Nicky Barton’s research that she carried out on the Kellogg Rural Leadership Programme revealed ‘some interesting interactions between age and health and safety behaviours on-farm.’ Read more in this ODT article : https://www.odt.co.nz/…/rural-l…/farmer-deaths-correlate-age
Nicky is the marketing and communications media manager for Worksafe and graduated from the Kellogg Rural Leadership Programme in 2019.
Click here to read Nicky’s Kellogg research report ‘Old dogs, new tricks : An exploration of age and its influence on health and safety in New Zealand’s primary sector.’
Lisa Portas who is an Expansion Manager at Palliser Ridge, a Sheep & Beef Farm in South Wairarapa graduated from the Kellogg Rural Leadership Programme in 2019.
Her research report ‘Farmer Storytelling : Navigating our Narrative‘ focuses on helping farmers to tell their stories to help explain to urban New Zealanders the realities of life on the land and the contribution the primary sector makes to the country.
Lisa featured on Global HQ’s OnFarm Story this week in her video “Showing People What We’re About.” Click here to watch the video.
FoodHQ is delighted to be able to offer a limited number of scholarships for young professionals and postgraduate students with food/agriculture related interests to attend the International Food and Agribusiness Management Association (IFAMA) conference in Rotterdam in June 2020 (https://ifama2020.org/) and participate in the IFAMA Student Case Study competition.
The case study competition is held on the Sunday, June 23rd and involves teams from all over the world working on a given case study with very relevant global food and agribusiness issues, devising various solutions to its problems and then presenting the results of their analysis, the options and their chosen strategy to a panel of judges. It is a unique experience and one that previous participants from NZ have thoroughly enjoyed being part of. The opportunity to get to know the competition and see how different geographies unbundle the same case differently is a special global experience.
We are seeking high-calibre applicants who are future leaders in agrifood from a diverse range of backgrounds. Prof Nicola Shadbolt from Massey University and several Mentors with experience within the agrifood sector will coach the case study competition entrants as well as accompanying the group throughout their visit, providing insights and further learning as appropriate.
We will also be arranging an in-market experience consisting of visits to interesting agrifood businesses in Europe as part of the programme. It is likely that this will consist of 3-4 days prior to the conference. Scholarship winners will also have the option of extending their visit to Europe to pursue their own itinerary or joining some or all of the International Horticulture Immersion Programme that will be running a course in Europe and Asia starting shortly after IFAMA concludes.
The scholarship includes return flights to Europe, transport related to the in-market experience, accommodation and conference fees. Scholarship recipients will need to be able to cover other costs (including those related to visas/passports, meals, spending money) themselves.
Attached is a guide to the scholarships and an application form. If you or someone you know is interested then please check your eligibility using the flowchart within this document, and if you do qualify then please complete and return the application form and your CV by the 27th Jan 2020. Please note the requirement for Young Professionals to have completed their most recent university-level studies no earlier than June 2017 and for Postgraduates to have been still enrolled in a course in Dec 2019.
Please feel free to pass this information through your networks across NZ who you think may be interested – there is no restriction on where the applicants are or have studied.
If you have any questions please contact: Abby Thompson, 021 774 864, abby@foodhq.com.
The New Zealand Rural Leadership Trust is pleased to announce the appointment of Chris Parsons, MNZM, DSD as their new Chief Executive Officer. Chris Parsons will replace Anne Hindson on 04 May 2020, following her stepping down as General Manager at end of April.
“We were thrilled by the quality field of candidates and consider ourselves fortunate to have someone of Chris Parsons calibre and experience step up to lead New Zealand Rural Leaders through its next stage of growth,” said Andrew Watters, Chair of the Board of Trustees.
Hailing from the Far North, Chris Parsons has a sheep and beef background and co-owns Ashgrove Genetics Ltd. He is also a decorated Army Officer, Certified Member of the Institute of Directors and holds master’s degrees in management and in strategy.
As part of the Board’s transition plan, Chris Parsons will attend the Nuffield Triennial Conference programme in March 2020.
Andrew Watters went on to say that “the New Zealand farming and growing sectors are at a pivotal moment; more than ever we need rural leaders who can perceive the challenges and seize the opportunities presented by rapid technological, environment, consumer and policy changes.” Chris Parsons expertise in strategy design, delivery, international relations and leader development will be important as Rural Leaders expands its offering and impact to keep New Zealand at the forefront of global agribusiness.
