Johanna and her husband David bought a Manawatu dairy farm from David’s father in 1981 and have developed it to support a growing family, all with interests in agriculture. The 140 hectare dairy platform runs a herd of 280 pedigree Milking Shorthorns over spring and summer, with a smaller number milked through the winter. The dairy platform is supported by a 180 hectare dry-stock farm. With four children interested in agriculture, the business model was reviewed in 2016 and Northbrook Enterprises Ltd was established.
Johanna has a Bachelor of Arts, a Masters of Educational Studies (Mathematics) and a Diploma of Technology. She is a trained secondary teacher, who worked off-farm until 2009. Johanna’s educational life includes nine years as a secondary principal as well as facilitation roles with Massey University and Auckland University in teacher/principal professional learning, and the design, implementation and evaluation of short course for international study groups.
Since completing the Fonterra Governance Development Programme, Johanna has taken up a number of voluntary governance roles and would welcome the opportunity to contribute further to governance in the primary industry sector.
Johanna is currently a Lottery Manawatu/Whanganui Community Committee member, Chair of the Lutheran Church of New Zealand Council of Synod, Chair of LCNZ Finance Advisory, a Trustee of the Feilding Civic Centre Trust, a member of the Hiwinui Community Committee, Chair of Central Football and a member of the Queen Elizabeth College Foundation Educational Trust.
Her previous roles include a member of the Mature Employment Support Agency (2000-2002), Chair of the Redsox Manawatu Sports Club Committee (2009-2010) and President of the New Zealand Association of Mathematics Teachers (1998-2001).