Rural Leaders News

Reimagining Local Economies: How Small-scale Farming and Community-based Models can Build Climate Resilience.

November 28, 2024

Alison Bentley (Tikitere Farm and 2023 Kellogg Scholar) spoke yesterday at the event ‘Global and Local Approaches to Climate-Resilient Land Use: NZ’s Path Forward,’ at Lincoln University. Alison joined Angela Clifford (CEO, Eat New Zealand), in Session 2: Resilient Food Systems: Small-scale and Local?  As the effects of climate change and economic instability become harder

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Esther Donkersloot on leading research into cooler cows.

November 28, 2024

In this podcast, Esther Donkersloot, 2024 Kellogg Scholar, talks to Bryan Gibson, Managing Editor at Farmers Weekly, about her research with LIC on breeding heat tolerant cows. Esther came to New Zealand to do her Masters’ thesis and never left. Good thing too. Having studied at the prestigious Wageningen University, she has steadily built a

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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

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Jack Cocks – How resilient farmers thrive in the face of adversity.

October 6, 2024

In this podcast Jack Cocks, 2021 Kellogg Scholar talks to Bryan Gibson Managing Editor Farmers Weekly, about his research into resilience in the face of adversity. Jack faced his own adversity in the form of a brain aneurysm that sparked a recovery journey spanning 15 surgeries over six years.  Jack works on Mt. Nicholas Station

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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

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Rural Leaders deliver food security programme for US Gilman Scholarship alumni.

September 10, 2024

Rural Leaders deliver food security programme for Gilman Scholarship alumni.

‘Mission New Zealand – Navigating Geopolitical Tensions and Climate Change as an Agri-based Economy’, was a week-long programme delivered by Rural Leaders in Christchurch.

The programme wrapped up recently and was designed to give a group of 25 visiting Gilman Scholarship alumni a deep dive into global food security.

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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

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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,

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Lisa Rogers – Leadership Programmes and Pathways.

August 13, 2024

In this podcast, Lisa Rogers, CEO, Rural Leaders talks to Bryan Gibson, Managing Editor, Farmers Weekly about the recently released report ‘A Path to Realising Leadership Potential in Aotearoa NZ’s Food and Fibre Sector’, along with its leadership development framework, and the leadership programmes serving as key tools for building more and ever greater leaders.

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Rachel Baker – Insights (from an insider) on the Nuffield Global Focus Programme.

August 6, 2024

Halfway through the 2024 Scholarship Programme, Scholar, Rachel Baker gives us a unique perspective from inside Nuffield. Rachel speaks with Bryan Gibson, Farmers Weekly Managing Editor, about some of the similarities and differences between the farming systems in the countries visited so far with New Zealand’s.

Rachel discusses insights from Indonesia’s farming industries, France’s love of food, Denmark entering an emissions scheme, California’s water challenges and Chile’s low rates of Research and Development.

This is a must listen for anyone considering a Nuffield Scholarship.

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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

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Dr Patrick Aldwell retires after 25 years of service to Kellogg.

July 29, 2024

Dr Patrick Aldwell has made a hugely positive impact on thousands of people from across the Food and Fibre sector. Passionate about life-long learning, he has also made the academic and strategic support of anyone who needed it, his life-long mission. On the Kellogg Programme alone, he did this for twenty five years.  Now he

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Gilman Scholars to visit New Zealand – hosted by Rural Leaders.

July 16, 2024

Gilman and Rural Leaders forge Food and Fibre education alliance. In partnership with Rural Leaders, the U.S. Mission to New Zealand will undertake a week-long, interactive programme for Gilman alums working in fields related to global food security. As part of their professional development the Gilman alums will examine how New Zealand navigates geopolitical and

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Farmlands and Rural Leaders renew Programme Partnership

July 15, 2024

The New Zealand Rural Leadership Trust (Rural Leaders) is pleased to announce the renewal of its Programme Partnership agreement with Farmlands. Farmlands and Rural Leaders have enjoyed a productive partnership for many years. In that time both organisations have worked together to help build the strategic leadership capacity in our food and fibre sector.  Working

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Foundation for Arable Research and Rural Leaders renew Programme Partnership

June 12, 2024

The New Zealand Rural Leadership Trust (Rural Leaders) is pleased to announce the renewal of the Programme Partnership agreement with the Foundation for Arable Research (FAR). FAR and Dr Alison Stewart’s involvement with Rural Leaders’ Programmes goes back not too long after the formation of Rural Leaders in 2017. While arable growers on Rural Leaders’

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Mackenzie Charitable Foundation and Rural Leaders renew Strategic Partnership

June 6, 2024

The New Zealand Rural Leadership Trust (Rural Leaders) is pleased to announce the renewal of its Strategic Partnership agreement with the Mackenzie Charitable Foundation. The Foundation’s desire to assist in the amplification of entrepreneurial and emerging leaders in the food and fibre sector finds significant alignment with Rural Leaders’ purpose of growing world-class leaders for

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The search for our 2025 Nuffield Scholars begins.

May 20, 2024

Just 189 Scholars in nearly 75 years. The Nuffield network in New Zealand is a small group, doing big things, humbly. We’re looking for our bold, grounded and community-minded to step up as Nuffield Scholar 190, 191, 192, 193 and possibly 194.  If you’re ready to undertake a truly unique learning experience. If you are

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Alumni in the Spotlight – Michael Tayler, Tessa Appleby and more.

May 20, 2024

It has been a busy time for alumni. This selection of news items is a nowhere near  adequate summary – possibly a good problem to have. For now the Spotlight is on Michael Tayler, Tess Appleby, Lucie Douma, Matt Iremonger, James Allen, and Carlos Bagrie. Michael Tayler, 2012 Nuffield Scholar. Michael featured in Farmers Weekly

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Campbell Parker – Leading with authenticity in a fast-changing sector.

May 9, 2024

Dr Matt Sowcik is currently on sabbatical from his role as Associate Professor in the Department of Agricultural Education and leadership at University of Florida. As part of his tour, he joined the Kellogg Rural Leadership Programme in Lincoln. He spoke to Scholars (and Bryan Gibson) about the power of humility in leadership and its role in working together for a common cause.

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