No images? Click here
Hi there,
Welcome to this edition of The Rural Leader, the last for 2025.
The resignation of Lisa Rogers after two and a half years as CEO, and nearly nine years with Rural Leaders was sad news last month. However, Lisa’s hard work and dedication leaves the Trust and team well-placed for 2026 and beyond.
In this month’s Ideas That Grow Podcast we share an interview with Lisa that explores the change she has seen over the years. During her time with Rural Leaders, Lisa has delivered 19 Kellogg Programmes, and has influenced 400 new Kellogg Scholars, 45 Nuffield Scholars and has engaged deeply with 1,998 flat whites from Lincoln’s Mrs O’s café.
Kellogg Programme Two 2025 have graduated after presenting their research work. Reports cover such topics as: rural news, the fifth-quarter, genotyping the NZ sheep flock and biodiversity on Canterbury dairy farms for improved social license, to name a few.
Kellogg Programme One (Phase One) 2026 starts on 27 January and will be facilitated by Renée Walker. If you missed it, we shared some of Renée’s story in the last edition.
The Value Chain Innovation Programme runs from 8–14 February. Hamish Gow and Phil Morrison facilitate this unique dairy, kiwifruit and apple value chain deep-dive, over five days. The tour starts in Napier, moves on to the Hawke’s Bay, Rotorua, Tauranga and ends in Hamilton.
Alumni in the Spotlight features news from Geoffrey Neilson (1976 Nuffield Scholar), Emma Crutchley, Daniel Judd, Conan Moynihan, Daniel Eb and more.
You can catch up on News from our Partners, Industry, and a leadership opportunity with B+LNZ.
We hope you have a relaxing break with friends and family.
See you in 2026.
The Team at Rural Leaders.
Lisa Rogers on nine years with Rural Leaders.
After nearly nine years with Rural Leaders, including the last two and a half years as Chief Executive Officer, Lisa Rogers has decided the time is right to move on from her role.
Having designed new programmes, steered the Trust through periods of change, and delivered major projects such as the Rural Leaders, Food and Fibre CoVE - Leadership Development Framework, Lisa leaves the Trust in a strong position.
In this interview with Farmers Weekly Managing Editor Bryan Gibson (2025 Kellogg Scholar), Lisa talks about the Trust’s history, leadership and the potential each scholar holds.
Listen on your favourite podcast player:
Kellogg Programme Two 2025 graduate.
Rural Leaders are pleased to share the latest reports from the graduates of Kellogg Rural Leadership Programme Two 2025 (K54).
Over the last six months, under the facilitation of Phil Morrison, the graduates of Kellogg Programme Two 2025 (K54), have grown as people and as leaders.
A large part of this growth has come from a deep dive into a research topic of interest to them and of value to the sector.
Just some of the research report topics from K54 are:
- Biodiversity on Canterbury dairy farms to improve social license.
- Overcoming barriers to data interoperability within NZ’s wine industry.
- Regenerative agriculture in kiwifruit orchards – barriers to adoption.
- News with value.
- Evaluating the case for genotyping the NZ commercial sheep flock.
- Are farmers paid enough for the fifth-quarter?
You can read K54’s reports here.
Congratulations to our graduated Scholars: Anna Vaughan, Matt Scarf, Tara Dwyer, Tim Orlando-Reep, Natasha Cave, David March, Tim Waehling, Bryan Gibson, Nick Vernon, Nicky Halley, Zac Howell, Pranoy Pal, Geoff Crawford, Olivia Smith, Campbell Smith.
Nuffield Triennial 2026 – Ireland.
Nuffield Ireland invites all Nuffield alumni on an all-Ireland Triennial tour, spanning from the North to the South, offering a rich blend of agricultural and cultural experiences.
Over the course of nine days, participants embark on a journey across the island, with visits to farms, industry organisations, and cultural venues.
This tour provides a unique opportunity for Nuffield alumni to connect and reconnect, fostering valuable relationships and insights.
Triennial runs MAY 18TH – 26TH, 2026.
Register: https://nuffield2026.com/registration/.
Alumni in the Spotlight
In Alumni in the Spotlight we feature Rural Leaders’ Programme Alumni who have recently been in the news - or have news to share.
In this edition, Geoffrey Neilson (1976 Nuffield Scholar) is to be celebrated for his family hosting more than 100 Welsh students on their sheep and beef farm.
Several major Welsh agricultural organisations are uniting to honour retired Otago sheep and beef farmers Geoff and Ailsa Neilson (pictured above). The award will be presented at Chatsford Village in Mosgiel next month.
We also share news from Dan Eb, Emma Crutchley, Dan Steele and more.
