Jack Cocks signs off on a year as the NZRLT Associate Trustee.
July 17, 2025
Jack Cocks speaks about his time as Associate Trustee on the Rural Leaders board.
Kellogg Blog & News
FMG Young Farmer of the Year winner to attend the Kellogg Rural Leadership Programme.
July 14, 2025
Hugh Jackson wins 2025 FMG Young Farmer of the Year and a place on the Kellogg Rural Leadership Programme.
Katie Rodwell joins NZRLT as Associate Trustee.
July 7, 2025
The NZRLT is pleased to announce the appointment of Katie Rodwell to the board as Associate Trustee. Katie replaces outgoing Associate Trustee Jack Cocks. The Associate Trustee role is for one year.
Pulse Check. A Rural Leaders and PwC collaboration.
May 21, 2025
Rural Leaders, in partnership with PwC New Zealand, have piloted a new concept: the Future Food and Fibre Leaders Pulse Check. It’s a snapshot of what’s top of mind for the latest Kellogg Rural Leadership Programme cohort, captured through a workshop facilitated by PwC and Rural Leaders earlier this year.
Alumni in the Spotlight – Blake Irving, Jenna Smith, John Foley.
May 21, 2025
Alumni in the Spotlight: Blake Irving Kellogg Scholar, Jenna Smith and John Foley Nuffield Scholars.
Kellogg offers two qualifications.
May 20, 2025
Kellogg credentialisation offers programme participants the opportunity to receive a Post Graduate Certificate in Commerce when completing Kellogg.
Threads of influence. A Champion of rural leadership development.
May 20, 2025
For eight years Dr Scott Champion has been a key figure in the development of leaders in food and fibre. With the New Zealand Rural Leadership Trust he has made a direct impression on over 300 leaders on the Kellogg Rural Leadership Programme and many more through Nuffield, Engage and the HortNZ Leadership Programme.
MyLead.co.nz is live.
May 14, 2025
The result of work commissioned by Food and Fibre CoVE and conducted by Rural Leaders, MyLead brings the sector’s leadership development programmes together into one place.
Emily Walker – making an impact in New Zealand agribusiness.
March 24, 2025
In 2022, Emily was awarded the Mackenzie Charitable Foundation Scholarship, a pivotal moment in her career. A Canterbury native, Emily Walker’s story so far, has been marked by a commitment to innovation, sustainability, and leadership—values that are now shaping her efforts to play a role in transforming New Zealand’s agricultural sector.
Thomas Holmes – scholarship opens doors for Canterbury arable farmer.
March 24, 2025
A scholarship from the Mackenzie Charitable Foundation provided a unique opportunity for a Cantabrian to take part in the Kellogg Rural Leadership Programme. Kellogg gave Thomas Holmes the chance to expand his leadership skills and has provided him with a platform to advocate for change in the fast-evolving arable farming industry in Canterbury.
Isabelle Coates – networking, leadership, and giving back.
March 24, 2025
For young professionals in the food and fibre sector, finding the right opportunities to grow and make a meaningful impact can be challenging. But for Isabelle Coates, the Mackenzie Charitable Foundation and the Kellogg Rural Leadership Programme
provided both a transformative experience and a vital network of connections that has helped to shape her career path and her passion for supporting others.
Alumni in the Spotlight – Murray King, Penny Timmer-Arends, Alison Bentley, and Mihi Harris.
March 21, 2025
Alumni in the Spotlight: Murray King opens Waimea Dam, Penny Timmer-Arends decodes rumination data, Alison Bentley talks small farms, and Mihi Harris joins B+LNZ Kāhui.
NZRLT governance opportunity.
March 6, 2025
The New Zealand Rural Leadership Trust are seeking applications for the 2024 Associate Trustee role. Apply by 28 February.
Alumni in the Spotlight – Robert Campbell, Bryan Guy, Grahame Webber, Carlos Bagrie and Karen Williams
January 23, 2025
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
Alumni in the Spotlight – Anna Nelson, Rosie Dowling, Kate Kellick, Reuben Carter, Sarah How and Tracy Brown.
