Alumni Biographies

Co-operative: Foodstuffs

We own and operate Gilmours Mt Roskill in Auckland, a food and beverage distributor servicing central Auckland and Northland via a Cash & Carry store format and online delivery network.

As co-op members for ten years – we have owned businesses in Tauranga and now Auckland. Before getting involved with Foodies, I spent ten years in the corporate world with various NZ and Australia roles.

Now Chairman of the Wholesale Banner Representative Group (BRG) 

Alison is a farmer-elected Director of Livestock Improvement Corporation Ltd, and an appointed Director of the state-owned enterprise, AsureQuality Ltd.

She also holds several not-for-profit governance positions. Alison and her husband Andrew own a Wairarapa-based family dairy farming business and in 2003 won the NZ Sharemilker of the Year title.

Alison has a Bachelor of Agricultural Science (Hons) and PhD from Massey University, and has progressed through a range of careers including Technical Officer (Nutrition) for the NZ Dairy Board in the 1980’s and an academic career which started upon completion of her PhD in 1995. This began with a lectureship and progressed through to heading up the Nutrition Research Group at Massey University in the early 2000’s.

In 2005 Alison joined Fonterra as a Principal Scientist (Nutrition) and moved through to the role of Technical Manager (Nutrition) with her team contributing to the development and commercialisation of dairy ingredients for large multi-national companies. 

In 2012 Alison opted to leave Fonterra to pursue a career in corporate governance but she continues to be actively involved as an industry leader, working with dairy farmers to help achieve environmentally sustainable farming practices.

Anne-Marie and her husband Duncan equity manage a 670-cow farm near Dunedin Airport. Originally from the UK, the former software engineer and business analyst had no farming experience when she met Duncan on a high-altitude trek in India. Twelve years on, the couple have three children and Anne-Marie is quite at home in a pair of gumboots. 

Governance is a key driver for Anne-Marie, who is keen to promote the advantages of strong governance within the agri-sector, believing it fosters best practice and sustainable results. She also encourages visitors to the farm in an effort to improve public perception of dairy farming. 

Following 2 years of professional development, Anne-Marie is now a director of two small businesses and a trustee for her children’s school. She is looking forward to completing the FGDP and putting her learning into practice in further governance roles.

Prior to becoming a dairy farmer in 2005, I was an equity analyst in Sydney specialising in mining and minerals.

In 2000 I gained a BSc (Hons) in Geology and a BCom in Finance from Otago University.

Until 2017 I was the Chair, for seven years, of the West Coast Lessees Association, which represents the interests of around 300 leaseholders of PKW land in Taranaki.

I was elected to the Fonterra Shareholders’ Council in 2016 and appointed Chair of the Council’s Performance Committee in 2017.

I am currently Chair of the Taranaki Veterinary Centre Ltd. and a director of LIC.

Brendon has been a Grocer since 2003 and is a proud member of the Foodstuffs North Island Co-operative. Prior to joining Foodies, Brendon Owned and Operated 5 Shell Service Stations in the Eastern Bay of Plenty (Whakatane Born and Breed) and prior to this, worked in the UK as a Civil Engineer with British Rail for 5 years having left NZ at 21.

He is married to Lavina and they have three children. Chelsea 16, Toby 14 and Liam 12. Lavina works for Sky Sports as a Rugby League reporter during the season and is actively involved in the charitable organisation she founded, the Good Neighbour Food Rescue Program. They lead busy lives both professionally and recreationally, this includes Surfing, Hunting, Snowboarding, Fishing, Diving and Mountain Bike riding when not being a Taxi driver for the kids.

He is currently the Owner Operator of Brookfield New World in Tauranga, this is his third supermarket he has owned and operated. He is the Chairman of the New World Banner Representative Group (Representative Committee elected to represent the New World Members) and sits on ODAC (Owner Development and Selection Committee – a sub-committee of the FSNI Board)

Interested in creating improved returns for New Zealand primary products beyond the farm gate. Recently I have been focusing on this within the management consultancy team with KPMG in Auckland.

Prior to this role, I spent several years working in China where I sold New Zealand products and worked on a large scaled dairy operation.

Long term I plan to become involved in my family’s sheep and beef farming business. In my spare time, I enjoy duck shooting, diving and studying Chinese.

I started my journey in the dairy industry thirty years ago with my first job being a 50/50 share milking opportunity at Kiwitahi in the Morrinsville district.

My interest in the dairy industry stemmed from my wife’s family being dairy farmers and my experiences on my grandfather’s sheep and beef farm in the northern Manawatu region.

I progressed from my first job to our first farm at Tirau, milking 140 cows on a very run down 52ha property. It was during our tenure on this property that I started to be involved in aspects of the industry outside of the farm gate. I held positions of liaison farmer for NZ Dairy Group, LIC and in the meat industry for the AFFCO Co-op.

We currently have a farming operation that encompasses 1500 cows on three dairy units plus support land.

My role off farm as an Agri Manager for ANZ National group has given me roles both within the Waikato and Bay of Plenty as well as specialising in the Equity Partnership space nationwide.

I have been heavily involved in the community through BOT, PTA and community and sport club boards as well as coaching sports teams over the years.

Colleen and husband Robert have five children between them and farm 150ha in Manawatu, milking 380 cows.

For the last two years, they have held the title of Manawatu Dairy Business of the Year.

Colleen is a first-generation New Zealander and an established member of New Zealand Asian Leaders.

She is a third-term regional councillor and contributes significantly to several portfolios, including iwi governance groups.

Prior to politics, she was a journalist and local government communications manager and holds a Bachelor’s degree in Geography with a minor in economics.

A former NZ sporting representative, Colleen is on the Board of Sport Manawatu and New Zealand Canoe Polo Association.

She is trustee of the Bainesse and Districts Community Development Trust working to establish a 30km shared pathway from just outside Palmerston North to Himatangi Beach, and the Greasy Chain Cycle Events Charitable Trust, bringing together a local and international cycling event once a year.

Colleen is passionate about women in leadership and is a member of SheEO New Zealand, practicing radical generosity by investing to enable women-led businesses to flourish through loan funds, advice, mentoring and growing wider networks.

A member of Dairy Environment Leaders group, a Dairy NZ initiative, she is involved in planning for the future of dairy and sustainability of farming in tightening regulatory times.

She is an accredited RMA commissioner, recognises a changing future in primary industry practice and the need to incorporate social and economic considerations into any regulatory or legislative conversation.

Dan Jex-Blake is the Managing Director of Mangapoike Ltd - a pastoral farming company that farms sheep and beef on a 2209 ha effective land base in the Gisborne region.

Dan has had a life-long career in farming; progressing through the ranks until taking up an opportunity on family land in 1990. Since then he and his wife Tam have grown the business to its current state as well as diversifying into 21 ha of citrus and 40 ha of forestry.

Dan has had considerable involvement within the sheep & beef industry; beyond the farm gate, advocating for positive change - both in the Wool and Red Meat Sector.

This culminated in him successfully standing for the Silver Fern Farms Board. He has been a Director since January 2014 and has governed the company through a challenging and transformational period.

Dan now sits on both the SFF co-op Board as well as the SFF Ltd Partnership Board (alongside four others from the Co-op Board and five from Shanghai Maling).

Dan also represents SFF Ltd as an appointed director to the Farm IQ Board.

Debbie is a full-time professional director with a portfolio of governance roles in the tourism, primary industry, financial services and local government sectors.

She is a Director of Tourism Holdings Ltd, Ruapehu Alpine Lifts Ltd, White Island Tours Ltd, Ngati Awa Group Holdings Ltd and the Local Government NZ Independent Assessment Board, and Chair of Taupo Moana Group Ltd and Crown Irrigation Investment Ltd.

Debbie is also a Trustee of Wellington Free Ambulance Trust and Raukawa ki te Tonga Trust.  

She has held governance roles for the last eight years for both Crown-owned entities and Te Tumu Paeroa businesses, where for five years she was GM Investments, leading the organisation’s investment strategy to optimise Māori land and assets by investing directly in land-based activities.

She is an experienced chair of investment committees as well as a member of several audit & risk committees.

Debbie has over 30 years of financial markets experience including managing large investment portfolios in Asia for global banks. She also owned and managed her own investment fund in Australia before returning to NZ in 2003.

Her interests are in promoting regional growth opportunities alongside building balanced investment portfolios for Māori/iwi entities.

Don Hammond is currently a self-employed Biosecurity and Registered Forestry Consultant and company director. He has a Bachelor of Science and a Diploma of Business Studies.

His governance roles include Chair of the NZ Game Animal Council (Ministerial appointment), an Independent Board member of Bioprotection Centre of Research Excellence, a member of the Fonterra Shareholders’ Council, Chair of STIMBR (Stakeholders in Methyl Bromide Reduction) and member of the New Zealand Institute of Directors.

Don is also a director and chair of several private companies involved in aviation, forestry and commercial property and has extensive experience in forestry (commercial and indigenous) and farming (deer, dairy and dry-stock) sectors and management of biosecurity responses throughout New Zealand.

Don has a passion for the primary sector and seeks to see improved governance to deliver greater outcomes for those involved and the wider community.

Don has lived in the wider Rotorua area for over 30 years, is married and has four children (two sons, two daughters).  

On the rare occasion, he has spare time he enjoys hunting, travelling, flying and fishing.

Dylan has experience in community and regional organisations, serving as either a board or committee member and holding several chair roles.

Dylan, his wife Sheree and their three teenage children live on a 520 cow once-a-day dairy farm in Northern Southland. Dylan and Sheree have invested in, and been involved with, numerous dairying operations, ranging from sharemilking 150 cows to an equity partnership of 1400 cows and multi-farm ownerships.

Dylan and Sheree aspire to a vision of “Positively Impacting People” and are actively pursuing this through a course they have developed for couples in business in agriculture with the aim of establishing better resilience and growth strategies.

Dylan says he’s come to realise that if you want to make a real difference in people’s lives and organisations, you need to have influence at the top. That’s why he completed the Fonterra Governance Development programme. He says the programme has hugely impacted his governance knowledge and understanding, giving him the confidence to now look directorship roles in organisation that he’s passionate about.   

Abe completed a Bachelor’s degree in the Netherlands and a Professional Master’s Degree at Lincoln University in New Zealand. Previous governance roles have been on the board of the Southland Demonstration farm (Chair for three years) and Southern Dairy Development Trust.

Abe de Wolde arrived in New Zealand with his wife Anita and their two children in 1991. Together they now own and operate the Worldwide Farming group, an entity that milks about 4000 cows in Central Southland, producing two million kilograms of milk solids a season.

Abe is CEO and Anita CFO. Together they try to combine best farming practices from around the world in one operation. Their farming business is self-sustained and high-input.

A tendency for pioneering led to being one of the first dairy conversions in Central Southland in 1992 and to building the first free-stall barn in Southland in 2006.

Abe is still managing hands-on and finding a way to move the business into the future sustainably. Passionate about the New Zealand dairy industry, he is interested to take up governance roles in addition to his involvement in the home business.

I am able to build a display of tinned tomatoes, price an avocado, serve some pastrami, and pack a reusable shopping bag. 

As the Owner of New World Island Bay in Wellington since 2013 I have embraced the community spirit, recognising the store to be the hub of the community and feel privileged to support the community that supports local families and businesses.    

Strongly focused on sustainability in the store; promoting the reduction of plastic bags, recycling, and waste minimisation I was instrumental in New World Island Bay becoming the first supermarket to be accredited by Conscious Consumers NZ.

Previously, the Development Manager at Pak’n Save Kapiti for eight years before a seven-year move to Queenstown as a mother and Project Manager /Interior Designer for my husband's building company. I deeply missed the grassroots of the grocery industry and returned to Supermarket Management in the north as Trainee Operator and Fresh Food Manager in NW Porirua before settling in as a Grocer in Island Bay.

I have been a Governor at Scots College, Wellington for two years where my three sons attend as students and a Trustee of the Argosy Trust a newly established Beach and Boat wise programme for the Wellington region.

Andrew is a senior finance industry professional with experience spanning a range of industries including airports, ports, regulated utilities, infrastructure, funds management and industrial and agribusiness sectors, both locally and internationally. 

Andrew is a highly effective board member. He has undertaken extensive professional governance development training, providing him with valuable knowledge and insight.

Recent experience as a principal investor and non-executive director has provided him with a fiduciary focus and stewardship approach to decision making. Andrew also brings an insightful commercial perspective and has been responsible for identifying and delivering significant strategic value in companies he has been involved with.

He holds a Bachelor of Commerce (First Class Honours) degree from Canterbury University and has more than 15 years’ experience in financial markets across NZ, Australia and the UK, most recently as Head of Asset Management for the Australian direct infrastructure investment division of Deutsche Bank. He has completed a Company Directors Course (Order of Merit), and Mastering the Boardroom, Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Andrew currently lives in Mid Canterbury and oversees a farming business operating two milking platforms, supporting 1500 cows. This includes managing all young stock and supplementary feed requirements.

Ben is married to Lizzy & farms 450 cows in Okoroire near Tirau along with Henry 5 and Arabella 3.

Ben has a passion for maintaining a cooperative company as previously from the UK has seen the volatility without a strong cooperative model in place. Social license to operate, financial sustainability and environmental sustainability are the key focuses on the farm. Ben believes that we have to respond to market demands constructively.

Bens current roles are Waikato Federated Farmers Dairy Chairman, and holds a position on the National Federated Farmers Dairy Executive. Ben is also a trustee on the Matamata Pohlen Hospital Foundation Trust and also provides advice and facilitates sharemilking disputes.

Ben has also participated as a farmer in the Fonterra purpose and vision strategy and the cooperative difference. He sees a role in governance as an important part of his life. Giving back whilst moving forward is important.

I am currently contract milking 560 cows over two farms near Edgecumbe. I have been dairy farming for four years with previous experience in the fertiliser and environmental space working for Ballance Agri-Nutrients, most recently as the North Island Team Leader for the Farm Sustainability Team.

I am involved in Federated Farmers as the BOP Sharemilker Chairperson, Dairy Environmental Leaders, NZDIA BOP and the director of Ardea Dairy Ltd.

My name is Carlos Cuadrado. My wife Gisela and I are from Argentina. I grew up in a dairy farm and Gisela was from the city. We met at the university where both studied Ag Science. We got married in 2002 and same year we came to New Zealand to work as dairy farm assistants on a dairy farm near Tauranga. The following year we moved to Mid Canterbury in the South Island where we worked in three different farms, settling in the farm where we are in 2005. Here we started as herd managers and in the season 2009-10 we set up our company (Canterbury Pampas Ltd) and started operating as Lower Order Sharemilkers. Since 2014, as well as being the sharemilkers, we run the farm on behalf of the owners as they moved to Australia. We still milk regularly in this farm.