Parsons said, “I am honoured and excited to lead to New Zealand Rural Leadership Trust. I believe finding, developing and mentoring future rural leaders matters to the prosperity of New Zealand and New Zealanders, the protection of our environment and to thriving rural communities.”
Speaking on behalf of the Trust, Andrew Watters said, “We very much appreciate Anne Hindson’s efforts and her service to New Zealand Rural Leadership Trust since her appointment in 2014. Anne has been crucial to the establishment and development of New Zealand Rural Leaders which runs the iconic Nuffield Scholarship and the Kellogg Rural Leadership Programmes. These programmes select, develop and help accelerate the leadership potential of New Zealand’s exceptional rural talent and the alumni of which contribute significantly to the food and fibre sector across New Zealand.”
Our final E newsletter for the year is slightly later than planned and will hit you as you are winding down for the Xmas break. We hope that this later timing might mean you have some holiday reading!!
With the year now completed for the Nuffield Scholarships and the Kellogg Rural Leadership Programmes, focus is now on 2020 with the Kellogg programmes starting on 21 January, closely followed by the largest event we have ever hosted, the Nuffield2020 Triennial in March.
We have reviewed our intention to combine our two e-newsletters and decided to remain with separate communications due to targeted interests and potential level of content. So you can expect to continue to receive the dedicated programme updates as well as this generic operational update.
Quarterly Update (Sept – Dec 2019)
Management
We are thrilled to introduce a new addition to the team with the appointment of Tamney Hoyle, our new full time Marketing Manager, responsible for driving all our internal and external marketing and communications. Tamney’s most recent role was with PGG Wrightson where she led the marketing efforts for PGG Wrightson’s Livestock, Wool and Standardbred business units. Since starting in October she was immediately seconded into the marketing of the International Agribusiness Summit on 23 March, to our Kellogg alumni and the wider NZ agri food sector.
Our future strategy and work plan has been a key focus in the latter part of this year with Scott Champion from Provenanz, (and Kellogg Programme Leader), working with myself, and Louise Webster (Independent Trustee) on refining our strategy and action plan for the organisation for the next 24 months. To be presented to the Board in January, the focus has been on further developing current programmes, new initiatives, alumni, sponsor and stakeholder engagement and delivery.
The search for a replacement for my role of CEO, has started. As already communicated, I will finish up at the end of April 2020 after the Nuffield2020 event with a replacement coming on board earlier for a handover. I look forward to farewelling Nuffielders at our conference in March.
Scholars
Alumni received an early preview of the new 2020 scholars as they were announced in Parliament on 5 November to 78 guests comprising of investing partners and industry leaders. The 2020 cohort (scholar names and bios here) have already started their 15 month programme with a full two days on 4 & 5 December in Wellington receiving their NZ and Industry briefing, in preparation of their role as NZ Ambassadors.
Meanwhile the 2019 Scholars (featured in this newsletter) delivered a fantastic forum to sponsors and Board on their global insights followed by a teaser of their research topic outcomes in a short presentation at Parliament as part of the Awards function. Recent scholars will remember the pressure of ‘that’ summer writing the Nuffield report, but this group are under a little more pressure having to deliver to the Nuffield NZ Conference on 20th & 21 March. (See the list of topics to be presented by 2018 & 2019 Scholars here).
Nuffield Alumni Recognised
Our recent scholars have been doing us proud with some impressive appointments and acknowledgements. Firstly Mel Poulton (Nuffield 2014 alumni) was announced as the replacement for Mike Peterson (Kellogg alumni) to the role of NZ’s Special Agricultural Trade Envoy, Minister for Trade & Export. Lucy Griffiths was appointed to the Sustainable Food and Fibre Futures (SFF Futures), Independent Investment Advisory Panel who have a big job distributing $40m of government funding.
2017 Scholar, Mat Hocken became the first kiwi to receive the Rabobank Emerging Leader Award at a formal function in Auckland on 28 November. Watch Mats video here. Mats recognition came after that of Jim Geltch who was awarded the 2018 Rabobank Leadership Award so again putting Nuffield ‘in lights’.
