General

Mackenzie Charitable Foundation and Rural Leaders renew Strategic Partnership

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 Rural Reader: Kawai. Review by Dr Patrick Aldwell.

In this Rural Reader, Dr Patrick Aldwell reviews Kawai. A book by Monty Soutar, 2022 When an old friend suggested I read this book, I wasn’t too sure about it. First, it is a novel, and second, it is the first of a trilogy; neither of these is my strong suit in terms of reading.  When

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The search for our 2025 Nuffield Scholars begins.

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.

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.

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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The Rural Reader: Beyond Betrayal. Review by Dr Patrick Aldwell.

In this Rural Reader, Dr Patrick Aldwell reviews Beyond Betrayal – Trouble in the promised land. Restoring the mission to Māori. In this era when many of us have been trying to understand New Zealand’s early British settlement history better, Newman discusses an important collection of people, events and misinterpretations that have led to the

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New Energy – The 2024 Nuffield Biennial Conference.

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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Alumni in the Spotlight – Jenna Smith and Rachel Baker in Brazil.

2024 Nuffield Scholars from across the globe headed to Campo Grande in Brazil for the Contemporary Scholars Conference (CSC). Our own Scholars: Rachel Baker, Jenna Smith, Carlos Bagrie and Peter Templeton joined Rural Leaders CEO, Lisa Rogers and Chair, Kate Scott at the Conference. For many, the Conference kicks off their research travels officially. To

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Saves you asking – Kellogg FAQ’s.

The following questions and answers relate to 2024’s Programme Two, however they are likely to be accurate and relevant for some time into the future.  What is the total time commitment for the Programme? 18 days face to face, 50 days on individual research, all within a six-month span. The recommended time commitment is about

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Jen Corkran – Trust, truth and how we learn.

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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Dr Matt Sowcik. Humility and finding a common purpose.

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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The Rural Reader book review.

The Earth Transformed – An Untold History by Peter Frankopan (2023) The number of books, articles, YouTube clips and movies about climate change and its history, causes and impacts is huge. It can be quite a challenge trying to find quality reliable material that is relatively easy to read. Peter, another Oxford professor, has produced

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Emma Crutchley. Finding the sheep and beef value-add.

Emma Crutchley, 2018 Kellogg Scholar, talks to Bryan Gibson, Farmers Weekly managing editor about some of the challenges sheep and beef farming faces in a water-short region, her Kellogg research, the Value Chain Innovation Programme, and the work being done on ‘Puketoi’ to find the value-add.
Peral Veal NZ was the winner of the Silver Fern Farms Market Leader Award at the 2023 Beef+LambNZ Awards.

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The Rural Reader book review.

Landscapes and geomorphology – A very short introduction. Andrew Goudie and Heather Viles (2010) You may be wondering why I have included a book like this in my reading list. It is relevant for the food and fibre sector at a time of more intense storms and the damage they do to farm infrastructure. Another

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Julia Galwey. By-product to buy product – Pearl Veal NZ.

In an innovation story that covers the journey from an idea to the challenges of development, and to implementation. Julia Galwey, 2020 Kellogg Scholar, talks about Pearl Veal NZ, a new sustainable utilisation of the bobby calf resource.

Peral Veal NZ was the winner of the Silver Fern Farms Market Leader Award at the 2023 Beef+LambNZ Awards.

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Field notes from the 2023 Value Chain Innovation Programme.

Just over two weeks ago a group of people from across New Zealand came together in Auckland for a week of visits to operations within four key value chains – Dairy, Red Meat, Apple and Kiwifruit.

Any one of the twenty-two Value Chain Innovation Programme visits seen in isolation, would generate plenty of ‘aha moments’. To run four value chains in their entirety was quite something else. It’s what makes this programme work so remarkably well.

The level of access to the leaders, founders, operators met on the Programme created the feeling you were often being ‘let in’ on some extraordinary insights. This made possible by the understanding that Chatham House Rules apply.

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