Here are just a few of the media pieces covering the impact of Rural Leaders’ Programme Alumni in industries and communities across the sector.
Robert ‘Robin’ Campbell, 1980 Kellogg Scholar, ONZM
Robert Campbell of Invercargill becomes an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to farming and governance.
Over the last 40 years, Robin Campbell has freely given his farming and governance skills to the Southland community and to farming.
Other agencies Robin has served at include the New Zealand Sheep Council, Sheep Research Foundation, Sheep Improvement Ltd. And, at Ovita, he promoted funding for pioneering farm genetics research and genomic technologies.
Robin also served as Presbyterian Support Southland chairman for nine years and as the PSS national chairman where he earned the Extra Mile Award.
It doesn’t end there, Robin also adds Venture Southland, Presbyterian Retirement Villages Ltd, Waituna Partners Wetland Restoration Project, and the Community Trust of Southland, to his long list of service to community and industry.
Bryan Guy, 1990 Kellogg Scholar, KSM
Bryan Guy has been awarded a King’s Service Medal for services to the community. Bryan is a retired dairy farmer who has volunteered in his community through church, farming and other organisations.
A leader in the Anglican Parish of Oroua, he holds several governance roles. He stepped in as Parish Bishop’s Warden in 2022, the primary lay parish leader for the seven churches of the Oroua Parish. He is also Chair of the Oroua Parish Trust and a Trustee of the St Johns Close Board Trust, administering church housing for the St Johns Close Trust Village.
He has been a Board member of Arohanui Hospice since 2021 and was elected as the Wellington Hawke’s Bay Board member of the Livestock Improvement Corporation (LIC) in 1986, with 20 years on the LIC National Board.
He became an Area Representative of the Manawatu-Rangitikei Rural Support Trust in 2015 and was involved with Farmstrong at its inception. He is Chairman of the Coach House Museum Board and was a Trustee of the Eastern and Central Community Trust (ECCT) from 2016 to 2020. Mr Guy previously served six years as Chair of the Taonui School Board of Trustees.
Grahame Webber, 1988 Kellogg Scholar, KSM
Grahame Webber, former Waipā District councillor, deputy mayor, and Cambridge Community Board member, has been awarded the King’s Service Medal for his outstanding contributions to local government and farming governance.
Grahame was a Waipā councillor for 21 years, to 2022, including deputy mayor from 2010 to 2019, and a member of the Cambridge Community Board from 1998 to 2022.
In an article from the Waipa District Council, he said it was an honour to be awarded the King’s Service Medal.
In the article Grahame said, “It was overwhelming and emotional. I never dreamed someone would put my name forward. When I first received the email about the nomination, it took me a week to open it because I couldn’t quite believe it.”
While serving on the Cambridge Community Board, Grahame chaired the Sister City Committee, and started annual tours to rural communities, building connections with Le Quesnoy in France and Bihoro in Japan. These annual programmes have now been running for over 25 years.
In addition to his local government service, Grahame was a member of the Cambridge Federated Farmers from 1982 to 2020 and a director of the New Zealand Dairy Group from 1991 to 1994.
Carlos Bagrie, 2024 Nuffield Scholar, ONZM
Carlos Bagrie, 2024 Nuffield Scholar was recognised in the New Year’s honours list, along with Nadia Lim, for services to the food and rural industries.
Carlos and Nadia become Officers of the New Zealand Order of Merit (ONZM).
Carlos, co-founder with Nadia, of meal kit company My Food Bag, was recognised for regenerative, ethical farming practices at the couple’s Royalburn Station in Arrowtown, Central Otago.
Nadia commented to RNZ that “We are blown away to be receiving this recognition. And even more so because we are on the list together this year. We are stoked that farming and food production are receiving some of the spotlight.”
Carlos received a 2024 Nuffield Farming Scholarship and spent several months travelling, looking at innovative agricultural systems and exploring how New Zealand Food and Fibre exporters can position themselves for success in global markets.
Carlos, along with his fellow 2024 Scholars Rachel Baker, Jenna Smith and Peter Templeton, will submit their final Nuffield research reports in the coming months.
Carlos and Nadia spoke on The Country about the award, along with Dan Steele, 2015 Nuffield Scholar, who spoke about his work on Blue Duck Station and his father Richard’s recognition on the Honours List – awarded a King’s Service Medal for services to the rural community.
Dan provides an update on Blue Duck Station and how their conservation efforts are going.
You can listen to Rowena interview Carlos, Nadia and Dan on The Country here,
Or read a Press article here,
Karen Williams, 2023 Value Chain Innovation Programme
Karen Williams completed the Value Chain Innovation Programme in November 2023. Karen is National Client Propositions Manager with FMG and has recently been appointed to take up the CE role for IrrigationNZ.
In an article by Farmers Weekly, IrrigationNZ chair Keri Johnston said Williams brings a wealth of experience to the role, including a background in resource management, agriculture and farming, notable awards for her achievements and wide recognition for her leadership skills.
You can read more about Karen’s appointment in the article here,
https://www.farmersweekly.co.nz/people/karen-williams-to-head-irrigationnz/
Karen was named as one of NZ’s most influential and inspiring women in food and drink in 2023.