New Investing Partner Announced
In conjunction with the recent Rabobank Awards, Rabobank NZ announced a new partnership with Rural Leaders as a Programme Partner. This finally secures a banking partner for the organisation. Rabobank was the logical and best fit as a banking partner as a truly agricultural focused bank and a cooperative with a strong history of association. Both parties are looking forward to growing the relationship and alumni support.
Meanwhile MPI have also recently re-signed as a Programme Partner of Rural Leaders and a partner with the Triennial and we thank them for their support and that of the Minister, Damien O’Connor.
Alumni Regional Event Plans
After the six successful Regional Alumni events held this year we have plans to extend this next year into 6 different regions in May and June. The seminars connect together our alumni across both programmes, our investing partners and potential new scholars as well as provide an opportunity to hear some recent research from a local Kellogg or Nuffield scholar.
Alongside the 6 new regions we will be trialling locally coordinated seminars in 1 – 2 regions from last year, expanding the focus.
Update on the Triennial is included in this newsletter. We are thrilled with the level of support of NZ alumni and industry as we host this large event. A key focus for Chairman Michael Tayler and myself has been in securing sponsor partners for the Triennial. An event of this size requires significant industry support and it has been fantastic to see this coming from our existing and some new partners.
2019 Year Highlights
As we finish 2019, it is great to reflect on the highlights of the last 12 months.
‘Behind the Scenes’
Continued support and contribution of our investing Strategic and Programme Partners to our programmes and their promotion which has meant a financially sustainable organisation.
Exciting new appointments to the Board and Management team
‘Delivering on our Purpose’
Graduated 54 industry leaders with 54 new pieces of rural research for industry
Delivered 6 regional alumni events as a first up initiative to engage ongoing thought leadership and connection at regional level
Hosted a Nuffield International GFP New Zealand leg in Nelson & Marlborough in April and scholars rated it the best part of their 6 week programme – thanks to our alumni hosts John Palmer, Julian Raine, Murray King, Andy Elliot, John Murphy and Hamish Murray and family.
A year’s activity putting together an incredible 11 day Nuffield2020 programme that includes 27 separate field trip options, access to iconic stations and an international Summit by Michael Tayler and his Organising team
‘In the Public view’
Current and recent scholars active in Industry presentations and industry advisory groups including a Global Insights Forum with investing partners from 2019 Scholars
Increased significantly the media coverage and exposure of Kellogg & Nuffield projects supported by our media partnerships with $145,000 value
Ongoing features of Kellogg and Nuffield alumni in On Farm Stories
Kellogger Lisa Portas, scheduled for Country Calendar programme early in 2020.
Recognition of the Team
Our vision of “Confident Rural Leaders Fit for the Future” and the achievement of the steps toward this could not be achieved without the ongoing contribution and dedication of the following:
Rural Leaders Team: CEO, Anne Hindson, Programme Coordinator Lisa Rogers, Marketing & Comms Manager Tamney Hoyle, Kellogg Programme Leader Scott Champion, Kellogg Project Advisor Patrick Aldwell & Nuffield Advisor, Hamish Gow.
The Trustees: Andrew Watters (Chair), Hamish Fraser, Michael Tayler, James Parsons, Craige Mackenzie, Louise Webster, Associate Rebecca Hyde
Well done to Lucy Griffiths who was recently appointed by Minister Damien O’Connor to the independent Investment Advisory Panel (IAP) for Sustainable Food and Fibre Futures (SFF Futures).
The advisory panel provides independent expert advice on both funding proposals and active programmes in NZ’s food and fibre industries. There is a $40 million fund available each year to support innovation in this sector, and the panel only advises on applications $5 million and over. Find out more.
Mat Hocken was announced as the 2019 Rabobank Emerging Leader at the Rabobank Leadership Awards on Thursday night (28th November). Our congratulations go out to Mat who is the first kiwi to receive this award!
The Rabobank Leadership Awards are held annually recognising the contribution of leaders from across New Zealand and Australia’s food and agribusiness sector. The 2019 event marked the 20th anniversary of the awards and the first occasion the awards dinner had been held in New Zealand. Find out more.