In 2011 we had the opportunity to invest in a dairy farm with neighbours. We converted a crop farm into a dairy farm and we became 25% shareholders. I became “Managing Director/CEO” for this business. In 2015 this company purchased another farm and we were able to increase our shareholding to 33% of both businesses.

Since 2017 I am Trustee for Wakanui School and since 2018 I am board chair for the Wakanui School Board of Trustees.

We have four children: Coty (16), Paulina (14), Rose (9) and Noah (7).

We love the life on the farm and traveling together as family to see different places and to meet people from different backgrounds.

Claire Nicholson graduated from Massey University in 1991 with a bachelor of Veterinary Science. Prior to that Claire studied, also at Massey, Business Studies, majoring in Agricultural Business and Marketing.

Claire completed 12 years in veterinary clinical practice ranging from Dairy practice in the Waikato and North Wales, to managing a very successful small animal practice in London.

Claire then entered the animal health industry working initially as the dairy product manager, then as the general manager for Intervet New Zealand. Claire was also a member of the executive committee of Dairy Cattle Veterinarians.

From Intervet, Claire joined Agrifeeds a ruminant nutrition company as the business development, marketing and veterinary technical manager.

Three years ago Claire established Sirona Animal Health, the purpose of which was to develop and market unique products for the animal health market. After three years of work Sirona has recently launched the first product – Alpheus- a controlled-release capsule for the prevention of parasites in cattle.  Several new products are currently in the development pipeline.

Claire was awarded a scholarship to attend the Hilary Leadership programme from which she graduated in May 2011. This programme, for high performing senior executives, is run by Auckland University Institute of Leadership. Claire is also a graduate of the AWDT Escalator governance training program.

Claire is currently a director of the Paraninihi Ki Waitotara Incorporation, a Taranaki Maori incorporation. As a member of the Ngati ruanui iwi it is important to her to ensure that the incorporation’s assets are grown and protected for future generations. Claire also has had a privileged position as a board observer for AgResearch.

Married to Michael in 1990 they have two boys – Joshua 21 and Matt 19 – both studying at Otago University. In between business commitments Claire and Mike love to travel, enjoy regular exercise, collect art and wine, ski and enjoy spending time in and on the water.  

I farm near Takaka in Golden Bay.  I was fortunate to travel globally as a New Zealand Nuffield Scholar in 2019 investigating farmer mental health and wellbeing in the context of the change occurring globally in food and agriculture. I have used this experience to contribute to Fonterra as a recently appointed member of their Sustainability Advisory Panel.

I’m also a Kellogg Scholar and have completed governance and representation roles as Board Chair of the South Island Dairy Demonstration Centre (SIDDC), South Island Dairy Event Chair and as Deputy Chair of the DairyNZ Dairy Environmental Leaders. Prior to farming he was a Dairy Consultant in Canterbury and DairyNZ Consulting Officer.

I live at Hinds in Mid Canterbury with my wife Laura with our 3 Daughters. Our youngest Annie was born on the 8th of October to join the family with Matilda 4 years and Georgie May 2 years old. We moved to the South Island four years ago after originally growing up and Dairy Farming in Dannevirke.

I completed a Bachelor of Engineering at Canterbury University. Following this l was accepted into a graduate position offered by Fonterra. During my four years with the Co-op I completed a Masters in Dairy Science & Technology as well as being involved in a number of capital and process improvement projects throughout sites around New Zealand with the Darfield Greenfield project being the biggest.

After leaving Fonterra we spent some time in the UK where I was Design Manager on a Whey Drier in a joint venture between Dairy Crest (UK) and Fonterra.

On returning home to NZ the lure of a farming career drew us back to the family farm in Dannevirke and Lower Order Share Milking for my parents before immigrating south. We now LOSM 1250 cows and are equity partners in another 600 cow farm in Mid Canterbury.

Currently own a 160 hectare dairy farm where we milk 440 cows and lease a 44 hectare grazing block on which we live.  I also hold a Certificate in Agribusiness Management.

I enjoy a number of Governance roles in our community including being President and now Immediate Past President of the Hawera Repertory Society, an Inaugural Trustee and Vice Chairperson of the Central Taranaki Safe Trust, Treasurer of the Rotokare Scenic Reserve Trust and now a new Trustee of the Percy Thomson Trust in Stratford.

Donald is married to Jose and they live on a 20ha lifestyle property near Lincoln where they graze dairy heifers. He graduated with a veterinary degree from Massey University (1982), completed a residency in anatomic pathology at Cornell University (1988-90) and board certification by the American College of Veterinary Pathologists (1991).

Donald established Selwyn/Rakaia Veterinary Services (SRVS) Ltd in 1996. The practice currently employs a team of 28 focused on supporting the health and welfare of 160 Canterbury dairy herds.

In 1998 Donald was a founding shareholder and director of Labworks Animal Health Ltd, a veterinary diagnostic laboratory set up on the Lincoln University campus. This business was sold in 2002 to Gribbles Group, an ASX listed company that operates medical and veterinary pathology laboratories.

In more recent years Donald has taken on governance roles with: Callura Dairies Partnership Ltd, a 610ha dairy farm, Culverden; Dairy Farm Management Services Ltd (dairy farm consultancy), Darfield; Lincoln University Dairy Farm advisory board; Lincoln University Animal Ethics Committee and the Canterbury Jockey Club (Hororata Ward Committee).

Edward is passionate about good strategic governance and achieving excellent results in all areas of finance, people and the environment. He has a wide range of expertise across multiple industries including dairying, forestry and infrastructure.

Edward with his wife Angeline and their three boys live in Hamilton and enjoy the mix of city and farm life. They own a 700 cow dairy farm in Kaeo, Northland where they employ a contract milker. Edward is currently the National FarmWise Manager at the Livestock Improvement Corporation.

Throughout his career Edward has provided services nationally and internationally to countries including Iceland, Fiji, Indonesia, Lebanon, Afghanistan, Philippines and Australia.

Edward has a Bachelor of Engineering (Hons) Natural Resources degree and a Postgraduate Diploma in Business and Administration from Massey. He has completed the NZ Institute of Directors Company Direction course and is a Chartered Member of the Institute of Directors NZ and a Chartered Professional Engineer. He also sits on the Board of the NZ Institute of Primary Industry Management.

Adrian along with wife Pauline have dairy farming interests in Matamata and Dacre totalling 1050 cows fully shared with Fonterra. Currently, Managing Director Dennley Farms Ltd mixed dairy and beef farming operation across two farms in Matamata, also Chairman and majority shareholder of Rahinga Dairies 700 cows in Dacre Southland. Adrian has keen interest in the success of Fonterra and the Dairy industry from a sustainability, environmental and animal welfare perspective. Currently deeply involved in the Fonterra Vision and Purpose review as farmer representative.

Adrian and Pauline have two daughters one studying Commerce at Auckland University and the other completing her final year at St Peters Cambridge. As a family spend a lot of time at Waihi Beach. Fishing, cycling, tennis and golf are all big contributors to a balanced lifestyle as health and wellbeing are priorities to Adrian, a very keen sportsman and has completed the Coast to Coast one day multisport race.

Adrian has a good understanding of Fonterra international business having been on study trips in South America, Australia and around China Farms earlier this year.

Along with wife Pauline, Adrian has recently won in the National Environment Awards and is currently a National Ambassador for sustainable farming and growing.

Since completing a BApplSc majoring in agriculture, at Massey University, my career has been focussed on contributing to the New Zealand agricultural industry. Previous employers include Balance agri-nutrients and DairyNZ where I worked as a technical sales rep and consulting officer respectively. Currently I’m employed as an Agri manager by the ANZ, with a predominately dairy portfolio.

Along with my husband Steve, we are also sharemilking 500 cows on 150 ha in a high input operation near Putaruru.

In 2018 we won the Waikato Share Farmer of the Year title and placed third in the New Zealand Share Farmer of the Year. We are currently convening the 2020 Waikato Dairy Industry Awards programme.

I am excited for the opportunity to develop my governance knowledge and embrace the opportunities that will arise as a result.

My spare time is currently taken up with caring for our six-week-old son. Historically I’ve been actively involved in the Putaruru/Tirau polocrosse club and local young farmer organisations.

Andrew’s entrepreneurial vision and willingness to embrace change are key strengths, with the ability to connect big picture vision while understanding day-to-day challenges. He enjoys questioning the status quo, and mapping new directions.

Andrew’s governance positions include being a Director and Shareholder of Ohaupo Dairies Ltd, GL Events Ltd and Chair of the Community Hall Committee. He is looking to broaden his governance experience and add value to NZ’s rural industry. Andrew is passionate about dairying, its heritage and its future for New Zealand, particularly from a governance and representation position.

Agriculture is a passion and this has seen Andrew travel the world working with farmers, from the US, Europe and China. Andrew believes the simple common thread of a farmer, their crops/animals, their family’s livelihood and marketing their produce, is fundamental across the board and links agriculture around the globe Born and bred in the dairy industry Andrew is a strong supporter of the co-operative system and has seen, over the generations, the strength this has brought to the industry.

Andrew and his wife Liz have three teenage sons. The family lives on the farm, employing equity managers, and takes an active role in strategic management.

Currently, I am an Executive Director of Waibury Farms Limited, a multi farm syndicate dairy operation.

I completed a B of Agricultural Economics and a Post Grad Diploma in Business Administration from Massey University. I have a keen interest in governance and representation aspects of the dairy industry and its mechanics particularly associated with Fonterra.

I spent 3 years on the Shareholders Council and during that time was an observer on the Fair Value Share Committee and Chair of the Performance Committee. I completed the Fonterra Governance Development Programme in 2012- 2013 and was appointed to the Fonterra Milk Price Panel in November 2014.

To complete the picture, I am a father of 4 teenage and older children and am a keen cyclist and certainly enjoy and embrace the challenges that life brings.

I am a director of Murphy Farms Ltd which has grown through the strategy of land acquisition to milk 5500 cows on six properties and we own two support blocks.

I have a hands-on role in the business planning and industry, OSH, and environmental compliance components of our operation.

I live and farm in Glenavy, Waimate District, South Canterbury on our family-owned business. I have a wife Lesa and four children aged between 7 and 15.

I have been appointed a member of the Lower Waitaki South Coastal Zone Committee which is a committee of Ecan and our two local district councils. This committee was put together to develop and champion guidelines for environmental change in the subregional planning process.

Currently, I am the LIC shareholder councilor for South Canterbury and North Otago and a Director of Hunter downs Irrigation Ltd which is a greenfields irrigation scheme proposed to irrigate 12000 ha in South Canterbury.

We are a family business and I am passionate about my children having the opportunity to be part of it when they get older this resonates with my firm belief in the cooperative model and the strengths it brings to our industry. I plan to continually improve my governance capability so I can in the future continue to add more value to our industry.

Originally from the Philippines, Carlos has worked his way up from casual relief milker to 50/50 Sharefarmer

In 2017, Carlos was named Central Plateau Sharefamer of the Year

Currently a Board Director for Rotorua Veterinary Club (VetOra BOP) and National Executive for NZ Dairy Industry Awards. Previously been involved in Ngakuru School PTA as Chair and has held leadership positions in Freemasons NZ.

I completed a Bachelor of Animal Science from the University of Reading, UK in 1999. I am passionate about continual learning and attend relevant workshops through various entities.

I am a member of the Institute of Directors, Federated Farmers and Dairy Women’s Network.

I am a Trustee of the local Primary school and for community not for profit organisations, focusing on improving governance knowledge, strategic direction and financial management in rural communities. I am a strong believer in challenging the status quo, disrupting the normal to encourage innovative thinking within a board situation; I have a talent for asking the right questions.

I am currently a regional leader for Dairy Women’s Network in the Waipa district, having previously held the same role in the Taupo area and work part-time for Livestock Improvement Corporation as a Field Assist.

I have been immersed in agriculture my whole life and my passion is to build a strong sustainable agribusiness community that can thrive.

We are currently herd owning share milking in Pukeatua, Te Awamutu, with two beautiful girls who attend the local school.

Craig is the CEO of Dairy Farms NZ Ltd, a corporate dairy farming business, Chair of Harakeke Dairy Ltd Partnership, a 730 cow dairy farm in Culverden, North Canterbury and a Director of the New Zealand Institute of Primary Industry Management.

Craig had a 20-year career in rural banking, mainly with ASB. During this time he was a Rural Manager, Area Manager and General Manager of the ASB Rural team.

Craig’s previous roles include Director of NZ Nutrient Management Advisor Certification Programme Ltd and Chair of the Waikato Foundation for Youth Development.

He was also General Manager Extension with DairyNZ, where he led the Consulting Officer and Regional Support team and interacted with the research, development and policy teams of DairyNZ and several external organisations such as Dairy Women’s Network and NZ Young Farmers.

David is committed to strong and positive governance of New Zealand companies. The diverse range of roles he has undertaken has given him a broad understanding of governance and the many challenges that confront directors.

David has been involved in the governance of a range of company activities - genetics, information technology, retail, manufacturing, legislation change, fuel, feed milling and grain trading, international sales, kiwifruit packing and cool-storage and research and development. David is currently a Director of LIC and Farmlands and Chair of Expressway Orchards GP.

He has an agricultural degree and a postgraduate diploma from Massey University and has completed extra-mural accounting and management papers.

David started as a Consulting Officer for the NZ Dairy Board in the Waikato and then Canterbury.

He and his wife developed a dairy farming business just outside Tauranga in 1992. They now milk 700 cows and have developed three kiwifruit orchards with both green and gold kiwifruit varieties.

David is a member of the Directors Institute. His wife is a Magistrate and their two daughters are at Victoria University. The family is well travelled and well placed to add value to NZ society.

Actively working dairy farm owner and an advocate for change in the rural sector.  Multi-industry experience across farming, pharmaceuticals, health and the arts in NZ and Europe, with a proven background in international sales and marketing. Hold a professional Nursing degree from Victoria University.

‘Care of People is Good business, manaakitia nga tangata, kai tipu te kaipakahi.’ My whakataukì.

Have taken action on advocating for electric transport options in the rural sector for school children and adults, developed a financial tool for first time owner-operated sharefarmer buyers and amongst other policy remits, presented these to government.

