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Hi there,
Welcome to this edition of the Rural Leader.
MyLead.co.nz launched this week! The new site is just one outcome of research conducted by Rural Leaders and commissioned by Food and Fibre Centre of Vocational Excellence (CoVE).
MyLead helps to identify development pathways for people at all stages of their leadership journey, based on two inputs, ‘current leadership stage’ and ‘industry’.
You can take a closer look at the site in this Rural Leader. It's a resource for the food and fibre sector so, feel free to share the site with your networks.
In Ideas that Grow, Jenni Vernon, 1994 Nuffield Scholar, Farmer, Director, talks to Bryan Gibson about her leadership journey, Nuffield experience and on not underestimating the power of face-to-face communication.
Jenni has never shied away from taking the lead, so, it’s fitting that this podcast coincides with the opening of applications for the 2026 Nuffield New Zealand Farming Scholarships on 26 May. Keep an eye on our social feeds from Monday.
The 2024 Nuffield Scholars: Carlos Bagrie, Rachel Baker, Jenna Smith and Peter Templeton, have each addressed a topical challenge in Food and Fibre, from sustainable land use to succession, and from the future of farming to gene editing. We share their reports in this issue.
2025 is the 75th year of Nuffield in New Zealand. To mark this occasion, we’re holding an alumni dinner in Parliament, on Thursday 31 July. There’s still time for Nuffield alumni to book.
This is a busy time of year for the Kellogg Rural Leadership Programme. Programme Two 2025 (K54) starts on Tuesday 24 June. While Programme One 2025 (K53) have report presentations in the week beginning Monday 14 July. Their reports will be posted on the Rural Leaders’ site in the two weeks following their graduation.
Many will know by now that Dr Scott Champion is to be the new CEO at Foundation for Arable Research (FAR). This brings a close to Scott’s brilliant eight-year involvement in the Kellogg Programme. In this Rural Leader we share Scott’s own leadership journey.
Applications for the Horticulture New Zealand Leadership Programme opened last week. The programme is designed for potential and current leaders in the fruit and vegetable industry.
Horticulture New Zealand is offering 12 scholarships and up to six non-scholarship places. You can learn more about the programme and the scholarship opportunity in this issue.
In Alumni in the Spotlight we share news from Blake Irving, Jenna Smith and John Foley.
We also share News from our Partners.
The Team at Rural Leaders
IDEAS THAT GROW PODCAST
Jenni Vernon on Nuffield, her leadership journey and the power of face-to-face communication.
Jenni Vernon has built a career on taking the lead. Jenni was the first woman to receive a Nuffield Scholarship in 1994. A farmer and an experienced director, Jenni talks to Bryan Gibson, Managing Editor at Farmers Weekly, about her leadership journey and her Nuffield experience.
Jenni also speaks about not underestimating the power of face-to-face communication in a sometimes-disconnected social media age.
Listen on your favourite podcast player:
MyLead.co.nz is live.
Aligned to the NZ Rural Leadership Trust’s (Rural Leaders) purpose to grow world-class leaders for our country, MyLead is a new site that helps to identify development pathways for people at all stages of their leadership journey.
The site is just one outcome of research conducted by Rural Leaders and commissioned by Food and Fibre Centre of Vocational Excellence (CoVE). The site draws down information from this research, relevant to each user.
This starting point for anyone taking the lead on their, or their team’s, leadership development, will keep improving over time, with a Māori Leadership Programme and a High Performing Teams Programme to be added in the near future.
You can also download our Press Release here. If your organisation would like to help us spread the word about MyLead, you’ll find some sharable assets at the end of the Press Release.
2024 Nuffield NZ Farming Scholarship Reports.
After months abroad, countless interviews with the world’s leading figures in their areas of research, and the personal growth that comes with the immersion of the Nuffield programme, our four Nuffield Scholars have completed their final reports.
We share a short one page summary of each report along with the opportunity to download the full report.
Congratulations to all four scholars and thanks too to our generous investing partners for their support; making the completion of these reports possible.
Nuffield 75th Dinner.
The origins of the Nuffield New Zealand Farming Scholarships date back to 1950. 2025 will be its 75th year.
We’ll be celebrating this Nuffield milestone with a 75th year dinner at Parliament in Wellington on Thursday, July 31.
If you’re alumni and interested in joining us, please hit the button below to book.
