Hi there,

Welcome to this edition of the Rural Leader, the first for 2025. 

It’s a privilege for The Rural Leaders Team to open the new year with Kellogg Programme One. This 53rd Kellogg cohort started their phase one at Lincoln University last week. 

Twenty-two Kelloggers leading in industries from dairy, red meat and genetics to rural banking, animal health and horticulture, have worked on their personal leadership style, developed their critical thinking skills and have heard from a range of respected speakers.  

We’ll keep you posted on their progress. Graduation is in mid-July.  

In Ideas that Grow, Lisa Lunn, 2024 Kellogg Scholar and Farmlands Cooperative Category Manager, spoke to Bryan Gibson about the use of genetic technologies in agriculture to address food security, environmental impact, and changing consumer preferences. 

The Nuffield New Zealand Farming Scholarships have a long and proud history. Its origins date back to 1950, making 2025 its 75th year. To mark this occasion, we’ll be holding an alumni dinner in Parliament, Wellington on Thursday 31 July.  

It’s an opportunity to celebrate Nuffield and the role it has played over the last 75 years in ensuring Aotearoa New Zealand remains at the global forefront of food and fibre.  

Kellogg Programme Two 2025 applications are open until 13 April. If you’re considering professional and leadership development this year, register your interest today. 

A full 2025 Value Chain Innovation Programme ends tomorrow in Hamilton. This 5-day deep-dive into the apple, kiwifruit and dairy value chains, has been designed to inspire plenty of ‘aha’ moments on innovation in domestic and international markets. Stay posted for our next programme dates.

In Alumni in the Spotlight, we share news from Karen Williams, 2023 Value Chain Programme, Carlos Bagrie, 2024 Nuffield Scholar, and Robert Campbell, Bryan Guy and Grahame Webber, Kellogg Alumni. 

And we also share News from our Partners and Industry News.

The Team at Rural Leaders. 

IDEAS THAT GROW PODCAST

Lisa Lunn on genetic technologies

In this Ideas that Grow podcast, Lisa Lunn, 2024 Kellogg Scholar, talks to Bryan Gibson, Managing Editor at Farmers Weekly about the use of genetic technologies in agriculture to address issues such as food security, environmental impact, and changing consumer preferences. 

Listen on your favourite podcast player:

Read full transcript: https://ruralleaders.co.nz/lisa-lunn-on-genetic-technologies-in-agriculture/.

Read Lisa's Kellogg report: https://ruralleaders.co.nz/understanding-a-future-with-genetic-technologies-in-new-zealand-agriculture/.

1950-2025 Nuffield 75 Years Dinner

Nuffield New Zealand Farming Scholarships have a long and proud history. Its origins date back to 1950, making 2025 its 75th year.

We’ll be celebrating this remarkable Nuffield milestone with a 75th year dinner at Parliament in Wellington on Thursday, July 31. 

More details will follow along with an invite in the coming weeks. Until then we’d ask all Nuffield Alum interested in attending to please save the date.

For any queries please contact Annie at anniechant@ruralleaders.co.nz.

Nuffield Triennial 2026 – Ireland

While we did share news about the 2026 Nuffield Triennial in the last Rural Leader, this another opportunity to invite Nuffield alumni to register their interest in this all-Ireland Triennial tour. 

The tour spans 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 more than 50 farms, industry organisations, and cultural venues.  
  
To stay informed about all the latest updates for Triennial 2026, register your interest today by clicking the link below.  
 
Triennial runs MAY 18TH – 26TH, 2026. 

Kellogg Programme Two 2025 applications are open

Take the opportunity to extend your leadership potential on this highly regarded programme.

Delivered in three phases totaling 18 in-person days, Kellogg spans six months, making it the ideal learning platform to balance your leadership development with work, farm, and family commitments.

Here’s what Programme Two looks like this year.

Kellogg Programme Two, Lincoln: 24 June - 28 November 2025

Phase One (Lincoln):
Tuesday 24 June – Wednesday 2 July 2025.

Phase Two (Wellington):
Monday 8 September – Friday 12 September 2025.

Phase Three (Lincoln):
Monday 24 November – Friday 28 November 2025.

If you’re considering professional and leadership development this year, register your interest today. 

Applications close Sunday 13 April.

The Value Chain Innovation Programme

The Value Chain Innovation Programme gives you the confidence to lead conversations in food and fibre. This immersion into the apple, kiwifruit and dairy value chains spans five days and on each of those days you’ll generate disruptive new insights. It’s difficult not to. 

Key to this insight generation is the on-bus discussion and debate between participants from a mix of industries and leadership roles. These ‘classroom on wheels’ sessions, facilitated by Prof. Hamish Gow and Cllr. Phil Morrison, enable you to unpack what you observe on a full itinerary of visits, panel discussions, and talks with industry leaders and founders. 

Plus, you’ll have a little fun along the way while forging valuable new industry connections.

The programme develops the knowledge, skills and networks to enable you to operate and be influential at an enterprise level within food and fibre.

Register your interest in the Value Chain Innovation Programme and when we’ve confirmed the next programme’s start date we’ll keep you posted via email on details.

2025’s programme ends tomorrow in Hamilton. Keep an eye out for our participant’s post-programme posts on LinkedIn #NZRuralLeaders

Alumni in the Spotlight

In Alumni in the Spotlight we feature a number of Rural Leaders’ Programme Alum who have received awards in the New Years Honours List.

Reading their achievements and contributions to community and industry, it is easy to see why Robert Campbell, Bryan Guy, Grahame Webber, and Carlos Bagrie all receive awards this year.

We also share news from Karen Williams, a 2023 Value Chain Innovation Programme alumna, who has recently been appointed to a new leadership role.

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

B+LNZ Generation Next applications are open

Applications for the 2025 B+LNZ Generation Next Programme are now open until 14 February. This ‘technical programme for practical people’ is designed to nurture, assist and encourage the current and future farmers within our sector.

You can read more here: https://www.beeflambnz.com/gennext

Industry news

AWDT appoints new GM

The Agri-Women’s Development Trust (AWDT) has appointed Julia Jones as its new General Manager. Jones brings a breadth of expertise to the role, shaped by her career spanning global analysis, leadership, and a focus on developing strong relationships across food and fibre. 

Read more here: https://www.awdt.org.nz/agri-womens-development-trust-welcomes-julia-jones-as-general-manager/.

Strategic partners:  
Dairy NZ  |  AGMARDT  |  FMG  |  Mackenzie Charitable Foundation

Programme partners:  
Ministry for Primary Industries  |  Farmlands  |  FAR  |  Horticulture New Zealand |  Zespri | LIC | Rabobank  |  Beef+Lamb New Zealand

Academic partners:  
Lincoln University  |  Massey University

Media and service partners:  
AgriHQ |  CountryWide Media  |  PwC  |  Federated Farmers  |  Tavendale and Partners

Regional partners: 
Whanganui & Partners  |  Whangarei A&P Society

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