Personally spent the last 2 years advancing Responsible Work Relationships ™ framework that targets improved retention of farming staff by better relationships.  It is humanity driven and equality focused. Te Whakaora Tangata – life preservation of the people.

With a belief in Mission-orientated policy to drive innovation and climate change adaptation, I support long-term thinking and needs consensus processes to dissolve problems without status division.  Te whakatara (the challenge) to global governance.

Don, his wife Jess and their 3 young children farm on the outskirts of Gore in Southland since moving from Nelson in 2008. During this time they have built up a sharemilking business with 700 cows and have just purchased a 360 cow dairy farm.

Along their Journey, Don and Jess have been awarded the 2010 Southland Farm Manager title and in 2013 the Southland and New Zealand Sharemilker Title.

Don works off farm also as a Farm supervisor in Southland and Otago overseeing managers through to herd owning sharemilkers of 9 dairy operations and 2 grazing support blocks.

Don is a committee member of the southern field days and a Dairy Industry Awards advisor after having convened the event.

Great governance is really important to me, especially in the rural sector. Being a shareholder of a co-operative is quite unique in that you get a real say in who governs the business. I am really looking forward to the opportunity to expand on my governance knowledge and getting to know and learning from a diverse group.

In 2008 my husband Peter and I decided to convert our East Limehills property to dairy. We run this as an equity partnership milking 475 cows. We also have our own farm near Winton that we use as the run off for the dairy farm and do a bit of store cattle as well. We have three primary school aged children who attend Limehills School. Prior to becoming involved in the dairy industry, I was the Plant Technical Manager at the Alliance Group’s Lorneville plant.

Since 2014 I have been the Fonterra Shareholders’ Councillor for Eastern Southland. This has been a very interesting and challenging role and I have learnt a huge amount in my time. Currently, I am a member of the Performance Committee, as well as being a member of the Council’s Budget Team and have served on the Representation and Co-operative Culture committees as well as the Council’s Leadership Team.

Being a parent has given me many opportunities to get involved with the running of a few local clubs. I have just taken on the role of President of the Winton Athletics Club, having served as the treasurer and registrar for the past few years. I am also the president of Central Southland Pony Club and a past president and committee member of our School’s home and school association. I get a lot out of being involved in these organisations and see this as a great training ground for developing my governance skills.

Earlier this year I completed the Institute of Directors Governance Development course. During this course, one of our speakers said that one of the most challenging governance roles you can have is on for example the local rugby club. I am sure we can all relate to this!

In my spare time I enjoy getting outdoors, running, skiing and mountain biking with the kids. I also enjoy watching them compete in their sports. I am also part of a horse racing syndicate; this is a great way to get off farm for a bit of entertainment and socialising with friends.

Adrian Gault has a long-term commitment to farming and horticulture and is particularly passionate about the biosecurity, cool stores and operations of the kiwifruit industry.

He is currently the Chair of Kiwifruit Vine Health, Eastpack Ltd and Kiwifruit Equities Ltd. Adrian is also Chair of Opotiki Veterinary Services and Managing Director of Otara Land Company Ltd, a 400-hectare sheep and beef unit and 25 canopy hectare kiwifruit business.

As well as governance experience, Adrian has been involved in representation, serving on the Opotiki District Council as a Councillor between 2001-2007. He has also held various roles within Federated Farmers from 2001-2009.

In 2001 Adrian was a Nuffield Scholar researching Genetic Engineering (GE) and whether New Zealand should allow the use of GE technology or not. As part of the Nuffield experience, he visited Asia, America, Canada, the United Kingdom and Europe to meet with farming leaders, politicians, consultants and management of leading agricultural industries to form a view around the debate.

Adrian holds a Bachelor of Agricultural Science from Massey University and is a member of the Institute of Directors.

Amy’s passion for agriculture was developed early in life, being born and raised on a sheep and beef and later a dairy farm. Amy currently enjoys maintaining a functioning advisory role within her family’s farming business and also spending time with her husband James, and four children, Millie (13), Rodie (11), Jonas (4) and Alba (1) on the family farm.

With a keen interest in governance, Amy is acutely aware of the connection between quality governance and successful businesses and organisations. With an array of skills including in policy and implementation, climate change, environmental and indigenous governance and also strategic planning and review, Amy’s work has crossed a number of spectrums. This includes work within national and regional research projects, as an advisor for the Climate Change Commission and as a Policy and Legal Framework Specialist for the United Nations Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO). With experience working with and in iwi organisations and private practice alike, Amy has the ability to effectively engage with iwi groups, stakeholders and individuals, on farm or elsewhere. Amy’s background also includes experience in family law practice as well as over 16 years experience in business and property development. Her current passion project includes the design, development and management of a community revitalisation project in Ngāruawāhia. A community-centric space to connect local businesses, and entrepreneurs to grow, thrive and lead. Amy holds a Master of Laws, focusing on Environmental Law and Indigenous Governance, as well as a Bachelor’s degree in Social Science from the University of Waikato.

Amy’s current appointments are as an Independent Director for Anexa (Animal Health Centre Waikato Inc), Director and head of Policy and Research for Whetu Consultancy Group (alongside her husband James), and advisor to Watson Family farming group. 

I am the general manager of our family farming operation. We are an 850ha flat, irrigated, fully self-contained dairy operation. Milking 2,000 cows through two farms, producing over 960,000kg’sMS off 550ha’s effective. We also have 300ha’s of fully irrigated support land.

I was born and breed in Mid Canterbury.

After secondary school I went to Massey University where I completed a B Applied Science (majoring in Animal Science) and a Post Grad Dip in Business & Administration.

On completion of my education I worked in the meat industry for 2 years, then had 4 years O.E. in the UK & Europe. Once home I was accepted by the National bank as a rural manager where I spent 3.5 years in the Timaru office. I did a year on a 1,200 cow dairy farm near Dunsandel. I have been home of the family operation since June 2011.

I have completed several types of governance training courses over the last ten years.

As at June 2021 I am currently a:

• Director and “C.E.O.” since 2011 of the family farming business which has quarterly meetings with two experienced independent directors.
• Director since 2015 of our co-op irrigation company Ashburton Lyndhurst Irrigation Ltd (ALIL).
• Director since 2018 of Rangitata Diversion Race Management Ltd (RDRML).
• Director since 2018 of Co-operative Business NZ (NZ.Co-op).
• Trustee since 2019 on my daughters primary school with over 400 students.

My expertise is in developing commercial investment strategies and seeing them through to successful completion. I have more than 15 years direct experience in agri and commercial banking, corporate finance, and portfolio management, which has helped form sound critical thinking with respect to commercial outcomes.

As a partner of Koau Capital Partners Ltd, I develop investment strategies and policies, and manage investment portfolios for post settlement entities and other Māori organisations. My knowledge of financial instruments and innovative thinking, coupled with my understanding of the requirements, expectations and aspirations of Māori investors ensures I deliver relevant and meaningful solutions.

I am a fourth-generation farmer in the Horowhenua, married to Catherine with three children. 

I am the Managing Director of our dairy farming and horticultural business which operate two dairy farms, grow and pack asparagus for domestic and export sale and are currently diversifying into growing strawberries in Poly-tunnels. Before returning to the family business, I was a rural banker for six years in Canterbury, Waikato, and Manawatu.

My current governance roles are locally based in the Horowhenua to ensure I can spend the maximum time with my young family. I am Chair of the Horowhenua New Zealand Trust, which is responsible for economic development in the district. I am Managing Director of Lewis Dairies (dairy farming); Lewis Farming (asparagus farming); and The Tender Tips Company (asparagus processing and exporting), where we collectively employ up to 150 people seasonally and are strongly positioned as the second-largest asparagus business in New Zealand.

My early governance experience was fostered with New Zealand Young Farmers, where I was vice-chair of the national board, chairman of the local club as well as involved in running a number of national committees. I was awarded the RAS NZ Rural Ambassador Award in 2013 and was second in the FCAS Australasian Rural Ambassador Competition. In 2009 I completed the Kellogg Rural Leaders Programme.

Chloe lives with her husband Matt just north of Taupo with their three young children. 

Following corporate careers in Wellington, they returned to manage his family dairy farm in 2013 and now operate two farms milking 1000 cows on 338ha. 

Chloe also runs The Tutukau Group, a consultancy that supports businesses with investment case development, capital raising, commercialisation and marketing. Prior to this, her corporate roles were in FMCG product innovation, start-up, marketing and economic development. 

Chloe is building her governance and representation experience and currently sits on the Taupo Business Chamber & the Tongariro Taupo Conservation Board. She has also been involved in governance advisory positions with Taupo’s Regional Tourism Organisation & Economic Development Agency, as well as various community groups. 

Chloe holds a Bachelors of Commerce in Management & International Business, a Bachelors of Arts in Political Science & Development and an Honours Degree in International Relations from Victoria University of Wellington. She is also a member of the Asia:NZ Foundation Leadership Network and the Institute of Directors.  

Cole graduated Lincoln University in 2008 with a B.Agr.Sci (Hons) and went straight into managing a 1000 cow property in Dunsandel.

In 2009, Cole and his wife Virginia got a 500 cow lower order sharemilking job in Leeston which they sharemilked for 3 years. During the second season, they took on a second sharemilking job in Oxford. In 2012, they moved to Pleasant Point and went 50/50 sharemilking 900 for four years. In 2017, they purchased a dairy farm in Hinds, Mid-Canterbury in an Equity Partnership.

Since moving to Canterbury in 2005, Cole has been heavily involved in New Zealand Young Farmers (NZYF) from club level right the way to the national board. Cole was on the NZYF Board from 2011-2016. The first three years Cole held the role of HR Committee Chair and was Chair of the Board from 2013-2015. Major achievements during the role as Chair of the Board was the recruitment of a new CEO and setting up clear CEO Performance management processes and policies.

In 2011 Cole competed in the ANZ Young Farmer of the Year Contest Grand final and placed 3 rd in the Grand Final in Masterton. Cole’s passion for governance has seen him attend the “Leading the Board” governance training through the Burnside Hart Trust. Cole completed the GDP is 2016.

Current Governance roles;

• FMG Young Farmer of the Year Governance Board
• Chair of the National Mastitis Advisory Committee
• Canterbury Regional Water Committee
• Associate Director of DairyNZ (March 2017-October 2017)

Craig is an experienced business and rural professional, who has held leadership roles for more than 20 years.

He has progressed from leading teams at Lloyds of London UK, to his current role of Regional Manager at ANZ, responsible for managing the Thames Valley, Eastern & Southern Waikato Agribusiness teams, a business that generates annual revenue of $22 million.

Craig completed the Fonterra Governance Development Programme in 2016. He is a director of two family-owned dairy farms in Taranaki and owns and operates a successful asparagus business. He is a member of the Waikato Asparagus Growers Association.

At community level, Craig spent nine years on the Board of Trustees for Karapiro School, including three years as Chair.

Craig lives in Cambridge, is married to Sara and has three children.

I live on my dairy farm on the outskirts of New Plymouth.

The farm is privileged to have a great variable order sharemilker that enables me to work off farm as required. I presently provide a consultancy service to pig producers, co-own a pharmaceutical distribution company and am a farmer elected Director of the Pork Industry Board.

Previously I worked as a mixed practice veterinarian, dairy consultant and Senior Lecturer at Massey University. 

Dirk was born on a mixed farm in Holland in 1952. He emigrated to New Zealand in 1974 and started a farming career.

Between 1993 and 2003 he took ten years off active farming and, with his wife Kathy, set up a successful game fishing and diving business in the Solomon Islands.

When he returned to New Zealand he was initially elected as Chair of Federated Farmers’ Dairy Section for Hauraki/Coromandel. He was then elected to the Thames-Coromandel District Council and also to the Fonterra Shareholders’ Council where he served for nearly nine years. During his time on the Shareholders’ Council, where he was on the Leadership Team, he was charged with revising the Co-operative Principles and was Co-Chair of the Governance and Representation Review Joint Working Group with the Fonterra Board.

Currently, Dirk and Kathy are milking just over 900 cows on two farms close to the township of Whitianga on the Coromandel Peninsula, having started with a 135 cow farm. They have set up two QEII bush covenants on their farm and intend to continue their program of native bush protection.

Dirk has always had an interest in quality governance and apart from the Fonterra Governance Development Program has successfully completed the Rabobank Executive Development Program in Sydney.

He is a member of the Seachange Stakeholder Working Group, a non-statutory body charged with developing a Marine Spatial Plan for the Hauraki Gulf Marine Park, which aims to increase the abundance of aquatic life and includes water quality issues in the catchment areas in the northeast Waikato and Auckland regions.

Dirk was recently elected to the governing council of the NZ Red Devon Cattle Breeders’ Association.

Donna Smit was elected to the Fonterra board in December 2016.

Donna lives and farms at Edgecumbe, and has built and owns seven dairy farms in Eastern Bay of Plenty and Oamaru.

Donna is a Director of Ballance Agri Nutrients and Kiwifruit Equities Limited and a Trustee of Taratahi Agricultural Training Centre (Wairarapa) Trust Board and a Trustee of the Dairy Women’s Network. Donna is a Chartered Accountant and was a company administrator at Kiwifruit Co-operative EastPack for 24 years.

Elaine’s governance philosophy is that the role of a director is to ensure the future success of an organisation. She is outcome focused and mindful to ensure results will deliver impact.

Having a strong business sense, a flair to think differently and being knowledge hungry, Elaine can quickly ‘join the dots’ to bring value and diverse thinking to a Board. She is an experienced director with current and past appointments with organisations that create value for others.

Current and past governance roles have been in agribusiness, research and innovation and education, and a corporate career involving agribusiness, local government, information management, health & safety and human resources.

Aside from her daughters and family Elaine has four strong passions.

• Business and how all the vital parts of a business fit together to drive success
• Capability building and education – growing people and communities
• Primary industries
• Innovation and research

Fiona has been a Director of Silver Fern Farms since March 2015. She is a Silver Fern Farms shareholder and supplier who operates Kowai Downs, Mt Allen and Wohelo Ltd, a sheep and beef finishing operation in Tapanui, West Otago.

Fiona is committed to growing New Zealand’s agricultural sector and has taken leadership roles with several industry bodies. Fiona was a founding member of MIE (Meat Industry Excellence), having resigned to seek election to the Silver Fern Farms Board of Directors.

Fiona is a Director of Cooperative Business New Zealand, commencing her role in August 2016. She is a member of the Beef + Lamb NZ West Otago Farming for Profit Steering Group, the Pomahaka Farmers Water Care Group and a member of the West Otago Health Trust and West Otago Cancer Support Services. Fiona was a farmer representative on Beef + Lamb NZ Southern South Island farmer council, resigning in 2016. Fiona completed the Agri-Women’s Development Trust Escalator Programme in November 2014.

