As well as being a Kiwifruit grower for over 20 years, I have held numerous roles across the Kiwifruit Industry including my current role as Chair of KVH.
Speaker Directory
Welcome to the Rural Leaders Speaker Directory. Our programme alumni live, work and lead in rural communities across Aotearoa and in nearly every industry across food and fibre.
The programme alumni listed are able to speak at your next industry engagement. They can be filtered by region, industry and by their specialist topics.
Once you have found a speaker, you will need to fill a short form (very short) to make contact and arrangements with the speaker directly.
If you have any queries or need additional help finding a speaker, contact Matt at Matthampton@ruralleaders.co.nz. For alumni who wish to become a speaker, please fill out this form.
Filter by speaking region
Filter by industry
Filter by speaking topic
Simon Cook
- Speaking regions: NZ-wide
Industries:
- Kiwifruit
- Avocados
- Horticulture
Speaking Topics:
- Kiwifruit
- Biosecurity
- Agrichemical availability and application
- Avocados
Programmes:
Lynsey Stratford
- Speaking regions: NZ-wide
Lynsey has a diverse skill set and over 20 years’ experience providing people management and development consultancy services, facilitation and training.
Speaking Notes
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”.
Can speak without AV display?
- Yes
Can travel by air if funded?
- Yes
Industries:
- Dairy
- Dry Stock
Speaking Topics:
- People - Thriving on farm
- Leadership
- Health and Wellbeing
Programmes:
Dan Billing
- Based in Hawke's Bay | Speaking Regions: North Island
Dan has a 20+ year career in farming banking & strategic advisory, working with businesses managing through financial stress, growth & succession planning to ensure focused and positive outcomes.
Speaking Notes
Happy to travel as needed, where requested
Can speak without AV display?
- Yes
Can travel by air if funded?
- Yes
Industries:
- Red Meat
- Dairy
- Commercial
- Primary Industry in general
Speaking Topics:
- Financial Growth
- Financial Stress
- Strategic Decisioning
- Succession
Programmes:
Catherine Miller
- Based in Waikato | Speaking regions: Manawatu-Whanganui, Taranaki, Waikato
I farm sheep and beef near Taumarunui, King Country. My Kellogg research looked into how we might develop a food system that benefits everyone in the community.
Can speak without AV display?
- Yes
Can travel by air if funded?
- Yes
Industries:
- Sheep and beef
- Dairy
- Horticulture
- Community Sector/Social Enterprise
Speaking Topics:
- Bringing local solutions to problems
- Creating food systems that benefit community
- Fostering an entrepeneurial spirit
Programmes:
Mandi McLeod
- Based in Waikato | Speaking regions: NZ-wide
An international agri-business consultant focusing on sustainable farm systems, notably the link between people, animals, and productivity. Passionate advocate for family farm transition. Farmer.
Speaking Notes
Willing to travel to remote regions.
Can speak without AV display?
- Yes
Can travel by air if funded?
- Yes
Industries:
- Dairy
- Sheep and Beef
Speaking Topics:
- Family business transition and succession planning
- Farm animal welfare
- Low stress stock handling
- Farm family business governance
- Mental health, animal welfare and succession
Programmes:
Tom Mandeno
- Based in Waikato | Speaking region: Waikato
Tom is a Waikato sheep and beef farmer. Tom and his wife Anna run 555 hectares at Waikaretu, finishing lambs and cattle sustainably. Tom has held national agricultural leadership roles and remains a strong advocate for pastoral farming and rural community wellbeing in New Zealand.
Can speak without AV display?
- Yes
Can travel by air if funded?
- No
Industries:
- Wool
- Red Meat
- Dairy
Speaking Topics:
- Wool
- Local Government
- Nuffield
- General Agriculture
Programmes:
Jack Cocks
- Based in Southland | Speaking Regions: Southland & Otago
Jack is an Otago high country farmer. As a result of participation in the Kellogg Programme he has given over fifty talks on farmer resilience to student and farmer groups in New Zealand and Canada.
Can speak without AV display?
- Yes
Can travel by air if funded?