For any queries please contact Annie at anniechant@ruralleaders.co.nz.
Applications are open for the HortNZ Leadership Programme.
Applications for the 2025 Horticulture New Zealand Leadership Programme are open until 6 July.
The programme is specifically designed to help prepare growers, or their team members, successfully capture and address the opportunities and challenges in Horticulture today.
Participants will be growers, their team members, or from organisations closely associated with growing. It is open to those who have demonstrated leadership or leadership potential and a willingness to assume responsibility.
The programme is delivered by Rural Leaders over two phases:
Phase One 11 – 15 August (Auckland), Phase Two 15 – 17 October (Wellington).
Horticulture New Zealand is offering 12 scholarships. These scholarships cover all programme fees and accommodation costs. There are also up to six positions available for a programme fee of $5,000 +GST plus accommodation.
Register your interest to receive updates or apply online:
Dr Scott - A Champion of Rural Leadership.
Dr Scott Champion recently left his Programme Director and Facilitator role with Rural Leaders. Scott is headed to a new challenge at Foundation for Arable Research (FAR).
We take a look at his career so far – one chaptered by key sector roles, research, and developing food and fibre’s leaders.
While Scott’s brilliant eight-year involvement in the Kellogg Programme comes to a close, he will, we hope, be visiting future Kellogg cohorts in his capacity as CEO at FAR.
Expressions of interest. Facilitator, Kellogg Rural Leadership Programme.
We are seeking expressions of interest for the role of Kellogg Programme Facilitator.
Keep a look out for our posts on our Rural Leaders’ and Kellogg LinkedIn pages on 26 May.
We’ll be advertising the role on SEEK from 26 May too.
In brief, we’re looking for:
- A chief dot-joiner
- Someone who can engage with and energise a room
- 5+ years facilitation experience
- 10+ years sector experience (ideally in several industries)
- Someone who has a passion for leadership development and education
Watch out for Monday’s posts.
Kellogg key dates 2025/26.
Kellogg Programme One 2025 began back in late January. With only Phase Three to go, this cohort (K53) will graduate in mid-July.
Rural Leaders’ Investing Partners, Industry leaders, Kellogg alumni and anyone who would like to attend the graduation is welcome. The Kellogg Graduation will be held in memorial Hall, Lincoln University, Thursday 17th July, 3:30pm.
If you would like to attend get in touch with Annie at anniechant@ruralleaders.co.nz.
Kellogg Programme Two 2025 begins Tuesday 24 June at Lincoln. Take a look at the dates below.
Early applications are also welcome for Kellogg Programme One, 2026. Dates are also below.
Kellogg Programme Two, Lincoln: 24 June - 28 November 2025
Applications closed.
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.
Kellogg Programme One, Lincoln: 26 January - 3 July 2026
Applications open early August and close mid-October. Early applications welcome.
Phase One (Lincoln):
Monday 26 January – Wednesday 4 February 2026.
Phase Two (Wellington):
Monday 13 April – Friday 17 April 2026.
Phase Three (Lincoln):
Monday 29 June – Friday 3 July 2026.
Head to our website to apply:
Kellogg. Two qualifications in one.
In 2021 it became possible to concurrently achieve a Kellogg qualification and a Post Graduate Certificate in Commerce from Lincoln University.
This is available to those who opt-in and meet the entry criteria and represents a smart way to gain an additional qualification when participating on Kellogg.
Last week the majority of Programme Two 2024 (K52) graduated with Lincoln University and added a PG Cert to their Kellogg.
You can read a short article on the recent graduates here:
Pulse Check – Rural Leaders and PWC.
What do the next generation of food and fibre leaders believe we need to act on right now?
In partnership with PwC New Zealand, we’ve piloted a new concept: the Future Food and Fibre Leaders Pulse Check. It’s a snapshot of what’s top of mind for the latest Kellogg Rural Leadership Programme cohort (K53), captured through a workshop facilitated by PwC and Rural Leaders earlier this year.
Take a read of this short article and download Pulse Check:
Palmerston North Alumni event.
About 35 Nuffield, Kellogg Programme Alumni and local industry leaders, attended Wednesday’s event at the Manawatu Golf Club in Palmerston North.
These alumni events are held up to three times a year to bring regional alumni together with people interested in learning more about Rural Leaders’ Programmes. Each event provides a friendly environment along with alumni speakers, drinks, and nibbles.