Fiona and husband Nelson have demonstrated farming success with the growth of their operation from 2,500 stock units in 1993 to 31,000 stock units today. Together they have received several farming accolades including Rabobank Lincoln University Foundation South Island Farmer of the Year, Clutha District Farmer of the Year and winners of the National Ewe Hogget Competition.

Fiona is also a volunteer ambulance officer.

Gillian has spent 20 years dairy farming in New Zealand and has converted several farms from dry-stock to dairy.  Gillian is currently based in Ireland where she is building the business for Waikato Milking Machine for pasture based farming.

Gillian’s initial career found her in the North Sea Oil industry as a Petroleum Engineer working offshore. She worked throughout Eastern Europe and Kazakhstan in the Petro Chemical industry based in Paris.

Gillian has managed  Waikato Milking Systems European and Latin American businesses and prior to that she managed the dairy automation team for the Tru-Test Group, a large New Zealand based international agri-tech company.

Spending three years living in Chile with a focus on farming, Gillian managed a team of sales staff, technicians and product development engineers in dairy automation and milk cooling.

Passionate about dairy, cows and farming, Gillian is actively involved in the New Zealand dairy community. Gillian’s weekends are normally spent on the river, as her children are competitive rowers, or on the family farm milking and feeding calves.

I have been involved in the rural sector most of my life. From attending Lincoln College, where I completed a BCom Ag, through to working on the family sheep and beef property in Maungaturoto. Then along with my parents, we decided to convert it to dairy in 1993. This continued a family connection with the industry which dates back generations.

In partnership with my wife, Kate, we milk 550 cows on the family farm, producing 172,000 KgMs. We also rear 300 beef calves. We have two children, Eve(18), and Jeremy(16).

My Governance experience is a mixture of local and national. My passion is National Politics. The opportunity to influence and shape our country is a privilege I enjoy.

I would like to help lead, shape, and influence the direction of the rural sector for future generations so they can enjoy the benefits our family have. I am a good communicator and strategic thinker. By partaking in this course I hope to gain further skills to help rural New Zealand.

Director of Wairua Dairies Ltd - a dairy/ dairy support/ beef rearing irrigated farm in the Maraekakaho district located west of Hastings, Hawkes Bay.

Ivan is Vice-Chair of Ngaruroro Irrigation Society, a group of 60 irrigators based on the Ngaruroro River, west of Hastings. Members interests include horticulture, viticulture, olives, cropping, beef, sheep & dairy.

Ivan is a director on Irrigation NZ, the representative body for New Zealand’s irrigation sector, with over 3600 members. He is also the dairy farmer representative on the Hawkes Bay Regional Council (HBRC) TANK Group a 30 member community group which has been meeting since October 2012, tasked with making plan change recommendations to Council, on the catchments.

Ivan is a Director of Wairua Dairies which in 2016 Wairua Farm won four awards in the East Coast Ballance Farm Environment Awards. The farm has also won the Water Force Integrated Management Award, Hill Laboratories Harvest Award, Balance Agri-Nutrients Soil Management Award & the LIC Dairy Farm Award.

Ivan’s recreational interests include motorsport both circuit racing & tarmac rally.

I’m married to Gillian and have two teenage children – we happily live in Cambridge.

I am an experienced business professional who has developed a wide range of management skills, combined with a strong background within the Information Technology industry and the New Zealand Dairy industry. 

In my varied management roles, I have focused on the key objectives of driving business success, driving the success individuals and of the teams, I lead. 

Key successes:

• Helping build the Instillery Group and growing it into a 80 person sustainable business in a little over 7 years - A wonderful journey and only just the beginning 
• Seeing people grow and succeed while working with me has been rewarding and this is especially so when those people have gone on to very successful roles in their own right
• Personally shifting focus from gaining success through management and leadership as a hands-on CEO to gaining the same success but via governance
• Establishing Kiwitahi Pastoral and laying the foundation for this business to be a true leader in the dairy industry through sound environmental, financial and animal management policies while building the best team of people and advisory available
• Winning Waikato business leader of the year (2015)

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).

Born and breed in Wellington I left the concrete jungle at 16 to Balclutha to study at Telford,

I’m a rare breed of townie who wanted to go farming, I’ve been Dairy farming now with more than 20 years’ experience, 50/50 share milking 500 cows with businesses interests in another 700 cow 50/50 job. 2015 Southland/Otago Share farmer of the year including 5 merits and the National Environment merit award. Current vice chair Telford farm board, Trustee of the Southern Dairy Development Trust 700 cow southern dairy hub, National exe member for the Dairy Industry Awards.

I’m passionate about the agriculture sector and the development and education of young people, I bring a range of skills to the table, I have a sound financial understanding of budgets and accounts, strategic planning and most importantly common sense approach to problems.

I am a director and consultant at Eltorito based out of Ngatea, providing business management services to primary industry businesses. I joined Eltorito three years ago. Prior to that, I had a variety of roles at Fonterra, where I was able to combine my passion for agriculture with my economics and commercial expertise.

I am originally from Mid-Canterbury, where I had a sheep and arable farming upbringing before studying Economics and Finance at Otago University. I have had experience with large scale global businesses in New Zealand (Fonterra and Coca-Cola) and the United Kingdom (Sainsbury’s and GSK).

My wife Lisa and I have two young sons, Harry (5) and Ted (3). Our business interests include Waikato and South Otago dairy farm equity partnerships, a dairy reporting software (Trev) and Eltorito. Outside of work I try to spend as much time with our family as I can, am an avid duck shooter and a fanatical Crusaders supporter.

I am the General Manger of a large family based farming enterprise in the King Country. I have been in this role for the past 8 years. My wife and I are also shareholders on two of the properties within the JD & RD Wallace / Kotare Pastoral group. Prior to this role we have share-milked and managed dairy farms in the Waikato and Canterbury regions.

I am a member of the JD & RD Wallace treasury committee and have recently been selected as a community representative on the Waipa Catchment Committee.

I currently own Pak n Save Mount Albert and have owned this store since 12 June 2017. I am passionate about the supermarket industry and am dedicated to making my store and the greater Foodstuffs community the best it can be. I keep up to date with the latest systems and technologies coming into our market and I want to be a part of steering our industry into the future. I relish a challenge and am always looking for new ways to learn and expand my knowledge of the industry.

I live in Westgate with my wife, Sheetal Chawla. I have two children, Tej aged 13 and Aysha aged 8.

I have a very active interest in my temple based in Hamilton, Radha Krishna. I travel there every weekend to worship and do my weekly duties.

Through my family, I sponsor a charitable lunch that feeds the poor each week in a temple in the village I grew up in, in India. I holiday in India yearly to visit my family and also visit the temple where I sponsor the lunch. My goal is to one day create a trust that provides a hot meal to all the poor once a day in my home village.

I enjoy travelling and experiencing different cultures and countries.

Ivan has a particular interest in business and financial performance, succession and good governance. He is a director or advisory director for 10 medium to large scale farming businesses and is a trustee of many family trusts.

In his time on the Fonterra Shareholders’ Council between 2013 and 2018, he has sat on the Governance and Ethics, Performance and Co-operative Culture Committees, was the Deputy Chair of the Fonterra Shareholders’ Council and an observer on Fonterra’s Co-operative Relations (CRC) Sub-Board Committee. Ivan is a life member and a registered member of the NZ Institute of Primary Industry Management and is a past National President.

Based in Invercargill, Ivan is the principal of Agribusiness Consultants Ltd, heading a team of specialist and general farm consultants who cover all aspects of farm management, from day-to-day management fine-tuning to property assessments, investment analysis and property supervision. He has international experience having consulted in Ireland and the UK.

Graduating with a Bachelor of Agricultural Science (Hons) in Farm Management from Lincoln University, Ivan worked for MAFTech for three years before setting up his own consultancy practice.

Ivan and his wife Vivienne have three adult children and are shareholders in a dry-stock property and three dairy properties, milking a total of 1950 cows, producing a total of 870,000 kilograms of milk solids.

A Foodstuffs trainee operator award in 1997 spurred Jason on to a successful career in the food and beverage industry, which he joined in 1984 at the age of 16.

Just a year after receiving that award, he bought a supermarket in Taumarunui. Today Jason owns one of New Zealand’s largest food retail outlets, Victoria Park New World supermarket in Auckland, and has chaired the group that represents New World North Island supermarket owners.

Foodstuffs North Island sponsored Jason’s participation in a joint Fonterra/Massey University governance programme. As part of the Te Hono Movement, he’s also taken part in a Stanford University programme with other New Zealand food and beverage business leaders to investigate global opportunities for their businesses. For him, the emphasis was on the opportunities for Māori and his industry.

Jason has taken on governance roles that are helping him fulfil his vision of prosperity and respect on the global stage for Māori food and beverage businesses. He is currently the Chair of Ngāpuhi Asset Holdings Company and a Director on the Foodbowl Innovation Board.

In 2015 Jason won the Aotearoa Outstanding Māori Business Leader of the Year award. This award recognises an individual who has demonstrated outstanding leadership characteristics including strong vision, inclusive management, governance skills, altruism, humility and making collaborative decisions for the common good.

Jason stands proudly at the vanguard of Māori supermarket ownership and innovation in Māori food and beverage businesses. He belongs to Nuku ki te Puku, Callaghan Innovation’s Māori economy programme which is fostering ideas for Māori businesses, building their networks and challenging their work practices. Being part of that programme inspired him to develop his governance skills for use within iwi.  

I previously served on the Fonterra Shareholders Council for many years representing the South Canterbury ward and currently sit on the directors' remuneration committee.

I was very involved as a sheep farmer, in trying to change the structure of the red meat industry. It became obvious that the cooperative companies within the industry were struggling for many reasons, but what stood out for me was the apathy and lack of participation by the majority of the shareholder/ suppliers and due to this often a poor quality of farmer representation within the companies.

I am married to Cara and have three school-aged children. My wife and I own two dairy farms at the foot of the Hunter Hills in South Canterbury. I completed a Bachelor of Agricultural Science at Lincoln University in 1987. I have been dairy farming since 2009 previously having been a sheep farmer.

I have confidently spoken to thousands of farmers in both formal and informal settings during my time as MIAG (Meat Industry Action Group) chairman. I have chaired a number of meetings as chairman of Federated Farmers Meat and Fibre and as MIAG chairman.

Julie has been involved in the dairy industry all her life, and her family have been for many generations. Julie’s career following university was as a Consulting Officer.

Julie and Brian won the Hauraki Plains/Coromandel Dairy farmer of the year competition in 1997, and have maintained a highly productive and profitable business over the years.

With an industry good background, it’s not surprising that Julie promotes the dairy industry whenever possible. An interest in promoting farming to young people has led to many opportunities, most recently as Chair of the Donald Pearson Farm in Brookby, Auckland.

Julie is a member of the Fonterra Shareholders Council. She is Chair of the Co-operative Culture committee and represents Fonterra on the NZ Dairy Industry Awards Trust.

Julie’s passion is dairy farming, and she is enjoying encouraging young people into dairy farming, promoting the industry and continuing to take an innovative approach to challenges around environment, and sustainability in dairy farming.

George has a long-term commitment to the dairy industry and believes in the importance of people, sustainability and diversity.

George has a long-term commitment to the dairy industry and believes in the importance of people, sustainability and diversity.

George’s previous roles include Chair of the Fonterra Farms Advisory Board and dairy representative on the Waikato Regional Council Collaborative Stakeholder Group. He has been an active member of the Waikato Rural Support Trust and a farmer panel member of DairyNZ’s P21 project.

He has held roles on the Fonterra Shareholders’ Council and NZ Dairy Group Shareholders’ Council and was a Shareholder Representative on the NZ Dairy Group Committee that researched and developed the current governance model for NZDG & Fonterra.

George has also been the Chair and instigator of the Great Milk company and Func-nutrition, a Trustee and Chair of the South Waikato Economic Development Trust and a government-appointed Landcorp Director.

At present George and Sharon own two small dairy farms, around 70 hectares each on the outskirts of Tokoroa, milking between 170 and 180 cows. The couple also own a 40-hectare dry-stock block that has both dairy grazers and forestry nursery lease. Diversification is by way of an extensive portfolio of shares in food companies.

Glenn acts as a consultant to the rural sector specialising in governance issues, along with succession and organisational planning.

He is a member of the Institute of Directors, Chair of Waibury Farms Group, an independent director or trustee of several family-owned farming businesses, trustee of three Hamilton-based charitable trusts, Director of Waikato Racing Club and a member of the Fonterra Directors’ Remuneration Committee in 2017.

A New Zealand born, Lincoln University graduate in Agricultural Commerce majoring in Valuation and Farm Management, Glenn has been involved in the ownership and operation of farms in Waikato and North Canterbury, the latter being through a syndicate of investors and farmers.

After a 20 year career in rural banking, Glenn moved on in 2008 to fulfil a desire to be self-employed and to be more involve with the governance of agricultural companies. To that end, he participated in the Fonterra Governance Development Programme during 2010/11.

Hinerangi is on the board of Parininihi Ki Waitotara Inc (PKW), Director of PKW Farms LP and Chair of PKW Trust. 

PKW produces over three million kilograms of milk solids and is Fonterra's largest Taranaki supplier. It does this on 20 per cent of its land with most of the residual land leased out. This land forms the basis for many other Taranaki dairy businesses.

Hinerangi is motivated to participate in the Fonterra Governance Development Progamme by the desire to be an ever useful tool for the organisations and communities she serves. Hinerangi's governance experience spans iwi, tertiary education, SMEs, philanthropy, economic development and agribusiness. She serves on the board of Generosity NZ that provides information and access to $4.6 billion of philanthropic giving.

Hinerangi is a Trustee of Agri-Women's Development Trust and supports the notion that all parts of the dairy industry and wider agricultural sector, including women and Māori, be engaged and enabled to contribute and innovate through diverse experiences and ideas.

Hinerangi and husband Kiwa Hammond established AATEA Solutions in 2000 to help unlock potential through training, research and strategic communications. They help organisations engage authentically for mutually beneficial results. They have bases in Taranaki and in Wairoa, Hawke’s Bay, where they now live with their five children. Hinerangi is a fifth generation custodian/trustee of their whanau farm in Hawera.

James’ current focus is on continuing to build a farming enterprise that is sustainable and scalable, his wife Belinda, and their three sons live and farm in Culverden, North Canterbury. They have grown through a wider family business and gained experience in both project management of dairy conversions and general business management. 