- No
Industries:
- Merino sheep farming
- Beef farming
Speaking Topics:
- Resilience
- Wellbeing
- Merino farming
Programmes:
Iain Inglis
- Speaking regions: NZ-wide
Focus on low stress Livestock handling training and awareness to benefit the NZ Food and Fibre Sector’s people, perception and production!
Can speak without AV display?
- Yes
Can travel by air if funded?
- Yes
Industries:
- Sheep and beef
- Feedlotting
- Farm training systems
Speaking Topics:
- Livestock Handling
- Feedlotting
- On-Farm training systems
Programmes:
Dan Steele
- Speaking regions: NZ-wide
Blue Duck Station Ruapehu district, Whanganui, River, Hill, country, sheep and Beef, tourism, hunting, fine, dining, honey, carbon. Conservation in the DNA, NZ advocate.
Can speak without AV display?
- Yes
Can travel by air if funded?
- Yes
Industries:
- Conservation
- Agri tourism
- Diversification
- Sheep and beef
Speaking Topics:
- Potential of New Zealand
- Conservation
- Agri tourism
- Diversification
- Back country stories
Programmes:
Jenna Smith
- Based in Waikato | Speaking Regions: NZ-Wide
I’m a values driven leader in iwi agribusiness and governance. Passionate about people, land and intergenerational impact. Driven to deliver commercial outcomes that protect our future.
Can speak without AV display?
- Yes
Can travel by air if funded?
- Yes
Industries:
- Dairy
- Red meat
- Grain
- Diversification
- Sustainable land management
Speaking Topics:
- Land use diversification
- Peatlands
- Future proofing natural resources
Programmes:
Cheyenne Wilson
- Speaking regions: NZ-wide
Māori agribusiness advisor and governance professional creating practical solutions with farmers, organisations and communities to strengthen food and fibre.
Can speak without AV display?
- Yes
Can travel by air if funded?
- Yes
Industries:
- Agribusiness
- Māori Agribusiness
- Dairy
- Sheep and Beef
Speaking Topics:
- Supporting rangatahi in food and fibre
- Wellbeing and Resilience
- Māori agribusiness and kaupapa Māori approaches in food and fibre
- Cultural capability in food and fibre industries
- Food and Fibre Workforce Development
Programmes:
Charles Merfield
- Speaking regions: NZ-wide
I am an agroecologist specialising in non-chemical weed management, biological control and soil health working at the interface between science and farming helping producers.
Speaking Notes
I am happy to speak anywhere in NZ and have been speaking across the country at fieldays, workshops, seminars, conference etc on a wide range of topics.
I have extensive experience presenting to farmers and growers in all formats and am widely regarded as being an informative, scientifically up to date, and entertaining speaker including winning the 2024 Organic NZ Leader of the Year for my work in science communication.
Can speak without AV display?
- Yes
Can travel by air if funded?
- Yes
Industries:
- Horticulture (both field and protected cropping)
- Arable
- All sectors at a high level
Speaking Topics:
- Agroecology / sustainable / regenerative and organic agriculture
- Physical and ecological weed management incl. herbicide resistance
- Soils, particularly soil biology and health
- All aspects of biological control
- High level overview of the future of farming
Programmes:
Mike Salvesen
- Based in Canterbury | Speaking region: Canterbury
I did the Kellogg programme in 2010. I have since been President of Midcanterbury Federated farmers and led other community groups also. I have been in NZ for 22 years.
Can speak without AV display?
- Yes
Can travel by air if funded?
- Yes
Industries:
- Deer
- Beef
- Sheep
Speaking Topics:
- Dry stock farming
- Engagement with councils
- Environmental management and compliance
Programmes:
Esther Donkersloot
Esther Donkersloot is the Breeding Scheme Technical Manager at LIC, a herd improvement co-operative delivering superior genetics and tech to dairy farmers. Esther is based at Newstead, Hamilton.
Can speak without AV display?
- Yes
Can travel by air if funded?
