General Manager Update

Anne Hindson, August 2017

The countdown until the close of Nuffield applications for the 2018 scholarships has started with this year’s closing date on the 13th August, one week earlier than usual to allow more time for the selection process.  The announcement of the successful scholars will be held on the 2nd November, at Parliament. The returning (2017) scholars will present some of their key insights at this event also.
With the help of Denitsa Stoeva, who has been on a two month contract with us, we have been able to review the Nuffield Scholarship marketing programme. Denitsa has increased the social media marketing and reviewed the content and messaging on the website. Following up with those who have registered interest in the scholarship over the last three years has also prompted some renewed interest and requests for more information.

Taranaki Evening


We held one regional Nuffield recruitment event this year – in New Plymouth. Lisa Harper, with support from alumni, Phil Luscombe, Marise Stephens and Noel Schrider shared their Nuffield experiences and the impact on their leadership pathways and careers. The event was also attended by two successful Kellogg alumni –  Bronwyn Muir and Shona Glentworth who shared their experiences from that programme.  We had some very interested potential scholars for the programme this year and in the future.  These regional events provide an opportunity for alumni to catch up with each other, but also provide an opportunity to introduce future scholars, particularly farmers and growers who are our target market. 

Scholar Update


The six 2017 scholars are fully immersed in their study and travel programme with three of the six still away, and three just returned from part of their personal research. A feature of this group which I have found positive has been the close friendship and sharing of information and ideas which has consistently happened on their travels. I think we will get some great insights and challenges to current thinking when the group present back. Like most scholars, their topics have morphed over time and we should see some insights and recommendations that will build on the issues raised by Ian Proudfoot in the KPMG Agenda. In this E Nuff you can read their insights from their Global Focus Programmes – Nadine, Mat and Ryan completed their GFP in March/April, while Jason, Rebecca and David undertook their GFP in May/June. They all experienced very different parts of the world with a range of social, environmental, political and financial issues to consider and understand. The 2016 scholars are active in getting their reports and research discussed at forums and in media. They will have the opportunity to present at the Nuffield Australia Conference in Darwin at the end of September this year. If you have not read their reports, there are some interesting topics:

Jessica Bensemann        

Defining our Kaupapa:  New Zealand’s role in the future of global Agriculture

Tom Skerman 

Agribusiness Governance – Finding the Green Zone

Richard Fowler 

An Investigation into Synthetic Food and the Implications for NZ Agriculture

Sam Lang       

Community-Centric Innovation and the Regenerative Farming Frontier

Bede O’Connor   

China Dairy: the growth of an industry

Management Developments

New Entity

The transition from an informal partnership between Nuffield NZ and Lincoln University to an Incorporated Charitable Trust has now been completed and the new Trust began operations on 1 June 2017. There have been some challenges, as anyone recently setting up a Trust will know. The New Zealand Rural Leadership Trust will manage both the Nuffield Scholarships and the Kellogg Rural Leadership Programme and continue to provide effective and co-ordinated leadership pathways.  The office will remain on the Lincoln campus site, and will be totally independent of the University operations.

Staff Changes

With the transition to a new entity, Desley Tucker, our Programme Coordinator for three years, chose to stay in employment with Lincoln University (she was contracted by us from LU) rather than move to the new Trust.  We will miss Desley and her great people skills as many of you will appreciate having liaised with her over the last three years. However, we have secured a great new replacement for the role with Lisa Rogers who started in late June. Lisa comes to us from a recent contract in the IT sector, and has previously worked in a financial contract role for Nurse Maude, and in a similar role of project and event managing with a large Canterbury golf club. Lisa brings strong financial and administration skills to the role. Lisa is a keen golfer and skier and has two teenage sons.   

Upcoming Nuffield Events

Nuffield New Zealand Conference – 10-13 May 2018 Dave Hurst and his team have been working hard on confirming venues, visits and a detailed programme with dates & Tauranga location already confirmed – see overview in this edition of E Nuff. Further details will be sent out shortly including registration information. It is important that you put the dates 10-13 May in your diary now! Nuffield International Triennial 2020 The Nuffield International Triennial was held in the UK in mid June with more than 20 New Zealanders attending, including some of our younger scholars who were given some fee sponsorship to enable them to attend.  The three mid-year Global Focus Programmes for current scholars also included the Triennial as part of their schedule to engage them in this wider Nuffield event. New Zealand was confirmed as the host for the 2020 Triennial. The year also coincides with our scheduled biennial Nuffield NZ Conference so some creative thinking is being done to manage the outcomes for both. An organising committee is being set up to consider dates, venues, theme etc. The challenge for NZ is finding the right timing to showcase our fabulous corner of the World and also work with the Northern Hemisphere calendar. I wish to thank all Nuffield alumni for their ongoing support in recruiting future scholars, assisting with regional events and presentations.  Please continue to promote the programme to our sponsors who along with alumni, make it possible for the programme to continue as New Zealand’s premium award in the Agrifood sector.  Kind regards Anne Hindson Beef+Lamb NZ

Our programmes work in partnership with some of New Zealand’s leading agribusiness organisations – click here for more.​