At Wednesday’s event, attendees heard from Rachel Baker, 2024 Nuffield Scholar about her experiences abroad gathering insights for research into how we navigate the adoption of gene editing in food and fibre.
Jordi Hoult, 2024 Kellogg Scholar presented her research into how leadership development opportunities can be strengthened to support food and fibre professionals to grow their careers.
Rural Leaders’ Lisa Rogers and Annie Chant hosted the event. Both pass on a huge thank you to all that attended and a special thanks to Rachel and Jordi for answering the call to speak.
National Field days is the next stop for the team – alumni, look out for us there.
Alumni in the Spotlight
In Alumni in the Spotlight we feature Rural Leaders’ Programme Alum who have recently been in the news - or have news to share.
Blake Irving, 2022 Kellogg Scholar lands a new CEO role.
Jenna Smith, 2024 Nuffield Scholar has her peatlands research covered in an article by Farmers Weekly.
John Foley, 2021 Nuffield Scholar pens an article for Eating the Elephant on the impact of the family farm in shaping New Zealand.
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
FMG – Nigel Woodhead on FMG New Zealand Young Farmer of the Year.
FMG shared Nigel’s story in the lead up to his Grand Final win in 2017’s competition. Nigel is a 2019 Kellogg Scholar.
Read more: https://www.fmg.co.nz/about-fmg/news/nigel-woodhead,-2017-winner,-representing-otago-southland.
DairyNZ – Farmers Forum 2025
DairyNZ’s signature event features thought leaders in global trade, dairy exports, economic developments, technology and consumer demands - joining forces with forward-thinking innovative farmers. Events held in Waikato, Canterbury and Southland.
Learn more and register here: https://www.dairynz.co.nz/events/farmers-forum/.
AGMARDT – Singapore Trade Mission.
Last month, ASB Bank, FoodHQ and the Agricultural and Marketing Research and Development Trust (AGMARDT) took NZ delegates to Singapore to meet with Government agencies, tech, and food and drink corporations.
Lee-Ann Marsh AGMARDT, Kate Scott NZRLT Chair, Lisa Portas 2024 Nuffield Scholar, Emma Crutchley 2018 Kellogg Scholar, and James Allen 2023 Nuffield Scholar were just some of the trade mission’s 26 delegates.
ASB Rural General Manager covered the trip in a 21 May The Post article: https://www.thepost.co.nz/business/360647026/singapores-need-food-security-partner-could-boost-nz-commodity-prices.
Mackenzie Charitable Foundation – three for impact.
Rural Leaders Strategic Partners the Mackenzie Charitable Foundation is dedicated to supporting the Canterbury region. It is focused on enhancing agriculture through funding research, development, education, and training initiatives.
The Foundation has awarded three scholarships to emerging sector leaders over the last four years to complete the Kellogg Rural Leadership Programme. They are Isabelle Coates, Emily Walker, and Thomas Holmes. Here are their stories.
Thomas Holmes (2024 Mackenzie Charitable Foundation Scholarship Winner)
The Scholarship gave Thomas Holmes the chance to do a Kellogg, expanding his leadership skills and has provided him with a platform to advocate for change in the fast-evolving arable farming industry in Canterbury. Read more about Thomas...
Isabelle Coates (2021 Mackenzie Charitable Foundation Scholarship Winner)
The Mackenzie Charitable Foundation and the Kellogg Rural Leadership Programme provided both a transformative experience and a vital network of connections that has helped to shape her career path and her passion for supporting others. Read more about Isabelle...
Emily Walker (2022 Mackenzie Charitable Foundation Scholarship Winner)
The Mackenzie Charitable Foundation Scholarship allowed Emily to grow her interest in agribusiness and explore ways to combine her technical background with her passion for supporting sustainable farming practices. Read more about Emily...
Zespri - $5 Billion+ in 2024/25 global sales.
Zespri sold a record 220.9 million trays of kiwifruit in 2024/25, an increase from 164.2 million trays in 2023/24. Zespri CEO Jason Te Brake says it’s pleasing to deliver such a strong result for growers and shareholders.
Take a read of Zespri’s 21 May Media Release here. https://www.zespri.com/en-NZ/publications/newsroomdetail/2024-25-financial-results.
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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