December 18, 2024
Here are just a few of the media pieces covering the impact of Rural Leaders’ Programme Alumni in industries and communities across the sector. Kate Kellick, 2024 Kellogg Scholar. Kate Kellick’s esheep, a shedding sheep breeding operation, hosted its first ram auction in Mangamahu near Wanganui recently. The auction saw farmers from across the North
Alumni in the Spotlight – Alison Bentley, Hamish Marr, Wayne Langford, Tracy Brown, Cam Henderson and Ben McLauchlan.
November 28, 2024
Here are just a few of the media pieces covering the impact of Rural Leaders’ Programme Alumni in industries and communities across the sector. Alison Bentley, 2023 Kellogg Scholar. Alison Bentley (Tikitere Farm) spoke yesterday at the event ‘Global and Local Approaches to Climate-Resilient Land Use: NZ’s Path Forward.’ Alison joined Angela Clifford (Eat New
Beef + Lamb New Zealand and Rural Leaders renew partnership.
November 21, 2024
The New Zealand Rural Leadership Trust (Rural Leaders) is pleased to announce the renewal of its partnership agreement with Beef + Lamb New Zealand (B+LNZ). Pictured: Lisa Rogers, CEO, Rural Leaders (left). Justine Kidd, GM Extension, B+LNZ (right). One of the New Zealand Rural Leadership Trust’s (Rural Leaders) earliest industry partners is Beef + Lamb
Alumni in the Spotlight – Ben Todhunter, Jen Corkran, Paul Crick, Nathan Guy.
October 25, 2024
Here are just a few of the media pieces covering the impact of Rural Leaders’ Programme Alumni in industries and communities across the sector. Ben Todhunter, 2006 Nuffield Scholar. Ben Todhunter is an experienced Angus breeder, and operates a Merino stud on his farm Cleardale Station. He was recently appointed to the Board of Angus
Alumni in the Spotlight – Kate Scott, Isabelle Coates, Matt Iremonger.
September 19, 2024
Here are just a few of the media pieces covering the impact of Rural Leaders’ Programme Alumni in industries and communities across the sector. Isabelle Coates, 2022 Kellogg Scholar. In what is potentially a first (at least for a while), a Kellogg Scholar writes about a Kellogg Scholar. Cheyenne Wilson 2024 Kellogg Scholar wrote an
DairyNZ and Rural Leaders renew Strategic Partnership.
September 17, 2024
The New Zealand Rural Leadership Trust (Rural Leaders) is pleased to announce the renewal of its Strategic Partnership agreement with DairyNZ. This latest partnership renewal follows a long-standing relationship with DairyNZ that dates to 2017. The new agreement means we can continue to help build stronger, more capable dairy industry leaders and in-turn contribute to
A larger-than-life Nuffield alum passes.
September 2, 2024
The New Zealand Rural Leadership Trust (Rural Leaders) and Nuffield New Zealand are saddened by the recent passing of Garrick Murfitt, 1977 Nuffield Scholar. Garrick was a hill-country farmer first and foremost and was involved with Horizons Regional Council since joining as statutory member in 1992. He went on to be elected to represent the Tararua
Zespri and Rural Leaders renew Programme Partnership
August 13, 2024
The New Zealand Rural Leadership Trust (Rural Leaders) is pleased to announce the renewal of its long-running Programme Partnership agreement with Zespri. Zespri are highly engaged in rural leadership development and in the support of the programmes that help build the strategic leadership capacity in our food and fibre sector. With the support of Zespri,
Horticulture NZ Leadership Programme partnership.
August 1, 2024
A fast-changing industry needs more adaptble and capable leaders. Horticulture is fast-changing. It has big goals, such as doubling the farmgate value of production. The industry wants to do this in a way that lifts the prosperity of its people while also protecting the planet. The environment horticulture now operates in is more complex than
Alumni in the Spotlight – Julian Raine, Tracy Brown, Anna Gower-James and more.
August 1, 2024
It’s been another busy month or two for alumni in the news. Here are just a few of the media pieces covering the impact of Rural Leaders’ Programme Alumni in industries and communities across the sector. Julian Raine, 1997 Nuffield Scholar. As you may well have heard, Julian Raine, 1997 Nuffield Scholar, won the Outstanding