- Yes
Industries:
- Dairy
Speaking Topics:
- Breeding Scheme
- Genetics
- Herd Improvement
- International Dairy Genetics
- NZ Dairy
Programmes:
Nick Martin
- Based in Canterbury | Speaking regions: Canterbury, Marlborough, Tasman, West Coast
Completed Kellogg in 2024; the use of sports psychology tools to gain a 1% advantage is widely accepted in professional sports, but could the same apply to high-performing farmers?
Can speak without AV display?
- Yes
Can travel by air if funded?
- Yes
Industries:
- Rural finance
- Canterbury region
Speaking Topics:
- Use of sports psychology in farming
- Rural banking
- Rural business
Programmes:
Murray Taggart
- Based in Canterbury | Speaking regions: NZ-wide
I am arable farming with my family in North Canterbury. Outside of farming I have had an extensive governance career across multiple sectors.
Speaking Notes
Subject to expenses being reimbursed, I’m available to travel beyond my home location. My strength is Q&A rather than being an entertaining public speaker.
Can speak without AV display?
- Yes
Can travel by air if funded?
- Yes
Industries:
- Meat processing and exporting
- Irrigation
- Farm insurance
- Plantation forestry
- Fertiliser
Speaking Topics:
- Governance
- Meat Industry
- Cooperatives
- Irrigation
- Arable farming
Programmes:
Anna Benny
- Based in Otago | Speaking regions: Otago, Southland
Anna is a food scientist married to a dairy farmer. Working in the NZ and UK food industry for the last 15 years, she is fascinated by how food is produced and consumed.
Can speak without AV display?
- Yes
Can travel by air if funded?
- Yes
Industries:
- Dairy
- Food Processing
- Red Meat
Speaking Topics:
- Alternative protein risk to NZ
- Food Science
- Careers in the food industry
Programmes:
Lucy Johnson
- Based in Canterbury | Speaking regions: Canterbury + South Island
I am a passionate people person; I learn by doing, hearing from others and sharing my knowledge. I am committed to making a difference to the people I work alongside.
Speaking Notes
I’m happy to travel and speak more widely on my learnings, personal journey, etc. and reflect on national matters but I have more familiarity with Canterbury-centric rules and regulations.
I live by a little saying that is “I care, I listen, I gave, and I grew” – that by creating relationships both parties can gain so much.
Can speak without AV display?
- Yes
Can travel by air if funded?
- Yes
Industries:
- People and Wellbeing
- Environmental
- Process and Systems
- Dairy
- Governance
Speaking Topics:
- People and Wellbeing
- Environmental
- Leadership and Governance
- Quality and Lean system thinking
Programmes:
Jordi Hoult
- Speaking regions: NZ-wide
I shape the future of agrifood before it hits your plate. Our biggest challenges live between global policy and local practice. The sector is evolving. So must we.
Can speak without AV display?
- Yes
Can travel by air if funded?
- Yes
Industries:
- Meat (all species)
- Government
- Veterinary
- NFP/Advocacy/Community
Speaking Topics:
- Systems change and leadership
- Global trends and insights
- Paddock to plate development
- People development
- Policy/regulatory
Programmes:
Gary Massicks
- Based in Manawatu | Speaking regions: North Island
An Agricultural Consultant working in both the dairy and sheep/beef industries, and a senior rugby referee here in the Manawatu. I enjoy the role of helping families and giving back.
Can speak without AV display?
- Yes
Can travel by air if funded?
- Yes
Industries:
- Dairy
- Sheep and beef
- Financial Management and planning
- Public Speaking and Emceeing
Speaking Topics:
- Business Management
- Public Speaking
- GHG's and the ETS
- Succession
- Strategic Planning
Programmes:
Emily Walker
- Speaking regions: Southland, Otago, Canterbury + South Island & NZ-Wide
Podcaster, engineer, strategic thinker. Passionate about rural people, our communities, and supporting smarter decisions in agribusiness.
Can speak without AV display?
- Yes
Can travel by air if funded?
- Yes
Industries:
- Professional services
- Communications/ engagement
- Sheep and Beef
Speaking Topics:
- Taking action before you're ready
- Strategy and decision making
- Leadership, personal development, motivation
Programmes: