
Adding to the attraction, she says, is the innovation eco-system, including industry clusters such as Food Fibre and Agritech, the Antarctic and Aerospace. “The eco-system is filled with support, incubators, accelerator courses, start-up challenge events, all essential platforms to bring talent and innovations out of
the woodwork.”
ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT
Looking ahead, Ali says there is an ongoing opportunity for improvement in areas such as “placemaking”, particularly since the expanded remit of ChristchurchNZ to include Urban Development.
“Linking the central city to entertainment and sporting facilities, and I would love to see more cycle ways and public transport, so that we can reduce our reliance on parking,” she says. Learning from the example of other cities, for example Adelaide, is one key to success, especially with Te Kaha [new stadium] now greenlit for completion.
As for her favourites: “There are fantastic little pockets and secrets all over the city, whether it’s the Opawa Farmers market, The Tannery, Port Hills, Taylors Mistake, Scarborough Hill, Museum, Botanic Gardens, and the fresh, vibrant central city with Te Pae Convention centre a perfect example of a new, modern city.”
Background
Ali Adams has returned to Christchurch late last year after four years as the Regional Director, Europe, for New Zealand Trade and Enterprise, based in London. She spent the previous 15 years in Christchurch, holding significant roles with NZTE, and four years with New Zealand Cricket.
Originally from the United Kingdom, she started her business career as a brand manager for Unilever, after graduating from Cambridge University with a first-class honours degree in natural science.