Mat Hocken – 2019 Rabobank Emerging Leader Award Recipient
Alice Rule, Kellogger and emerging young leader in sustainability, is researching the circular economy of glass in the New Zealand wine industry as part of her Kellogg research project. Through her work, she hopes to drive awareness about using glass made in New Zealand in the wine industry. Click here to find out more about Rule’s research project.
Waikato based, Dairy Environment Leader, Dairy Farmer and recently appointed Dairy NZ board member, Tracy Brown is one of five scholars from across industry sectors awarded a Nuffield NZ Scholarship. The scholarships were announced on Tuesday, 5th November at parliament by Hon Stuart Nash, Minister of Police, Fisheries, Revenue, and Small Business.
Alongside Tracy Brown,
the recipients of Nuffield NZ Farming Scholarships for 2020 are Shannon
Harnett, Whakatane based Agriculture and Horticulture Director; Waikato based
Phil Weir, Dry Stock Farmer and Agri business Consultant; Southland based
Edward Pinckney, director/owner of a dairy farm and sheep, beef and grazing
farm, Marlborough based Ben McLauchlan, owner of a 102 H vineyard and 30 H beef
finishing unit in Rapaura.
The Nuffield Scholarships
with the three core components provide new Scholars with an opportunity to
travel abroad in groups and individually and study the latest developments in a
number of leading agricultural countries.
“The reputation and
prestige of a Nuffield Scholarship opens the doors for new Scholars to access international businesses like Amazon, John Deere and Blue
Apron – businesses that are behind and beyond the farm gate. No other programme can offer this type of
access to these globally recognised companies” says Nuffield NZ Chairman Andrew
Watters.
Ms Brown who is a champion for
sustainability, and has been leading environmental change in the dairy industry for
nearly a decade sees the Scholarship as an opportunity to gain insight into the
policies and processes other countries are using to create positive
environmental change.
“While I have been active in the NZ
environmental space, this experience will enable me to gain the international
networks and experience that will add to my effectiveness in the roles I have
or will have in the future” says Ms Brown.
The
five new scholars will join more than 160 Nuffield alumni who have been awarded
Nuffield Scholarships over the past 70 years. The 2020 research topics are
likely to cover issues such as – Understanding the international policies and
processes that have created positive environmental change; How Plant Variety Rights provide growers the opportunity to successfully
develop new business internationally; Exploration of the NZ primary sector
to determine if there are fundamental barriers restricting collaboration;
developing and growing our young people entering the agricultural sector; Enhancing
the sustainability of Viticulture by lessening its reliance on scarce
resources.
After our fantastically successful one day Summit alumni event in 2017 we promised you another one in three years (based on your preferred frequency). We are pleased to announce that our next Kellogg alumni event has been confirmed for 23 March 2020.
What is even more exciting is that we are combining this event with the Nuffield2020 International Event, as part of a one day International Summit being held in Christchurch and hosted by Nuffield NZ. With a theme of Fast Forward – this is a day focused on future solutions showcasing new business models. There will be lots of discussion and debate with International and New Zealand speakers who are leaders in change and business solutions, that will inspire, provoke and challenge your thinking.
We know as Kelloggers you also love to reKonnect – so we are organising some alumni networking events around the Summit with the help of Canterbury Kellogg alumni including a cocktail function on Sunday evening. The details of other events will be announced shortly.
This will hopefully be the last E-Nuff in the current format, as we develop a new look e-newsletter which covers the activities of ‘Rural Leaders’ and includes updates on both programmes.
Much of what
we want to say is relevant to both groups of alumni (some of who overlap) so the
new E newsletter will have organisation updates with the option to click
through to the latest Nuffield or Kellogg news including scholar reports,
insights and updates specific to each programme or group of alumni.
Our ‘E-Nuff’ & ‘Kellogg Konnect’ will be retained for use when conversing with each group on a programme only basis.
We Need a Name – Win the prize!
We are looking for a name for our new Rural Leaders E Newsletter. Get your creative juices going and send in some ideas and win a prize and the honour of renaming our newsletter.
A new initiative for 2019, 6 regions were chosen to host a Regional
Alumni networking event, bringing together different cohorts and both
Kellogg and Nuffield alumni. With Napier/Hastings,
Tauranga, Whangarei, Blenheim, Gore & Hamilton locations there was a mix of
our smaller and larger regions.