Their current focus is on continuing to build a farming enterprise that is sustainable and scalable.

Agriculture in the Amuri Basin is heavily reliant on irrigation. Sustainable water management is critical to the sector’s future and this is where James’ current governance interests lie as a director of Amuri Irrigation Ltd and a committee member of the Hurunui Waiau Zone Committee.

The zone committee operates as a joint committee of Environment Canterbury and the Hurunui District Council, charged with working collaboratively to develop a water management implementation program.

James believes the co-operative business model has served agriculture well and is where his on-going governance interest lies.

Jeremy is married to Rachel Savage, with two boys Jack (2002) and Charles (2005).

A practicing Farm Consultant since June 1996, Jeremy is a founding shareholder of Macfarlane Rural Business, Ashburton. Jeremy and Rachel have developed business interests in New Zealand Agriculture, including a 370 cow dairy farm in Golden Bay, shareholder in Canterbury Grasslands (New Zealand, USA dairy farming company), Shareholder in MRB (Macfarlane Rural Business) and partner in DSM (Dairy Systems Monitoring Benchmarking Software).

Personal Interests. Aim to keep a healthy work life balance with the family. Including, boating, fishing, camping, skiing, and Ultra Marathons.

Personal Objectives. To keep a well balanced life style between working and growing our business, family and personal life. The family to maintain a relationship with agriculture, and to ensure our children grow up in a rural environment and develop values it offers.

Professional Objectives. Continuing role in Consulting supporting farming clients while increasing my foot print of influence in the dairy industry. Supporting my community and industry with active governance roles (Currently Ashburton College BOT Chair, NZIPIM Director). Challenging my paradigms and ensuring continuous learning (Kaizen). Creating opportunities for greater exposure to international trends and issues.

Born and bred in the Wairarapa, John is proud to be a fifth-generation dairy farmer.

He and his wife Lisa live on their family farm with their two children. The family milks 1500 cows across two operations, and John is currently employed in an operations manager capacity. 

John is passionate about the benefits agriculture brings to wider NZ, and believes there is a significant competitive advantage in our pasture-based farming systems.

The positions that John holds reflect his interest in agriculture and the wider community. He is the Wairarapa Ward representative on the Fonterra Shareholders’ Council, a member of the Users Establishment Group (Water Wairarapa irrigation scheme), Vice-President of the Gladstone Rugby Club and has completed DairyNZ’s Dairy Environment Leaders Programme and the Fonterra Governance Development Programme.

John holds a Bachelor of Commerce in Management (First Class Honours) and has employment experience in human resources and industrial relations in a large organisation, as well as international consulting experience in the application of IT systems.

Born and bred on a cropping and beef finishing farm in the Netherlands, I moved to New Zealand in 2003 after graduating as a veterinarian at Utrecht University. After working as a mixed vet in South Taranaki for almost three years, made the move to Southland in 2006 where I took up a role as a dairy vet with VetSouth in Winton.

Over the past few years I have taken up a number of leadership and management roles within the clinic, as well as a position on the VetNZ board of directors. I am also chair of the Board of Trustees of our local Heddon Bush School. 

Grant brings a wealth of business growth experience over a wide range of industry and governance roles. Having grown his start-up dairy business into a large multi-farm operation, he has applied these skills to lead a number of start-up businesses to success.

Grant works closely with businesses as they look to establish a first Board or work to get the best out of their governance team. Grant has strong coaching skills and is adept at directing people, extracting information, solving problems and finding resolutions.

Based in Taupiri, North Waikato, Grant’s farming interests are predominately dairy with dairy support and dry-stock farming over 730 hectares.

Grant’s governance experience encompasses the agri-sector, workplace safety and wellbeing, governance and tertiary accommodation. Grant is the Managing Director of Waikato Dairy Ltd and an active member of the New Zealand Institute of Directors.

Hinerangi is an experienced governor in both the commercial and not-for-profit sectors. With more than 15 years’ experience in governance, she brings an ability to listen first, contribute to the team and deliver results.

With more than 15 years’ experience in governance, Hinerangi brings an ability to listen first, contribute to the team and deliver results.

Hinerangi is a fellow of the New Zealand Institute of Chartered Accountants and a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit. She has significant investment, financial and general management experience having worked as Chief Financial Officer for Tainui Group Holdings Ltd and Executive Director Operations at Te Wananga o Aotearoa.  

Hinerangi is Chair of Parininihi ki Waitotara Inc (PKW), one of New Zealand's largest Māori corporations producing three million kilograms of milk solids per annum, from 20 farms and 3000 hectares. PKW also leases 17,000 hectares and harvests and processes crayfish through Port Nicholson Fisheries. PKW is a turnaround story, having established a management team, new farming models and diversified investment in the last six years.

Hinerangi is a member of the Board of Te Ohu Kaimoana, Chair of the Audit and Risk Committee and, until recently, Chair of the Investment Committee overseeing $100m in funds.  Te Ohu Kaimoana is a major shareholder in Aotearoa Fisheries Ltd and is responsible for the allocation of the Treaty of Waitangi fisheries settlement and protection of the fisheries settlement value.

Hinerangi is a Director of Aotearoa Fisheries Ltd (AFL) and a member of the Audit and Risk Committee. AFL is a significant harvester, processor and distributor of seafood in New Zealand. AFL is also 50 per cent owner of Sealord.  

Hinerangi has been a member of the Board of the Public Trust and a Trustee of the Waikato Community Trust, Trust Waikato. She was on the Board of Trust Waikato for eight years, serving as Deputy Chair and Investment Committee Chair during her tenure.

James Stewart is a fifth generation farmer farming on 600 hectares on the boundary of Palmerston North. 

He is married to Debbie and has three teenage children Sam, Robbie and Olivia. Raised on a sheep farm he left school to work in the dairy sector progressing through to share milking and returning to the family property to convert part of the family farm into dairy which is currently milking 800 cows. 

James became a Fonterra networker in the early years of Fonterra. He then became involved with Federated Farmers, first being Manawatu/Rangitikei dairy chair then Provincial President. From these roles, James is actively involved in advisory boards and committees in the Manawatu region and often is the voice for the agri sector for the province.

Jessie has a management and governance career spanning more than 15 years across a range of sectors including not-for-profit, central and local government, co-operatives and commercial business.

Jessie and her business partner are dairy business owners, leasing 420 hectares in Mid Canterbury, milking 950 cows.

She has an Honours (First Class) degree in Animal Science and has completed the Fonterra Governance Development Programme, the Food and Agribusiness Marketing Experience, the Professional Development Course for Co-operative Directors, and the Kellogg Rural Leadership Programme. She received the 2014 Canterbury Institute of Directors Aspiring Director Award and the 2017 Fonterra Dairy Woman of the Year Award.

Jessie is currently a Director of Alpine Energy Ltd, Ngai Tahu Farming Ltd, Ashburton Trading Society, Bio-Protection Research Centre and RuralCo, she is also a Trustee of Meat the Need and a member of NZ Asian Leaders. She has previously served as a Fonterra Shareholders’ Councillor, on the Board of Federated Farmers Mid Canterbury, Business Mid Canterbury, Connetics Ltd (one-year internship) and DairyNZ (Associate Director).

Jon is a dairy farmer from Murchison in the Tasman district.  He along with his wife have built a successful 520 cow dairy farm business.  In 2017 they were recognised for this being awarded the Sharemilker of the Year for the West Coast / Top of the South and at a National Level collecting the 2017 Leadership Award.  Since winning that title Jon and Vickie have purchased the farm they won the title on and continue to operate in the top 10% for financial performance within the district. 

Supporting the community, they and their three daughters live in as been important and this is reflected in the leadership roles Jon has at the local school, sitting on the Board since 2014 and as the Chair since 2018.  He also gives his time to the local fire brigade and is a Senior Firefighter.  Other roles within the dairy industry have seen Jon serve on the South Island Dairy Event committee and as a Trustee.

Jon has good business acumen and the ability to think strategically along with strong interpersonal skills.  These were developed and grown through his time as a Dairy Farm Consultant with FarmWise in the Bay of Plenty from 2003 to 2010 and as the National Manager of FarmWise for three years until 2013.

Jon is looking to broaden his governance experience and add value to NZ’s rural industry. outside of his current circle of influence.

Karl has been a member of the Foodstuffs North Island Co-operative since 2003, progressing through two New World stores to Pak n Save Kapiti, his current store.

He currently sits on the Foodstuffs North Island Board and several other Board Subcommittees.

Previous governance experience includes several placements on committees in Foodstuffs North Island and Foodstuffs Wellington.

Karl is a very passionate New Zealander with a love of retail grocery, governance and a desire to add to the New Zealand brand.

Kylie is a hands-on farmer, involved all facets of the operation.

I studied commerce and education at Victoria University, and started to grow an investment property portfolio at the age of 18, creating enough equity to enter into an equity partnership 10 years ago.

More recently I have studied Postgraduate Global Leadership and completed the Community Enterprise Leadership Foundation Elevate programme through Waikato University. I’ve completed the Company Direction course with the Institute of Directors, sitting the chartered members exam and assessment last year.

I hold a number of roles with community groups, including Chair of St Patrick’s School Board of Trustees, President of the Multiple Birth Club, Mt Tauhara Gymnastics Club, Taupo Community of Learning, Life Education Trust, Parents Centre, Rotorua Playcentre Association and Pippins leader. I have held a number of governance positions both in the non-profit and business sectors. In 2018 I was named Dairy Woman Community Leader of the Year, and a finalist for Dairy Woman of the Year in 2019. In 2020 I received a local hero medal. I have also been an ambassador for the New Zealand Dairy Industry Awards since 2017.

Malcolm currently owns and is a Director of, Hillcrest New World, a supermarket in Hamilton employing 140 people. He previously owned Morrinsville New World for 10 years.

His family dairy farmed in the Waikato for many years before moving into asparagus, and he is currently the Chair of Boyd’s Asparagus Industries Ltd, the largest grower and packer of asparagus in New Zealand

Having graduated from Waikato University with a Bachelor of Management Studies (Accounting & Information Systems) and becoming a Chartered Accountant, Malcolm went on to hold a number of senior finance and strategy roles in large corporates in New Zealand and the UK. He completed postgraduate work in marketing at the Australian Graduate School of Management (AGSM) during this time and completed the Fonterra Governance Development Programme in 2015.

Moving into business ownership, Malcolm joined what is now Go-Bus, where he was a shareholder, Director and Chief Financial Officer.

After selling Go-Bus and now with 11 years of experience in the supermarket industry, Malcolm has become a passionate ‘grocer’. He is currently a Director of Foodstuffs North Island Ltd, a member of the Audit, Risk & Compliance Committee and is the New World Committee Chair.

Governance is a path Malcolm is actively following and would like to add more to other organisations in this area.

I have farmed in North Otago since graduating from Massey University with a bachelor of Applied Science (Agriculture) in 1998.

 I am married to Julie and we have three school-aged children. Together, we live and farm at Duntroon in the Waitaki Valley inland from Oamaru, where we milk 1800 cows.

As a family, we are very fortunate and proud to live in a very special part of Aotearoa New Zealand. We work hard to ensure our people, animals and the environment are given every opportunity to be at their best.

Off-farm I have held roles in project management, farm advisory and infrastructure development throughout the lower South Island.

During this time I developed a particular interest in water and environmental planning at the local and national level and have spent a considerable amount of time in the Resource Management space since the mid 2000’s.

It has provided opportunities to contribute via governance roles in local irrigation Company’s, Irrigation New Zealand, and as a community appointed member of the Lower Waitaki South Coastal Zone Committee, a subsidiary of Environment Canterbury and the Waitaki and Waimate District Councils.

I have been an active member of the Dairy Environmental Leaders network throughout this time.

More recently I have been elected to the Boards of LIC and the North Otago Irrigation Company (NOIC).

Mike started his farming career as a farm cadet after completing a Diploma in Agriculture. 

He and his wife Andrea moved through the ranks to 50:50 sharemilking by 1980 and purchased their own farm in 1992.

In 1996 Mike furthered his investment in farming and was a founding partner in a dairy farm conversion property in the Canterbury region. The success of this meant that additional farms were purchased and developed and Spectrum Dairies Ltd was incorporated in 2001. At its peak, the Spectrum Group consisted of 12 dairy properties in Canterbury and a large scale grazing block in Southland.

Mike has been the General Manager of the group since 2007 and played an integral part in the business growth over this period, which included leading the group through a complete restructure in 2013 to allow the exit of a principal shareholder. Mike is now the majority owner and Managing Director of the remaining Spectrum Group, which consists of seven Canterbury dairy farms, and has a majority share in a large-scale dairy grazing operation in Southland.   

Mike has experience as chair, director and trustee for a varied range of organisations including Chair of Pokuru School Board of Trustees, Chair of NZ Large Herd’s Conference Committee and Chair of Koromiko Grazing Ltd.

Mike has completed the Kellogg Rural Leadership Programme, ASB FAME Programme, NZ Icehouse Programme and Institute of Directors Course.

Having served on the Ag ITO board for 5 years and as a governor in our own business as well as having chaired two representative 2 industry bodies I have a strong interest in excellence in governance.

I am keen to contribute to any organization, my strengths are being collaboration, a strong industry network and having a strong interest in excellence in governance and representation.

I was born and raised on a Te Puke sheep and beef farm.

Converted to dairy in 90’s and now milk 420 cows on a self-contained unit. We are currently converting 4 hectares to kiwifruit.

I am married to Fiona, who runs our coffee supply business. We have two children, Innes and Lachlan.

I was a Fonterra Shareholder Councillor for 9 years serving most of my tenure on the Governance and Ethics Committee.

Owen is the Managing Director of Greig Farming Ltd, a family-owned farming operation based in the Manawatu. Under his strategic direction and management, the farm has grown through land and business acquisitions.

This success has been achieved through the establishment of excellent operational and governance processes and systems. The high regard for the operation and its success contributed to Owen’s election to the Fonterra Shareholders’ Council in 2009. He considered this an important role which required him to represent approximately 300 Fonterra shareholders and take their concerns and issues to Council.

Owen’s current governance roles include Chair of the Manawatu Chamber of Commerce and Chair of Hunting and Fishing New Zealand. He is also a member of the Board of Trustees for Talent Central.

His previous governance experience includes Chair of Manawatu Federated Farmers’ Dairy Section, Chair of Young Farmers (Kairanga) and a member of the National Organising Committee for Young Farmer of the Year.

