Developed with
With support from
Engage Programme:
Your food and fibre sector skills and knowledge builder – or refresh.
Engage equips participants with the food and fibre skills and knowledge to engage with sector stakeholders.
The date for the next Engage Programme is 24-26 September 2025. Applications close Sunday 24 August.
3
day intro
to agriculture
2
farm
field trips
!
multiple
'A-ha' moments
About the Programme
Engage is a 3-day immersive introduction designed to help participants develop a deeper understanding of the NZ Food and Fibre Sector and how it is connected to the global economy.
Engage is as much for those without a background in agriculture as it is those who seek to refresh their sector knowledge. Engage is particularly suited to people entering or connecting with the Food and Fibre Sector in advisory, regulatory, or farmer-focused policy roles.
The Engage Programme was designed and developed by Rural Leaders in conjunction with Lincoln University, and with support from the Ministry for the Environment.
Tailoring Engage to your business's needs
A bespoke programme for ASB
Find out how ASB used a tailored Engage Programme to help grow their rural team’s sector skills and knowledge.
Who is the programme for?
The Engage Programme is for food and fibre professionals who seek to grow their sector knowledge, skills and confidence – quickly. It is ideally suited to people entering or connecting with the primary industries in advisory, regulatory, or in farmer-focused policy roles.
Previous participants have included: Rural bankers and banking teams, rural real estate professionals, agriculture teaching professionals, rural policy advisors, environmental regulators, regional council members and more.
Content summary
Objectives and learning outcomes
Engage will help you gain a deeper understanding of New Zealand food and fibre and the global context it operates within.
Through participation in classroom discussions with industry leaders and two half-day field trips to working farm operations, you’ll build the skills, knowledge, and the confidence to engage with farmers and stakeholders. And along the way, you’ll build a connection with a valuable network of food and fibre professionals.
Grow your knowledge on:
- NZ farming systems.
- NZ agri markets, challenges, NZ trade opportunities.
- The regulatory and policy environment.
- Māori land ownership/perspectives.
- Rural communities and their wellbeing.
- Farm environmental consulting/farmer policy support.
- Implementation of insights into a work context.
Delivery team
Your Engage delivery team expertly facilitate the 3-day programme, steering discussions and debate between programme participants and industry leaders.
Lynsey Stratford applies her leadership workshop and facilitation experience along with extensive sector knowledge to this inspiring experiential programme.
Lynsey Stratford
Lynsey is passionate about the food and fibre sector and its people. Lynsey has a diverse skill set and over 20 years’ experience providing people management and development consultancy services, facilitation and training.
Lynsey Stratford
Lynsey is passionate about the food and fibre sector and its people. Lynsey has a diverse skill set and over 20 years’ experience providing people management and development consultancy services, facilitation and training. Lynsey partners with clients across New Zealand through her business: Primary People.
Lynsey hadn’t set foot on a farm until she met her husband Chris. Beginning her career as an employment lawyer in the UK, Lynsey and her husband spent 15 years dairy farming on their farm at Curio Bay.
Lynsey was involved in community groups (including the school board of trustees), catchment groups and was a Dairy Environment Leaders during this time. She has lived experience of the challenges and opportunities food and fibre producers face.
Lynsey has 2 children (Olivia 17 and Callum 20). Her husband is still farming and her son is in his second year of the Bachelor of Commerce (agriculture) at Lincoln University. Lynsey wants the food and fibre sector to continue to thrive for the benefit of all New Zealanders and enjoys building relationships, connection and understanding to support this.
Lynsey is a proud 2021 Nuffield Scholar and explored behaviour change in her report, Super heroes, not super humans. Challenging assumptions and building capability to support “good work, thriving people and great farming”.
Programme dates and cost
Based at Lincoln in Canterbury, the next Engage Programme will run 24 to 26 September 2025. The cost per participant is $1000 +GST.
Need to get your team sector-smart? Talk to Rural Leaders about designing a tailored Engage solution for your business’s needs.
Contact us to find out more about a bespoke Engage Programme.
How to apply
Applying is easy. Simply contact us by using the button below to secure a place on our next programme.
Ready to grow your knowledge, skills and confidence in agriculture?
Apply by Sunday 24 August 2025.