The purpose of the initiative was to provide a vehicle for:
alumni to meet each other – across programmes
& cohorts
reconnect with Rural Leaders & its developments
as a new Trust
introduce potential new applicants to both
programmes
hear the reports and experience of a recent
Nuffielder and Kellogger from the region
investing partners regional reps to connect with
alumni for B2B and network development
One of the highlights demonstrating the power and history of
the programmes was in Waikato where we had an original Kellogger from Course 1
1979 and a current Kellogger from Course 40. Similar span of alumni years were
also seen in other regions.
After fantastic feedback, despite the late timing of the
events, the plan is to roll out the concept in 6 more regions next year. Meanwhile we will work with each of the recent
region hosts to determine a sustainable networking format for the future.
Feedback has been really positive about the benefits of
networking and potentially providing some upskilling opportunities and/or
providing a voice on some regional issues although in some regions we battle the
problem of distance with some having to drive over 2 hours each way to attend a
central location.
The recruitment of a full time marketing person will
provide a much needed resource and ability to be much more effective with our
external and internal communications and relationships and keeping the brand
presence throughout the year. We hope to report our new appointment in the next
newsletter in early December.
A board sub committee has been working with Scott Champion
on refining our strategy and business plan over the next few years as we
respond to market changes but more importantly work on developing and growing
our alumni programme and influence.
Our 2020 Nuffield Scholarships have recently closed
and the selection process is underway. This year we have a good number of
female candidates with six being shortlisted so we hope that we can achieve a
better gender balance this year. The
Awards will be held at Parliament, hosted by Hon Damien O’Connor, on 5 November
(a relevant place to be on Guy Fowkes). Watch for the pre announcement email to
alumni announcing the 2020 scholars.
The Awards will be preceded by a forum with the 2019
Scholars sharing their global insights and discussing implications for the
industry with our investing partners & Trustees, hosted by KPMG.
The Nuffield2020 Triennial is gaining momentum with
an updated programme released and registrations opening on 1 September. Check
out the website here https://www.nuffield2020.com/programme.
We are really pleased to welcome some new partners who have come
on board to support this international event alongside our existing Rural
Leader investing partners. Check out the next Triennial EDM for the latest details
& updates. The one day Summit is shaping up to be a great event and watch
out for speaker announcements shortly.
The support of our New Zealand alumni to attend and host our international guests is critical to the success as we want to showcase some of our leading business models, on farm and environmental practices and agri tech to our international colleagues & guests.
Chair, Michael Tayler and the team are hoping all alumni
will use the event to encourage reunions of your Nuffield cohort and
international networks.
Upcoming Events
Kellogg Course 1 2020 Applications close: 14 October
2020 Nuffield Scholar Awards: 5
November
2019 Scholar Insights Forum: 5 November
Kellogg Course 40 phase 3 presentations: 25-28 November
Nuffield2020 Early bird registrations close: 30 November
We have a dichotomy in New Zealand agriculture at present. On the one hand we have favourable economic conditions with good prices for most of our products, a very favourable exchange rate and record low interest rates. And yet despite this, farmer confidence is flat, reflecting increasing government regulation, uncertainty in general business confidence and uncertainties in the dairy sector.
We are clearly undergoing a paradigm shift that is affecting agricultural production systems. We are being forced to face some of the externalities of farming; the need to address nutrient loss and greenhouse gas emissions. And at the same time, agricultural markets are changing with new groups of consumers willing to focus their purchase decisions on environmental and animal welfare attributes which determine food as ‘good food’ and ‘bad food’.
A step change in approach to water quality was delivered by Minister David Parker and supporting ministers as your trustees met in Wellington to complete our shortlist for 2019 scholar selection. And class 40 from the Kellogg program were also right in the thick of it with their stage two module involving meetings with NGOs on both sides of the debate and the Minister of Agriculture.
I think at heart, most farmers and growers are individuals who highly value discretion and relatively unfettered decision making, and this is being challenged. For some of us, our economic future is also being challenged.
The conclusion of at least the Kellogg attendees was that farmers are not going to be able to change the tide; the change is now inevitable.
As farming leaders with broad and long-term perspectives, Nuffield members have a unique opportunity to help our Agri-food industries to form a positive vision and action plan for the future. This will involve land use change, ever a feature of the New Zealand landscape. It will involve planning, monitoring and new management practices and systems. It will require our co-ops and other exporters to develop and foster new value chains.
Perhaps the opportunity is for us to ensure the requirement for regulation and change is leveraged to support our position as food producers with products which have unique attributes and a unique story. We know that such an approach requires assurance and that our ‘good food’ needs to be traceable.
We know intrinsically that we produce food as sustainably and naturally as anyone, yet we can’t take our position for granted. Grain-fed beef produced in feedlots is being dubbed ‘bad’ by millennial consumers yet the impossible burger with circa 20 ingredients including GMO is ‘good’. Let’s ensure that our position stands scrutiny and we can achieve win-win outcomes.
There is a section in this ENUFF about the Nuffield 2020 triennial – an important event in your 2020 calendar. Thanks are extended to Michael Taylor and his committee for their excellent work.
Your trustees were pleased to consider 20 applicants for the 2020 Nuffield Scholarships which we have shortlisted to 10 interviewees. We have six women, four men, a dominance of farmer/grower applicants and good coverage across dairy, sheep and beef, viticulture and horticulture.
The next time we write will be to inform you of the successful applicants.
Penny Clark-Hall is passionate about helping rural communities.
Ms Clark-Hall is the founder of New Zealand’s first social licence consultancy, helping farmers and agri-businesses earn and maintain their social licence to operate.
She is excited about speaking at the Women’s Enviro Evening in Clinton later this month, saying meaningful change had to come from grassroots, or “the ground up”.
That had a domino effect and, if everyone did their “own little bit” then it all added up to something big, she said.
The evening, which will be held in the Clinton Town Hall on Tuesday, July 30, has been organised by local woman Sandra Campbell.
Mrs Campbell, who with husband Chris is in an equity partnership on a 500-cow dairy farm between Clinton and Balclutha, attended a food and fibre conference in Christchurch a few years ago.
She left feeling enthused both about their own business and also about sustainability. The aim was of this month’s meeting was to bring top speakers back to community level and make it accessible, she said.
It was a warm, sunny afternoon in Takaka in Golden Bay.
As daylight beamed through a window only to hit the back of a curtain, Kellogger, Wayne Langford found himself bedridden in a cool, dark room. He had been flat on his back every afternoon for more than a week to escape his constant mental anguish.
But this day was different.
“I had like an out-of-body experience.
“It was as though I was hovering above myself looking down and saying ‘what the hell are you doing in bed?’”
It was 2pm on March 18, 2017.
It was his 34th birthday.
“I couldn’t help but think I should be out and about celebrating with people, not stuck indoors….”
To read more about Wayne Langford by Luke Chivers, click here.
Enthusiasm for a digital future key asset for Dairy Women’s trustee role 1 July 2019
Enthusiasm for a digital future is a key asset Auckland based tech enthusiast Sophie Stanley feels she can bring to the Dairy Women’s Network as the newest member of its trust board.
“I’ve worked with the Dairy Women’s Network in the past and have always admired what they are doing in the community to support women in the dairy industry,” she said. “I thought it was an organisation I could add a lot of value too and opportunities like this don’t come along that often.”
Stanley, 32, felt her youth and enthusiasm for a digital future was the key asset that she would will bring to the role.
“Having lead an agtech company in the US for the last two years I bring experience from the technology sector with agile and design thinking, and also have international experience working with farmers in the Midwest, USA.”
She said her experience travelling as a scholarship recipient of the prestigious rural leadership programme Nuffield New Zealand where she researched social media in the agricultural sector highlighted the importance of community and good use of technology, but stresses the importance of face to face connections.
“Used well, technology should be leveraged to enhance knowledge, community and connection, but real human interaction remains very important.”
Chair of the Dairy Women’s Network Board of Trustees Cathy Brown said Stanley had a strong understanding of strategy development and execution.
“Her digital knowledge will be an asset as the Dairy Women’s Network tells the story of the amazing women who work in the industry. We look forward to having Sophie on the team,” she said.