As a director, Owen would bring valuable experience from a strong and varied history, access to a wide network, total commitment, energy and a huge drive to succeed also a strategic mind that can see the way forward and evaluate the noise on the way through.

A proud Northlander, Kate possesses significant governance and executive experience in both public and private sectors. A commercially astute individual who can assist any Board in the development and implementation of short and long term strategic goals. Willing to ask questions and challenge the status quo, providing oversight and diversity of thought to contribute to success.

Governance roles include:

Delta Produce Co-Op Ltd / Independent Chair  2016 – Current

Telford Training Farm / Director  2021- Current

Riversedge Ltd / Director  2002 – Current

Ravensdown Ltd / Director  2014 – 2019

The Open Polytechnic of New Zealand / Council Member (Ministerial Appointee)  2016 – 2020

Rural Support Trust Northland / Trustee (Chair for 4 years)  2011 – 2017

Community positions:

Northland Agricultural Forum / Deputy Chair 2010 - Current

Institute of Directors / Northland Organising Committee 2015 – Current

Kate has an agribusiness and educational background. She grew up on a Sheep and Beef farm then worked up through the sharemilking system to farm ownership in Northland with her husband Neville. For 16 years until 2014, Kate was employed by the Primary ITO in several roles – the last as National Agribusiness Development Manager.

Co-operative: Foodstuffs

I joined the Foodstuffs North Island Cooperative in 2001.

Before joining Foodstuffs I spent over 10  years in the Egg Industry, which was a Cooperative structure not unlike the Fonterra structure, and prior to this as a Banker with National Bank of  Zealand.

I am currently the Owner Operator of PAK’nSAVE Westgate, West Auckland, and have owned 2 New World’s and a Four Square in my 20 year grocery journey.  I’m an elected member of the PAK’nSAVE Banner Representation Group, which represents the interests of fellow owner/operators and the future direction for our banner.

Marcus is a strong believer in New Zealand’s primary industries and very committed and determined to ensure local communities and environments prosper and remain sustainable for future generations.

Marcus worked in the financial markets in Wellington for ICAP from 1995-2005 and is now a Director and owner of Hononga Farming Ltd, a fourth-generation, 600h hectare sheep and beef farm outside of Waipukurau, finishing up to 7200 stock units per year.

Marcus plays a very active role in local community governance. Previously Chair of the Waipukurau School Board of Trustees, he’s currently an elected Trustee of Centralines (the local consumer-owned and operated electricity lines business), a Trustee of the Central Hawke’s Bay Community Trust and Co-Chair of the East Coast Rabobank Client Council.

Marcus is a graduate of Otago University, holding a Bachelor of Arts. He has completed the Agriculture Leadership programme in 2010 and the Fonterra Governance Development Programme 2016/2017.

Mike has been actively involved in governance throughout his career. He has been a member of the NZ Institute of Directors since 2004, completed the Fonterra Governance Development Program in 2007-08 and is a member of the Fonterra GDP Alumni program.

Mike has maintained an active role as a company director (mostly independent chair roles) while undertaking executive roles within larger-scale dairy farm businesses.

Throughout his executive and governance roles, Mike has focused on developing simple strategies to create long term value for shareholders and worked with a team of highly capable people to execute the strategy. This experience has not been without its failures and challenges, which have created the opportunity to improve and execute better. Mike works on the principles that full transparency, providing quality and timely information and promoting the ability to challenge the status quo, are all necessary attributes of any organisations that create long term value.

Mike is recognised as someone who is very well organised, can assimilate complex issues quickly and efficiently, develop credible solutions through a process of robust analysis, discussion and independent thought and get on with making things happen.

His personal mantra is “to be the best that I can be” in whatever he does - being unaffected, being authentic, having integrity, and facing problems squarely help him make a difference to do the right thing.

My wife Olivia and I have three young children, Sophia (9), Jack (7) and Elise (5) and have been dairy farming in the Waitaki Valley on my family farm for the past 10 years. I am the Managing Director of our family farming operation as well as contract milking the dairy unit. We milk 2,100 cows through two 60 bail rotaries.

I studied at Lincoln University and throughout this time and after graduating I gained experience in various areas of agriculture including cropping, dairy and contracting. I travelled and worked overseas for a period before returning to the farm to become the fourth generation to take the reigns. I have grown up in the agricultural sector being raised on the family farm which was sheep and beef until we converted to dairy in 2007. I am very enthusiastic about our world leading agri produce and am a proud Fonterra shareholder.

As a passionate farmer I am eager to grow and learn, in particular around the governance side of business. I have had some experience in this through becoming a member of the Waitaki Valley School BOT in 2016 aswell as directing our farming businesses. My objective is to continue along the path of natural progression and enhance my governance knowledge and experience in the hope to add value to not only my own business but to others as well as to my local and wider rural communities.

Nick is a dairy farmer and father of four children and has been farming with his wife on a large-scale dairy farm in Mid Canterbury since 2011.  

Before taking up dairy farming, Nick studied at Lincoln University, graduating in 1998 with a Bachelor of Commerce and a Masters of Commerce (Agribusiness). He was an agricultural economist and part-owner of a small consultancy firm (Nimmo-Bell) based in Wellington and Hawke’s Bay.

Nick’s work as a consultant required him to deliver financial and economic analyses to a range of corporate and government clients both in New Zealand and overseas. These clients included regional councils, MAF, DairyNZ and a range of corporate clients in New Zealand, and the World Bank, the UN, AusAID and NZAID in developing countries (i.e., Indonesia, Philippines, Vietnam, the Pacific and Central Asia).

Nick’s interest in governance has been piqued by the Fonterra Governance Development Programme and stems from his enthusiasm for all things farming and a particular interest in organisational performance. He hopes to be able to apply the knowledge and skills developed through the course to his existing directorship in his own business and contribute to organisations that are involved in the management of natural resources used in farming.

Ken has dairy and dry stock farming interests in Northland. He is currently a Director of Livestock Improvement Corporation, Chair of the Auckland Farm Environment Awards, Chair of the Duke of Edinburgh Award NZ and Chair of Extension 350. He has previously had directorships in the electricity, communications and contracting sectors in NZ and has been a Director of a contracting company in Australia.

In 2007, Ken was selected for leadership training via an AGMARDT scholarship for the FAME programme which involved study and market visits in China, Japan the USA and Europe. In 2008 he was selected for Fonterra’s Governance Development programme. Ken lives on their farm in Paparoa. In 2009 the property received several awards in the Northland Ballance farm environment awards.

Ken has a B.Ag degree from Massey and is a chartered member of the Institute of Directors.

I am an equity partner on a 169Ha dairy farm in Inglewood, Taranaki.

I am a self-employed chartered accountant and run my own part time practice from the township of Inglewood and divides her time between her clients, the farm and a number of voluntary governance roles in the community. These include Vertical Horizons – a children’s adventure camp that backs onto their farm; Volunteering New Plymouth, facilitating and co-ordinating volunteering efforts within the region; Taranaki Retreat – New Zealand’s only community led suicide prevention initiative.

I also partner with the Department of Conservation to co-ordinate the management of Everett Park – a scenic reserve in one of New Zealand’s first public-private partnerships.

I was a 2019 Volunteering New Zealand National award recipient as well as a 2019 Kiwibank Local Hero for my contribution via my local Rotary Club to a number of grass roots charitable projects that look to alleviate poverty within the community.

Mark is an Associate Director for Southern Pastures Ltd (a large institutional farmland fund based on sustainable dairy farming). Mark has extensive experience in the development of strategic farm plans and infrastructure developments, building teams of people to deliver the desired output and best practice policy development.

In addition to this role, Mark is a Director and business partner in an Equity Partnership Dairy Farm based in Taranaki and is the consultant to a large heifer grazing block in South Taranaki.

Previously, Mark worked as an independent farm management consultant for 18 years in the Taranaki Region and as a New Zealand Dairy Board farm consultant in the Waikato region. Mark has held various dairy farm investments during this time, ranging from 50-50 sharemilking, farm lease and equity partnerships in the Taranaki, Wanganui and Northland regions.

Mark is proudly of Ngati Tuwharetoa and Ngai Tahu descent and enjoys living in Taranaki with his wife and two sons.

Mike is passionate about the benefits agriculture brings to rural communities and to wider NZ.

He and his wife Susan have dairy farming interests in the Matamata-Piako area with Walsh Enterprises Limited totalling 700 cows fully shared with Fonterra. Mike  is currently employed in an operations manager capacity, overseeing the two dairy operations and young drystock block. He has keen interest in the success of Fonterra and the Dairy industry from an education, sustainability and environmental perspective. 

Mike and Susan have three sons, eldest Adam and twins Ryan and Thomas all attending David Street School in Morrinsville where Mike is on the board and Susan teaches part time.

The positions that Mike holds reflect his interest in agriculture and the wider community. He is the Morrinsville Branch Chair for Federated Farmers Waikato and the Lifestyle representative on the Waikato Federated Farmers Executive, a trustee of David Street School board and deputy chair, and a trustee of Waikato Farmers Trust. He has completed Federated Farmers Leaders Programme and the Fonterra Governance Development Programme.

Mike holds a Bachelor of Science and Post Graduate Diploma in Teaching  and Diploma in Agribusiness his experience in teaching, community groups and business gives a great ability to understand and interact with a wide variety of people. 

Morgan grew up on a family farm in the Waitaki Valley and went on to study at Lincoln and Cornell Universities for his Bachelor of Agricultural Science.

He worked as a Dexcel consulting officer for 18 months before undertaking a Master of Science in Agricultural Economics at Purdue University, Indiana, on a Fulbright Scholarship.

Morgan and his wife Hayley are partners in 3 Waitaki valley dairy farms which they run, milking 2500 cows. They have three young children, Lockhart, Harriet and Arabella.

Morgan and Hayley were runners-up in the NZ Sharemilker/Equity Farmer of the Year in 2013 and Morgan also received the 2017 Zanda McDonald Award

In 2013 he attended the USNZ Pacific Partnership Forum in Washington DC as a future partner.

Hi, My name is Nick Webster. Kate and I and our three daughters live near Oamaru in North Otago.  Our farming business includes a 200 ha dairy farm milking 700 cows which we are now into our fourth season and a 450 ha beef finishing/cropping operation. 

Bought up in the family business where a number of outside or independent peoples skills where used, alongside a ‘light bulb’ moment I experienced on a course in Australia has led us to have our business overseen in an advisory capacity by a number of independent people including an independent chairperson.

These people bring different skills and perspectives to the business and have a history in agricultural governance. It is a part of our business I find extremely stimulating and rewarding.

I am excited about the opportunity to undertake the Fonterra governance development program as I see it as a chance to expand my skills in this area while learning from and meeting like-minded participants.

Kevin is Chair of Five Star Pork NZ Ltd, and Cambridge Resthaven Trust Board.

 Kevin and Gillian operate a farming company MERJ Investments Ltd which milks 850 cows on 250 hectares with young stock on 58 hectares adjoining the dairy platform. The Company also own a commercial pig farm on the same property, running 250 sows which in turn produce 5950 bacon weight pigs sold per year.

 We both enjoy family time and watching our children and grandchildren’s accomplishments with great interest.

 Kevin was a Fonterra Shareholders Council from 2010 through 2019 representing and acting as a two-way conduit for Fonterra and farmers in the Waipa area and served as a member of the Performance Committee of SHC having chaired this Committee for two years while also serving on the Leadership team of Council at the same time.

 For the last 9 years, he has been Chair of Directors of a Farmer owned pork marketing company Five Star Pork NZ Ltd, and has been on the Board of that company for approximately 16 years. That business in the last 12 months has had a major transformation and is now a co-operative supply company to a major New Zealand meat processor.

 Kevin is currently Chair of a Community Trust, Cambridge Resthaven, an aged care facility in Cambridge. This is a not-for-profit not-for-loss organisation with assets of $46 million. This Trust has a strong focus in providing facilities and care for those in our community from all facets of life and economic backgrounds and treat them with dignity and respect as they move through their senior years. The Trust is in the final stages of developing a $36 million upgrade to its facilities that will see 72 new Apartments built to replace hospital/care beds and Rest home beds and then care will be available to the resident in the Apartment rather than seeing the residents institutionalised in a traditional facility for aged care. 

He is a Justice of the Peace. Kevin places great value on living in a strong community-minded environment and enjoys contributing to his local Roto-o-Rangi and Cambridge communities.

Liam farms with wife Carol and 3 children Francie (9), Grady (7), Pippa (5) in equity partnership with family, milking 400 cows on a mix of owned and leased land at Warea, Coastal Taranaki.

He was a member of advisory Board for OB Group 3,500 cow operation at Bulls and Central Otago since 2014.

Liam completed B Agr and Dip of Rural Studies (Valuation) at Massey University, finishing in 1996. He has 15 years Agri and Commercial Banking experience with National Bank, ANZ and TSB Bank.

Liam enjoys Rugby, tramping with kids and playing the guitar. He is involved in the local community with schools and coaches Coastal kids rugby. 

Matt was elected to the Fonterra Shareholders’ Council in 2014 to represent the Co-op’s farmers in Rotorua.

Matt is Chair of the Governance & Ethics Committee and a member of the Governance Development Committee. He has previously been a member of the Performance Committee and Chair of the Budget Committee.

Matt is a Director of Fidus Management Group, an agribusiness solutions company.

Matt is a passionate dairy farmer and owner and Managing Director of Milk Solid Ltd, a dairy farming company that owns, leases and sharemilks a number of properties across the South Waikato and Bay of Plenty.

I am 47 years old, married, with 4 sons and liveint Cambridge.

After leaving school I studied law at the University of Otago and then worked as a commercial solicitor in Wellington for 3 years before going farming.

I have been farming for 22 years and gradually built up a 900 cow operation and a water filtration business in Hamilton. When I turned 45 years old I decided it was time to downsize and simplify our business to allow me time to pursue other interests.  We now have only the 400 cow farm that we live on which is run by a lower order sharemilker.

I have returned to university and am currently halfway through my Masters in Law at the University of Waikato specializing in environmental law and agriculture.

I was raised in South Canterbury before attending university studies in Canterbury and I hold a BCom from Canterbury University and a Post Graduate Diploma in Finance from Lincoln University.

A Chartered Accountant, I began my accounting career at PwC. In 2005 I departed New Zealand to work in the UK. After 6 years in London, working in the finance sector, I returned to Christchurch and took up a role within the Corporate Finance division of PwC.

Since 2012 I have been the Chief Financial Officer at Dairy Holdings Limited (DHL) based in Ashburton.  I am a director of the operating entities within the DHL group. 

Nicola is currently a Director of Waikato farming company, JD & RD Wallace Ltd and is an elected Director of Taranaki Veterinary Centre Ltd. 

Nicola farms in Manutahi, South Taranaki and is the sole director of the family farming company. She is a lawyer with an environmental planning background and has worked in local government and private practice roles. She is committed to leadership within the rural sector and the Taranaki community.

At a community level, she is the Chair of the Manutahi Cemetery Committee and has previously held Trustee roles on the Taranaki Health Foundation, the Taranaki Rural Support Trust and the Patea Medical Trust. She was also a member of the Lottery Taranaki Distribution Committee for six years. 

Nicola is building her governance experience with the goal of creating a career path that allows her to use her skills and contribute positively to the businesses and organisations she becomes involved in, whilst providing flexibility around family commitments. 

Nicola completed the Agri-Women’s Development Trust Escalator Programme in 2012 and has completed a director mentoring programme with OSPRI (which runs the NAIT and TBFree programmes).  A life-long learner, she is currently studying towards a qualification in dispute resolution through Massey University.

Paul is a city boy turned farmer. Formal education ended with the completion of 5th form. From there Paul served his building apprenticeship.

Since then with his wife, Chris, they have progressed through the dairy industry, from farm assist, to farm ownership near Matamata where they farm a small split calving herd.

Paul and Chris have also enjoyed being an equity partner in a South Island conversion. More recently diversifying into horticulture.

Richard is a Director of JD & RD Wallace Limited, a large farming business with interests in the Waikato, King Country and across the South Island.

Richard manages Pouarua Farms Limited Partnership, a Hauraki Iwi owned partnership consisting of Nine Dairy farms on the Hauraki Plains.

He is a founding shareholder and Director of Fidus Management Group Limited. He sits on the St Paters School Foundation Committee and is the founder and committee member of the Matamata Piako Three Rivers Charitable Trust. Richard also manages two family dairy farms in the Waikato where he lives with his wife and two young children.

Richard has a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Canterbury and a diploma in agribusiness. In 2013 Richard was part of the Kellogg’s rural leadership development programme run out of Lincoln University.

After eight years working in Supply chain and Manufacturing industries, Richard returned home and went dairy farming. After successfully running two farms simultaneously over a number of seasons he moved into corporate farm management with MyFarm Limited in Canterbury before moving back to the Waikato.

Rob currently holds an executive role as CEO of Market2x Group. He is also an Independent Director of Waitomo Petroleum and a member of the Board of Trustees for St Paul's Collegiate School.

Rob’s background is mainly in the investment banking industry, with 20 years working for Deutsche Bank in Europe, Asia, Australia and New Zealand. The most recent position he held was Global Head of Electronic Trading for Fixed Income, Currencies and Commodities (FICC), based in London.

After being raised on a dairy farm in Te Awamutu, Rob has a passion for farming and related businesses. He is involved in dairy and dry-stock farms in the Waikato, King Country and Wairoa.

Rob attended Canterbury University and holds a Bachelor of Engineering and a Master of Commerce in Economics.

He is currently living in Auckland with his wife and their three children. 

Owner Operator New Milford - Foodstuffs North Island Limited

Director - Foodstuffs North Island Limited

Sarah prior to joining Foodstuffs as the Owner of Four Square Waiheke in 2008, held several senior business roles at Coopers and Lybrand (now PWC) and Telecom New Zealand including the Programme Lead of an operational capability development programme and Head of the 1200-strong Customer Care Team. Sarah became the Owner of her current store, New World Milford in 2010 where she led the closure of the old store and opened a new, very successful store. 

Sarah also brings with her governance experience – she is a director on the Foodstuffs North Island Board, a Board Member of the Milford Business Association and was the Chair of Laura Angels (a fundraising committee for the Laura Fergusson Trust). 

She holds a Bachelor of Physical Education, a Bachelor of Commerce (Accountancy) and is a Chartered Accountant.

Penny has a real passion for great governance and collaborative leadership.

She believes that there must be committed, focused and diverse heads around a governance table that have a very clear mission, vision and strategy.  Communication and positive relationship building are her key strengths.

Penny has more than 25 years of practical farming experience. She has a Diploma in Alternative Dispute Resolution (Mediation) and is a graduate of the Fonterra Governance Development Programme, the Agri-Women’s Development Trust Escalator Programme and the Kellogg Rural Leadership Programme.

She was also an Associate Director on the Ospri (NAIT and TB Free) Board in 2016.

Currently, Penny is the Kaipara representative on the Northland Regional Council and a member of the Northland Dairy Development Trust.

Penny’s future aspirations lie with further governance roles.

I own a business that Herd Owning Sharemilks 450 cows, rears 600 calves per year and leases a 180ha dry stock farm in the Horowhenua. 

In 2013 I was honoured to win the Manawatu Sharemilker/Equity Farmer of the year. 

I am currently the Federated Farmers Dairy Vice Chair and prior to that Chaired the Federated Farmers Sharemilkers Section for four years. I am passionate about progression within the dairy industry and in particular increasing the chances of successful outcomes for Sharemilkers, Contract Milkers and Farm Owners.  

I am also a Wellington Region Fish and Game Councillor, a New Zealand Dairy Industry Awards Trustee and a DairyNZ Associate Director.

Robert is currently the owner and operator of a 588-hectare dairy and sheep farming business at The Key in Northern Southland.

After graduating from Lincoln University in 1995 with a Bachelor of Agricultural Science (Hons), Robert started working as a farm management consultant, then as a dairy farm manager. He went on to be a Rural Manager for the National Bank in Southland between 2003 and 2006.

Robert has been on the Board of Trustees for Mararoa Primary School since 2013 and the Chair since 2015. He is the past Chair and current member of ‘Livestrands’, a Southland based primary industry focus group, and was a Trustee of the Southern Dairy Development Trust between 2010 and 2016.

He completed the Silver Fern Farms “To the Core” Governance Development course in 2015 and stage two of the Fonterra Governance Development Programme in 2015/16.

Robert has won two major agricultural awards during his farming career. He was named New Zealand Young Farmer of the Year in 2003 and won the Southland Ballance Farm Environment Supreme Award in 2015.

I am married to Janine, and we have four children aged 17, 15, 13 and 11.

We own two dairy farms in Southland milking 1800 cows along with a dry stock property.

I Studied at Lincoln University graduating in 1996 with a Bachelor of Agricultural Commerce (Farm Management).

I also Chair the Lower Aparima catchment group. Trustee of Southland Rural Support Trust and am currently on the Fonterra Shareholders Council.

I completed a Bachelor of Agricultural Science degree (Lincoln in 1986), completed the Kellogg leadership programme in 2006 and the Excelerator Business leadership programme Auckland University in 2007.

Since leaving university I have been predominately involved in the Banking sector and are currently, Regional Manager S.I. for Westpac Agribusiness. 

I am located in Invercargill and married to Gaylene, we have two children, Jenna (18) and Mike (16).

In 2002 we had built up enough capital and entered farming by buying and leasing land and completing a dairy conversion. This farm has been expanded to now produce 260,000 kg ms. In 2006 we formed an equity partnership with another couple and we converted another farm, we have since expanded this farm and are on track to produce 350,000 kg ms this coming season. Our third farming investment is in Rimu SA (Chile), we’re small shareholders in this business that has 40 dairy farms. 

In September 2013 I became a farmer elected director of Ravensdown Limited. In September 2017 I was appointed as a director of The Power Company (plus subsidiaries), a Southland/West Otago based lines company that also has JV’s in Otago Net and in hydro and wind generation.

We currently run two dairy farms totalling 1350 cows just north of Christchurch through a mix of lease, ownership, share-milking and run off operations. Living very close to town and farming amongst lowland streams, and with over 20 lessors to keep happy, we are acutely aware of our social, environmental and economic responsibilities.

Our family were original suppliers to our local coop, and I am keen to make sure that the principles upon which our foundation coops were established continue within our now much bigger coops.

Learning about governance of farming cooperatives is a key reason for my interest in the GDP. With the importance of cooperatives to individual and collective success, it is vital that we have a wide spectrum and depth of people with knowledge of cooperative principles and governance.

Ron is Executive Director of SIDDC (South Island Dairying Development Centre), a partnership between Lincoln University, DairyNZ, Ravensdown, LIC, Plant and Food Research, AgResearch and SIDE (SIDE is a network of South Island Dairy Farmers).

SIDDC’s focus is the advancement of South Island dairy farming through networking and harnessing the complementary capabilities of its partners.

In February 2014 Ron was appointed, as a community member, to the Selwyn-Waihora Zone Committee, a Subcommittee operating as part of the Canterbury Water Management Strategy (CWMS). He represented this Committee on the CWMS Regional Committee in 2015 and 2016.

Ron is also one of the inaugural directors of the operating business of the Southern Dairy Hub, a joint venture research and demonstration farm facility owned by DairyNZ, AgResearch and local farmers (through the Southern Dairy Development Trust).

Lincoln University has delegated the management of its demonstration farm to SIDDC to show best practice in productivity, profitability and sustainability. The farm has voluntarily chosen to meet future nutrient loss regulations while maintaining current profitability.

Previously Ron worked in a range of roles across the New Zealand agribusiness sector, primarily in the arable and dairy sectors and in most parts of New Zealand.

After growing up on our family dairy farm in Gippsland, Victoria, I undertook a Bachelor of Veterinary Science at the University of Melbourne. Upon completion, I worked at the Tatura Veterinary Clinic in Northern Victoria in predominantly dairy cattle practice for 2 years. In 2009 I returned to our family farm as farm manager, and in 2013 progressed to sharefarming and purchase of the herd. My wife Belinda and I now operate a 50:50 sharefarming partnership with my parents, milking 520 spring calving cows. In 2015, we transitioned our business to once a day milking, and in 2016 Belinda and I purchased 40 Ha adjoining the farm, bringing our milking area to 158 Ha, with 100 Ha of support area.

I joined the Fonterra supplier forum in 2012 as a Gippsland representative, and in 2016 was appointed to the Bonlac Supply Company board. BSC represents all farmer suppliers of Fonterra Australia and provides a conduit between farmers and Fonterra management. We consult with Fonterra on terms of milk supply, provide feedback on supplier sentiment and on-farm conditions, and provide leadership development opportunities for our farmers. In January 2019 I was appointed as deputy chair of BSC.

Belinda and I have 2 children, Eloise aged 3 and Patrick 1, and outside of the farm Belinda and I are involved in both dairy and non-farming community groups and enjoy getting away camping or visiting friends and family spread all over the state and beyond.

I have governance/community roles as a Springdale School Board Trustee, Chair of Springdale Centenary Committee and Chair of Te Aroha District Calf Club Committee.

I am a member of New Zealand Society of Soil Science, The New Zealand Institute of Agricultural Science, Agronomy Society of New Zealand, and Federated Farmers.

My wife Louise and I met while studying toward our PhD’s at Lincoln University and we were both research fellows at University of Western Australia. My Australian research examined how water availability regulates the diversity and function of the soil microbial community within key land-use systems. I have collaborated with scientists from New Zealand, UK and Australia to establish a network of researchers interested in pursuing common research goals within the fields of microbial nutrient cycling and microbial ecology.

Since returning to dairy farming 7 years ago, I have focused on creating a structured management system for our 5 dairy farm businesses. Initially, this involved altering our business structure by separating farm ownership (trust) and operation (company). Clear board and operation roles for each family member were then established, goals, strategy and budgets prepared and discussed with managers. We have also embarked on projects focusing on native and exotic planting and hydrological management to reduce our environmental footprint while improving ecological value, animal welfare and summer grass production.

Richard has held general management and CEO roles in the agriculture, horticulture and consumer retail sectors.

His experience has centred around roles in co-operative businesses and private entities, ranging from entrepreneurial high growth start-ups to mature businesses. He has a track record of successfully working with founders and business owners in growing, developing and turning around businesses.

He has an undergraduate degree in Commerce, an MBA from the Melbourne Business School, and has completed the Fonterra Governance Development Programme and the DairyNZ Rural Governance Development Program. He is also a member of the New Zealand Institute of Directors.

Richard has held positions on the Fonterra Shareholders’ Council (2013-16) and the LIC Shareholders’ Council (2010-14).

I come from a pioneering family in Raglan that dates back to 1836 when the Rev James Wallis established the first Weslian mission in the district. I was born and raised on a sheep and dairy farm in Okete Raglan.

Prior to returning to farming in 2000, we spent ten years with a non-for-profit mission organisation. My wife Shayney and I bought our first farm in 2004.

We spent several years travelling into SE Asia during this time doing mission work.  The latter half of the ten years I spent as a campaign director in events management with the same organisation working in Australia, the U.S and India.

I have been on the Fonterra Shareholders’ Council representing farmers in the Hamilton (now Waikato West) ward since 2013. During this time I have taken every opportunity to upskill in the areas of Governance and Representation. This has included completing the Kellogg rural leadership programme and the Fonterra Governance Development Program.

I also served on the Board of Trustees for Te Uku primary school for four years, on the Boards of Tearfund NZ and Flame Cambodia (NGO), and as Chairperson of Raglan Surf Life Saving Club since 2019. I have a Diploma in Agri Business Management.

After completing his Bachelor of Agriculture degree from Massey University in 1985, Terence embarked on a dairy farming career which has progressed to ownership of two dairy farms in Northland.

Between 2008-2017 Terence served on the Fonterra Shareholders’ Council, a nationally-elected body which represents Fonterra farmers, communicates their interests and views to the Co-operative’s Board and plays an active role in monitoring the performance of Fonterra.

During this time Terence completed the Kellogg Rural Leadership Programme.

Terence continues to be an advocate for the Northland community and wider dairy industry. He is the Chair of the Northland Dairy Development Trust, which drives and manages dairy research in Northland, and he acts as a dairy industry advisor to the Northland Regional Council, which has included being the Chair of the Effluent Management Subcommittee.

Tony Coltman has over 25 years’ experience in rural leadership and advisory roles, both in New Zealand and abroad, including several years in rural banking. Tony has always had a passion for farming, even though he does not come from a farming background. He graduated from Lincoln University with a BCom in Agriculture and a Diploma in Farm Management (with Distinction) and completed the Fonterra Governance Development Programme in 2016, and is a member of the NZ Institute of Directors. He has been on the board of Ruralco/ATS and is in his fifth year as the Health and Safety chair. He has recently been elected onto the board of Central Plains Water, the largest irrigation scheme in New Zealand, covering 45,000 ha. 

