George Collier

As a founding director alongside Sharon Kirk, experienced accountant George Collier has enabled horticultural specialist Hortinvest to find a pathway to establish and develop the vision that has become Deep Creek Fruits.

A Fellow Chartered Accountant and director at ICL Chartered Accountants Limited, George instigated and fostered collaboration between Hortinvest and the sheep and beef landowners of Lindis Peaks Station and Mt Pisa Station who were working with George seeking diversification for their land use.

George has extensive experience in accountancy specialising in the rural sector, specifically matters of succession, governance and business growth. He has been recognised for making a special contribution to the accounting industry by Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand (CAANZ) through his work in agribusiness by being awarded a Fellowship.

George is a committee member of the Rural Advisory Committee for CAANZ which provides leadership and expertise to help grow and support Primary Sector Accountants and New Zealand’s rural and primary sector. His professional career highlights include being a current presenter to the Agri Women’s Development Trust, evaluator on Auckland University’s Agribusiness Growth Program in 2016 and Chairman of the Telford Farm Board of management in 2013.

George, who has a farming background, has a passion for the primary industry sector and those who work in it. He also currently sits on various school and charitable group boards.

In his Deep Creek Fruits’ role, George, as part of a team, identifies and develops company strategy, identifies risk, develops systems and processes to manage risk and builds relationships with key stakeholders. Employing financial acumen and business planning skills, George helps develop plans to enable the business to prosper.

He holds a Bachelor of Commerce and a post graduate Diploma in Agricultural Science from Lincoln University, and was appointed a director in May 2020. He is based in Alexandra, Central Otago.