Stanley spent a year as an Associate Director on the Rural Leadership Consortium board (Nuffield NZ) following travelling overseas and has worked extensively in the banking and technology sectors.
“I feel excited to join a team who are committed to enabling transformational change in agribusiness, particularly with women,” she said.
“The agricultural sector has long been a passion of mine, and I believe that grassroots organisations such as Dairy Women’s Network provide so much value to its members by providing a community and access to tools and knowledge that can help them thrive.”
With strong rural roots resulting from growing up on a sheep and beef farm in Rangitaiki, in the Bay of Plenty, Stanley has always had a strong passion for agriculture and food production. She graduated from Massey University with a Bachelor of Science (Agricultural Science) and Bachelor of Business Studies (Economics) and went on to spend five years working as an Agri Manager for ANZ Bank with dairy farmers in Morrinsville.
In 2013 when she won the Nuffield Scholarship to research the impact of social media in agriculture she was one of the youngest scholars to ever be awarded it.
She joined cloud software company Figured in 2014 to build the vision for a cloud based agri accounting software, spending four years helping grow the company that included moving to Omaha, Nebraska to launch the business in the United States.
The call of New Zealand’s beaches and mountains saw her return home earlier this year to take up a role working on building app partner programmes for the global ecosystem at Xero.
An avid reader, podcast listener and traveller who says she loves learning about food systems, politics, economics and climate change, she has found time to run her first 50 kilometre ultramarathon in February and is training for her next ultramarathon in Taupo in October.
Stanley’s first Dairy Women’s Network Trust Board meeting will be in September.
New Zealand farmers are “more environmentally engaged” than their European counterparts, a North Canterbury dairy farmer says.
Cam Henderson, who farms in Oxford, has just returned from eight weeks visiting the US, Mexico, Brazil and the Netherlands as part of an agricultural scholarship programme.
Expecting the Netherlands to be ahead of New Zealand on environmental protection, he found they were less concerned about their farming impact.
“Their reputation is very clean and green, but I felt quite the opposite when I was there,” he said.
“I saw drains running through to rivers with cropping right to the edge. There were no setbacks or sediment traps…
The government has introduced a Research and Development (“R&D”) Tax Incentive, to support and further promote R&D in NZ businesses.
The R&D Bill has passed its first reading in Parliament and we expect legislation to be enacted in May/June this year, allowing businesses to access, and make the most of the incentive from the start of the current tax year (typically 1 April 2019).
The incentive is a great opportunity for businesses to access support for R&D – It’s expected that over 2000 New Zealand businesses will be eligible to claim the incentive.
KPMG invite you to join one of their sessions where R&D experts will present – alongside officials from Inland Revenue, and Callaghan Innovation – on the R&D Tax Incentive, providing insight into how the incentive will provide broader access to R&D funding for New Zealand businesses.
The seminar will also cover what is, and what isn’t R&D, and how to start planning early to be ready to make a claim for this year’s R&D activities.
As well as KPMG, officials from Inland Revenue and Callaghan Innovation will be on hand to answer any of your questions on the new incentive in the Q&A section of the seminar.
It is with great sadness that I share the news that 2000 Nuffield Scholar and former Chairman of Fonterra, John Wilson passed away aged only 54yrs. He is survived by his wife Belinda and four daughters, Sophie, Victoria and twins Tessa and Libby.
In July last year, John made the difficult decision to step down from the role of Fonterra Chairman to focus on his health. He then retired from the Board at the Fonterra Annual Meeting last November.
John was a man whose dedication and commitment to our Co-op ran deep. Outside of his family life, he dedicated most of his time to farmers, Fonterra and farming.
We owe John and his family a debt of gratitude for all the time, energy and sheer hard graft he gave us as a farmer-owner, inaugural Chairman of the Fonterra Shareholder’s Council on merger, as a Farmer Elected Director from 2003, and as Chairman from 2012.
John always brought dedication, commitment and deep dairy knowledge to each of the representation and governance roles in which he served. On behalf of his fellow farmers he was the ultimate advocate for what we stand for. He’d never back down from going at something head on if he believed it was important.
John was one of us – a dairy farmer through and through. He always looked ahead and focused on finding a way through the tough times that would protect Fonterra’s farmers, sharemilkers and their families. Bringing farmers solutions, not problems was always his mindset.