If you have news about a new business venture, trip, award, or appointment you’d like to share with our audience, please get in touch with Matt Hampton, Marketing and Communications Manager at matthampton@ruralleaders.co.nz.
News from our partners
AGMARDT Stays the Course on Primary Sector Support.
AGMARDT has announced it funded 35 projects and people with $2.87 million in strategic investment during 2024/25, despite facing challenging market conditions.
The trust received 171 applications across three funding rounds, requesting over $10.5 million in total. Grants were distributed between Strategic Partnerships (56%), Agribusiness Innovation Grants (33%), and Capability Development (11%), with applicants ranging from 18 to their mid-80s.
DairyNZ’s new Legends video series.
Look out for DairyNZ’s new Legends video series on socials over summer. The series is designed to help farm teams build stronger communication, teamwork, and leadership skills. Encourage your team to watch together and start a conversation about teamwork.
HortNZ Celebrates Two Decades of Sector Growth.
Horticulture New Zealand marked its 20th anniversary this week, celebrating the sector's growth from 8% to 14% of primary exports since 2005.
Key achievements include establishing the globally-recognised RSE seasonal labour scheme and developing NZGAP assurance standards. Building on this success, the sector launched the Aotearoa Horticulture Action Plan in 2023, targeting a doubling of farmgate value by 2035.
Rabobank Partners with Nateva for Farm Carbon Income.
Rabobank and Nateva are launching a partnership enabling New Zealand farmers to generate income from marginal land through voluntary carbon credits. Under long-term leases, farmers will receive 50% of carbon credit value while Nateva manages forest establishment using exotic nurse crops transitioning to indigenous forests. The initiative creates new revenue streams alongside traditional farming operations.
Mycoplasma Bovis Eradication.
New Zealand is entering the final phase of eradicating Mycoplasma bovis, with spring bulk tank milk testing showing no sign of the cattle disease. No new infections have been detected for two years. The programme now enters a "confidence of absence" phase requiring two more years of testing before declaring eradication by June 2028—a world first for this disease.
Industry news
Apply for the Mayfield Governance Development Programme.
Mayfield Group offers this comprehensive governance programme targeted at business owners, directors, future leaders and those reporting to boards. Running over six-months, this executive programme covers what is required to be an effective director and includes:
- Separating governance, management and representation
- Strategy, risk, legal duties and financials
- Effective board processes and practices
- Directors as leaders - culture, chair role, conflict resolution
- Future themes: Climate change, ESG, people retention, AI.
Key Dates:
Programme starts: 1st May 2026
First workshop: 11, 12, 13 May 2026 (in Auckland)
Second Workshop: October/November 2026 (in Auckland).
For any questions, contact Jo Woolley, jo@mayfieldgroup.co.nz
or 027 886 5700.
Vocational Education Restructure
The government has formally established a Food and Fibre Industry Skills Board. One of eight new Industry Skills Boards (ISBs), it will set standards, endorse programmes, and advise on workforce development for the vocational education sector.
Full article >
Dairy Production Efficiency
New Zealand dairy farmers achieved a 2.9% increase in total milksolids production to 1.94 billion kilograms in 2024/25, despite cow numbers falling 0.5% to 4.68 million, with per-cow productivity reaching a record 414 kilograms of milksolids.
Full article >
Red Meat Exports
New Zealand red meat exports reached $827 million in October 2025, a 27% increase on the same period last year, with the US up 36% to $196 million, the EU up 31% to $159 million, and the UK up 130% to $64 million. The average value of NZ sheepmeat exports reached a record $14.31/kg during the month, according to the Meat Industry Association.
Full article >
Leadership opportunities
B+LNZ Board Election: Southern South Island Farmers to Vote in 2026.
B+LNZ will hold a director election for the Southern South Island (SSI) electoral district in early 2026. Three candidates are vying for the position: Simon Davies, Glen McDonald, and Matt McRae, following the retirement of current director Geoffrey Young.
Voting will open in February 2026 and close on March 12, with the Annual Meeting scheduled for March 17 in Timaru. Candidate information and voting details will be distributed to eligible SSI voters in early February.
Strategic partners:
Dairy NZ | AGMARDT | FMG | Mackenzie Charitable Foundation
Programme partners:
Ministry for Primary Industries | Farmlands | Horticulture New Zealand | Zespri | LIC | Rabobank | Beef+Lamb New Zealand
Academic partners:
Lincoln University | Massey University
Media and professional partners:
Farmers Weekly | CountryWide Media | PwC | Federated Farmers | Tavendale and Partners
Regional partners:
Whanganui & Partners | Whangarei A&P Society
SHARE THIS EMAIL:
