The New Zealand Rural Leadership Trust (Rural Leaders) is pleased to announce the appointment of Renée Walker as Kellogg Programme Facilitator. Renée will join Kellogg Programme One 2026.
For Renée Walker, Rural Leaders’ newly appointed Kellogg Programme facilitator, leadership has always been about people – seeing them, understanding them, and helping them unlock their own potential.
A former Chief Operating Officer and senior executive with more than 20 years’ experience leading teams through transformation and culture-building, Renée has built a career defined by involvement, visibility, and genuine connection. She has led through complexity – notably during Canterbury’s post-earthquake recovery -and brings deep experience in strategy, change leadership, and executive-level coaching.
Today, Renée is the director of The Leadership Revolutionist and Thrive For Life, working across New Zealand to equip leaders – from senior executives to Year 13 students – with the confidence, mindset, and capability to lead with heart and courage. She is known for her high-energy facilitation style, practical frameworks, and ability to create space for honest reflection and meaningful change. Her facilitation work spans boardrooms, classrooms, and conference stages, including leadership programmes, culture workshops, and Extended DISC and NLP-based development experiences.
From two large North Otago farming families, Renée’s connection to the rural sector runs deep. “It’s not just the backbone of New Zealand,” Renée reflects. “It is New Zealand. The rural sector is who we are.” With generations of family farming behind her, she understands the culture, values and pressures of rural life – and the pride that goes with it.
That rural pride led to working with Alliance Group – New Zealand’s only 100% farmer-owned red meat cooperative at the time – working in a role supporting and advocating for farmers. “My family have always been Alliance shareholders and suppliers,” Renée explains. “It felt important to be part of something that represents farmers so directly.”
Renée’s leadership journey began with a childhood dream of teaching, inspired by a grandmother who taught in small rural schools. “I thought you could only change lives by being a teacher,” Renée says. “But I realised leadership can do that too, being the person who sees others and helps them grow.”
Her career has spanned marketing, communications, insurance, and government relations, including her role as Deputy Chief Executive at EQC. “I’ve never been defined by a title,” Renée insists. “I don’t claim to be the smartest or the most technical person in the room, but I get people, and that’s been my greatest strength.”
Her work now focuses on culture, capability, and future-ready leadership – areas she believes are essential in a rural sector navigating generational change. “Young people don’t want hierarchy – they want autonomy, influence, and choice. That shift can be confronting… but also incredibly exciting for the sector.”
As the Kellogg Rural Leadership Programme Facilitator, Renée hopes to foster “…more diversity of voice…” in the sector. “We need different ways of thinking at the table,” Renée says. “Leadership is about helping people have an informed voice, especially as governments’ views of the rural sector can change.”
Outside work, Renée describes life as “integrated rather than balanced.” She balances time with her 13 year old son, and large extended family with community and board roles. Renée serves on the boards of the Christchurch Symphony Orchestra and the Riccarton Rotary Youth Trust, is a registered Marriage Celebrant, and an active supporter of several charities.
“I’m not known for relaxing…one of my key values is curiosity – I believe the more curious you are and the more you do, the more interesting and connected you become. That’s how you can really help others.”
Renée joins Kellogg Programme One 2026, which starts 27 January in Lincoln.