We have lost a friend, colleague, leader and champion for our industry much too soon. Nuffield NZ has lost an amazing leader who has demonstrated the commitment of Nuffield. John has always made every attempt to attend the Nuffield NZ Conference
and has been a contributor as a presenter to both the Nuffield and Kellogg programmes
Our thoughts and deep gratitude for all that he contributed go to his family and friends.
Geoff Mathis a Nuffield Scholar has focused his energies into an amazing project in Tanzania – East Africa. With the support of many individuals (including Nuffielders) MFAT, Rotary NZ World Community Service, The Rotary Foundation and numerous other people, this NZD1.1m project is changing lives.
The goal: Moving farmers and the community off the poverty line in Mwika, Tanzania.
In 2008, I started helping the village of Mwika on the foothills of Mt Kilimanjaro with sufficient funding for 36 biogas digesters (converting cow manure to methane gas)?.
We have funded over 90 on-farm biogas digesters, 200 stainless milk cans, 1,000 good farming booklets – very basic, a 600 ltr per hour processing milk plant replacing the old copper boiler, 150 rising 2yr old milking cows and a lot of other equipment to support the community. Most were made available on a shared basis – the locals had to take ownership of the assistance – in most cases (but not all) the farmer made a 25% contribution to each part of the project – ownership!
It has grown considerably from that point to where we are at now – the final stage of that project.The Kondiki Dairy Co-op is very similar to where the first NZ Co-op was born in Otago in the 1880’s, a fledgling company growing with plenty of constraints …It is in desperate need for a second reliable small truck (ute) to assist in collection and distribution of dairy product. I have undertaken to do our best to fund the NZD$30,000 required.
I have setup a Charitable Trust with Rotary New Zealand (all donations receipted) – my hope is that this will be shared with your family, friends and colleagues.If you are willing to forward this domain page onto 20 persons I am sure we will achieve our goal.
We heard repeatedly about the growing world population and the related demand for food driving the need for bigger, better yields of commodity products (sound familiar?!).
America has always been known of the land where bigger is better. We saw that on show in Ames, Iowa for the 2019 Nuffield Contemporary Scholars Conference. The week served as a celebration of US agriculture and the role corn and soybean production has in feeding the world. We heard repeatedly about the growing world population and the related demand for food driving the need for bigger, better yields of commodity products (sound familiar?!). This is a message from policy makers, researchers and farmers alike. Throw in a question about the current trade disagreements and their effect on ag exports and the response is surprisingly positive. Trade needs to be fair so, despite the current blip, it will be better in the long run – rural support for the current administration is strong.
Research and Technology
Iowa State University hosted the conference. It has one of the best agri-colleges in the country with some impressive projects such as individual plant level crop management, animal vaccination by drone and genetic products. They collaborate with industry to bring products to market quickly and have a well organised extension service that ensures research reaches farmers at pace.
Iowa is also the home of John Deere who showed us a vision of the farming future with automated cropping, sensing and decision making.
Innovative Farmers
Joe Sweeny of Eagle’s Catch, a 27 year old entrepreneur, has built a $16 million glass house to farm Tilapia, a tropical fish often served whole in Hispanic cuisine. A brave move considering his glass houses are often under two feet of snow in a tornado prone area. But with a well constructed business plan and local backing, it demonstrates the willingness to ‘just do it’ here.
Ben Riensche of Blue Diamond Farming saw the inefficiency in his fleet of cropping machinery sitting in the shed for most of the year so bought a farm in a state further south growing different crops and ships his gear backwards and forwards.
Environmental Standards
The few farms we visited were very proud of their environmental work. There is a growing recognition of farming’s impact on the environment however the policy and mitigations still lag that in New Zealand. Climate change is often seen as an opportunity to grow higher yields but a threat long term.
Learning from Other Scholars
The other scholars added the most value during the week, sharing their stories, insights and many laughs. We are all struggling with similar issues of labour, public perception, succession and the environment – an insight that is both a relief and a worry. Our new global network of friends will help as we continue on the Nuffield journey. Next stop – Washington DC.
Finally – a big thankyou to all the organisers and sponsors in NZ for your support and Kia Kaha Christchurch.