For the past eight years, Tony has been the Manager & Director of a 3300-cow equity partnership in Dunsandel, and for the five years prior was a shareholder and manager of Focal Dairies, a 2500 cow pasture based dairy operation in Missouri, USA. Tony has a long history of engagement in the industry, being a Tactic for Tight Times Farmer, a Benchmark farm for Lincoln University, a Lincoln Dairy farm voluntary advisor, and an active leader in the successful Forages for Reduced Nitrogen Leaching Programme. He recently received the Regional Supreme Award for Canterbury in the Ballance Farm Environment Awards.

Tony believes the key to creating positive change is by getting involved and learning. He is determined to protect farmers’ licence to farm by showcasing the great things they do. Tony and his wife, Dana, have four children and when time allows, he enjoys hunting and adventure bike riding.

Kia ora koutou katoa

My husband and I are on the family farm at Hillcrest in Oxford, share- milking 650 cows on 219ha and run two run-off blocks-a total of 190ha, as well as our own lease block. We have three girls who I am proud to say are the 6^th  generation being brought up as caretakers of the land in Canterbury. I spent 6 years teaching at Christchurch Boys’ High School, as well as building a career in the dairy industry. As the family succession has evolved so has the responsibility of future proofing the farm for the next generation to come.  For the past 6 years I have been a Lecturer in Agribusiness and Production Management for the Primary ITO. I am actively involved in the family’s two large pig farms , a cropping farm and a sheep and beef unit ; my grandfather established a successful Angus Beef Stud which the family still proudly have today.  I am passionate about being an innovative farmer that will lead by example and I take pride in being a caretaker of my whenua.

My current governance roles I hold are a Director for Motu lodge Stud Limited, Waimakariri Irrigation Company, Chairman of the Canterbury Plan Change 7 Primary Sector Group , Associate Director for the Alliance Group.   I hold a,  B.Sc. (Hons.)Ag 2012, BFA 2008,   Diploma in Teaching and Learning 2009 ,  NZHND 2003.

I am a descendant of Waitaha and Ngati Mamoe , both of which are represented by the Ngai Tahu Iwi. I have a strong affiliation to my land as my whakapapa did before me. The knowledge of my land and farming is comprehensive across the different primary sectors from both a farm gate and corporate perspective. I believe diversity of thought is a strength of mine from my early years studying Fine Arts developing creative problem-solving skills and an entrepreneurial openness to new influences. My inquiry mind-set is the foundation of my teaching pedagogy and I use this in my own business and around the board table. 

Ngā mihi nui, Ka kite anō

After completing a BCom Ag at Lincoln University, Will began his career within ASB Rural and Fonterra gaining exposure to rural finance and the application of commerce and strategy within a co-operative. Needing to immerse himself within the industry, Will began a journey behind the farm gate, starting as a Farm Assistant, finishing as a hybrid lower order share milker/contract milker on 1400 cows in Canterbury.

In 2008, Will was a founding director and investor of an 1100 cow, split calving, Northland dairy farm equity partnership of 25 shareholders. Through the evolution of shareholder motivations, we overhauled elements of the business structure and management to create liquidity and value in a non-growth business.

Having scratched the itch of farming and the desire to support farmers post farm gate, Will is now based in Christchurch with wife Rosa and their two daughters, running an agricultural technology business called the Map of Agriculture.

With a track record in farming, agribusiness, and ten years on the board of a modest dairy farming equity partnership, Will is keen to consider a pathway within primary industry Governance to one day give back to an industry that has already and will continue to enrich his family’s life.

I am a director for seven Aquila Capital investments within Southland and two other business.

I have 35 years experience in the dairy industry, commencing as a farm cadet, and obtaining a diploma in farm management (DIPAG).

I have previously been C.E.O at Castlerock Dairy’s in Southland, a large-scale farm, milking 6000 cows. I currently have a small role overseeing our equity partnership Argyll Dairy Farm Ltd as a managing director of which I am an equity partner based in Clydevale, South Otago milking 2350 cows this spring.

Between 2009 and 2015 I was employed by MyFarm Ltd as senior Agri- farm business leader, based in the Southland regional office and part of the overall senior management team that was based in the North Island.

I have completed the Robo Bank executive development course in Australia in 2013 and the Fonterra Governance Development Programme in December 2015.

I have been married to my wife Jacqui for 32 years and we have 3 adult children.

DairyNZ Director and Nuffield Scholar, Tracy Brown has been leading environmental change for dairy through previous roles as Chair of the DairyNZ Dairy Environment Leaders Programme, Chair of the Ballance Farm Environment Awards Alumni, and as farmer representative on the Dairy Environment Leadership Group (DELG) which oversaw the Water Accord. She was also appointed by Cabinet to the Essential Freshwater Independent Advisory Panel.

Tracy has been involved with setting the future direction for dairy as a farmer rep on the Dairy Industry Strategy Refresh Working Group for Dairy Tomorrow. Currently, she is involved in Māori/iwi governance as a Director for Te Rarawa Farming Ltd, in the Far North and as a Trustee for Te Mahere Whakauka (The Hope Project). She is a past Trustee of Dairy Women’s Network, St Pauls Collegiate School and Matamata Intermediate School. 

Tracy, originally from Northland (Te Rarawa, Ngai tupoto, whakapapa) is married to Wynn. She lives near Matamata on their 700 cow, 310ha (240ha milking platform) system 3 farm ‘Tiroroa’ (extensive view or view to the future) which won the Waikato Ballance Farm Environment Supreme Award in 2010 and the Fonterra Farm Source Responsible Dairying Award in 2018. An Agri-Women’s Development Trust ‘Escalator’ Alumni, she won the ‘Sustainability Superstar’ Award in the 2018 Sustainable Business Network Awards and was a finalist in the 2017 Westpac Women of Influence Awards. 

Tracy was an Economist at the NZ Meat and Wool Boards Economic Service (now Beef + Lamb New Zealand) prior to entering the dairy industry. Tracy has a BAgrSci (Hons) from Massey University, is a Kelloggs Rural Scholar (Lincoln University) and has a postgraduate Diploma in Management Studies (Waikato University). Tracy’s strengths are in strategy, collaboration and connectedness and is a member of the Institute of Directors. Tracy has four teenage/adult children aged 16 to 21yrs and enjoys gardening, walking mountain biking and anything to do with the sea!

My name is Wade Brown and I am the Owner/Operator of New World Kumeu. I am married to Diana, my wife of 22 years and have two daughters.

I have 20 years of international experience working in foreign exchange and interest rate markets. My career took me offshore for 12 years to Tokyo and London - but it was the desire to give my children a Kiwi childhood and to run my own business that bought me home to New Zealand.

In 2007 I became the Owner/Operator of McDonald’s Whakatane and during my five years in the business, I was appointed to the Franchisee Kiwi Leadership (KLT) team. The KLT worked with McDonald’s Senior executives in the planning and management of the business operations on behalf of the operators.

In 2011 I decided it was time to pursue my long term goal of becoming a grocer and in November of that year, I joined foodstuffs as a trainee operator. On May 27 th 2013, I became the owner of my first store, New World Kawerau.

I am currently a Trustee of the Eastern Bay Energy Trust, chair of the Education Committee within the trust and was on the board of Energy Options, a company that was owned by the trust until it was sold in June 2012.

I am very motivated to pursue this type of role further in the future and in particular, I would relish the opportunity to become part of the next generation of leaders on behalf of the Members of Foodstuffs.

William has a BCom from Otago University, attended the Rabo Bank Executive Development Programme and was invited to attend the inaugural Master Class in the Netherlands.

In 2013 William’s farm was awarded the Silver Fern Farms supplier of the year “Plate to Pasture”.

William Oliver is married to Karen with three children. Together they own and operate two sheep, beef and deer farms south of Otorohanga, Northern King Country. Maize is grown on the property and they also have forestry investments.

From 2017-2018 William served as an observer on the Silver Fern Farms Board.

Other governance roles include director of Deer Industry NZ, Te Awamutu Vet Association (Vetora Waikato) and Great Oak Forests (St Paul’s forest investments) and Trustee of the Waitomo Energy Services Customer Trust.

I have been married to my wife Jennifer for 6 years and we have two wonderful toddlers, Annabelle (3.5) and Jonathan (2), with number three on the way.

Over a 10 year career within the dairy industry we have progressed to a position of sharemilking 800 cows over two farms in Dannevirke, with two additional support blocks.

The dairy industry has created an excellent pathway for me to develop myself, so that I can contribute to and carry on the legacy of the industry.

I have a passion to see the local community thrive, and assist in various leadership roles within our community – Federated Farmers, Dairy Industry Awards and at our local church.

Tracey is an action-orientated, empathetic leader who listens actively and acts wisely. She is the energetic and vibrant Mayor of the Tararua District, achieving extraordinary outcomes for the wider community of Tararua. Tracey is also a Justice of the Peace.

Tracey leads collaboratively, focussing on connecting people and working together to achieve maximum results. She is committed to ensuring the Tararua District provides unlimited possibilities for their future generations.

Tracey’s governance experience spans 30 years and currently, she is Chair of the Eketahuna Community Charitable Trust, and the Tararua College Education Trust and the Deputy Chair of the Waireka Trust. Tracey is qualified as a Resource Management Commissioner with a passion for the environment. Tracey is an active member of her local Chamber of Commerce and a member of the Institute of Directors.

Tracey has a love of learning, striving for excellence in governance and leadership. She is a recent graduate of the Agri-Women’s Development Trust Escalator Programme.

I have also dedicated my time to Federated Farmers, recently being elected as Vice-Chair on the National Dairy Executive.

Into the future, I would like to make sure that the agricultural sector has as much to give back to the next generation as what it has given me. With strong leadership and great governance, we all know the possibilities are endless.

Hailing from the beautiful Golden Bay, I farm with my wife and three young active boys (9,8,6) and milk 360 cows on a farm we purchased this season. Milking once a day all season also gives me time and a fantastic opportunity to develop my governance career at a young age.

Having completed the Fonterra Governance Development Programme as well as the Kellogg’s Rural Leadership Programme, it has accelerated my skill set which I’m putting to good use on both the farming operation and also as the vice-chair on the Board of the Rural Service Centre.

I am based in Auckland where I have been working in Investment Banking for the last 10 years.  

Prior to starting my career in Investment Banking, I completed my BE / BCom conjoint at the University of Auckland, while undertaking summer internships at Fonterra (Edgecumbe) and Downer EDI.

I grew up on a family dairy farm in Otorohanga and remain highly interested in the dairy industry.

I have active governance roles in farming businesses, including South Island based Canterbury Grasslands Ltd as a member of its Risk and Finance Committee, and I serve as a Director of Honikiwi Pastoral Ltd, a family owned investment company with interests in dairy farming businesses in New Zealand, Chile and India. 

I am involved with our family dairy and mixed cropping business in Ashley Clinton, Central Hawkes Bay. Prior to that I was in rural banking in the Waikato and Tararua.

Locally, I am treasurer and a founding member of the Tukipo Catchment Care Group and the Sherwood Cricket Club.

Tiaki Hunia joined Fonterra in 2017 as General Manager, Māori Strategy/Pouhere Māori.

As Pouhere Māori, Tiaki is responsible for progressing the Co-operative’s strategic Māori commitments and strengthening its bicultural capability.

He works across the business, to lead, build and implement Fonterra’s vision of a strong partnership with Māori, growing prosperous, healthy and sustainable communities together.

Tiaki previously held a number of roles, most recently with Te Puni Kōkiri, and prior to that, five years as Deputy Māori Trustee, Te Tumu Paeroa. He has also been involved in numerous governance roles with iwi and industry organisations over the last 10 years, notably Ngāti Awa Group Holdings Ltd, Māori Investments Ltd and Pūtauaki Trust.

Currently, Tiaki is the Chairman of the National Maori Kiwifruit Growers Association and a director of Huakiwi Services ltd, a kiwifruit development entity.

Tiaki holds a Bachelor of Law and a Bachelor of Arts in Māori from the University of Auckland. He has previously been admitted as a Solicitor of the High Court of New Zealand and is a member of the Institute of Directors.

I have over 25 years experience in the finance and banking industry in NZ and the UK, dealing complex financial instruments as well as an established executive leadership career in agribusiness management and governance of iwi farming and commercial property interests. I whakapapa to Ngati Raukawa, Ngati Kahungunu and Rangitaane.

In 2018, I formally left the corporate banking environment and stepped away from my role as a Trustee on the Otaki and Porirua Trusts Board to lead the operational management of the Trust's 900 Cow farming operations and commercial property interests.

In 2013-2014, I acted as a member of the Commercial Negotiations Advisor for the interests of all Ngäti Kahungunu ki Wairarapa-Tämaki Nui a Rua in its Treaty of Waitangi settlement negotiations with the Crown and am the Chair of Tahamata Incorporation, an Iwi owned 700 cow Dairy Farming Business located in the Horowhenua District.

I have well developed skills in the areas of leadership and communications, banking and finance, agribusiness, governance and matters relating to Maori and Iwi affairs and interests. I bring a strong ethical framework to my business engagements, and work to establish and support an outcomes-focused culture based on professionalism and accountability for performance.

I hold a Bachelor of Agricultural Commerce degree in AgriBusiness from Lincoln University, with additional banking qualifications from the ASX and NZX. I am a member of the NZ Institute of Directors.

“William Beetham Managing Director Beetham Pastural, Sheep and Beef farmer, Wainuioru, Wairarapa.

I am married to Emily with three children, Isabella 14, Charlotte 12 and Alfie 8.

I Graduated with a diploma in Farm Management from Lincoln University. Subsequently I began a professional career first working for an agricultural engineering consultancy firm in (Gisborne) New Zealand then land management for the Ministry of Defence in the UK. Moving closer to home I began into a role developing business management systems for local government in Australia and then took on roles in commercial business management in Australia and New Zealand before making the move back to farming.

I returned to the family sheep and beef farm - Highcliffs in 2008, which I managed for six years before leasing the farm and setting up our own business, Beetham Pastural. Beetham Pastural now operates 3 farms over 1750 ha finishing lambs, steers and bulls.

Further to operating the farming Business I am Vice Chair Meat and Wool Federated Farmers New Zealand, Provincial President Federated Farmers Wairarapa Wellington, a member of the Wairarapa Economic Development Strategy Governance Group and a Trustee of the Pukaha to Palliser Trust (a trust promoting environmental enhancement and community prosperity across the Wairarapa).

I am passionate about New Zealand farming and building thriving rural communities. I also often take time out to enjoy my other passion Surfing.”