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Hi there,
Welcome to this edition of the Rural Leader.
The New Zealand Rural Leadership Trust board welcomes Katie Rodwell as Associate Trustee. Katie replaces outgoing Associate Trustee Jack Cocks. We share articles on Katie and on Jack in this edition.
In Ideas that Grow, Richard Dawkins, 2023 Kellogg Scholar and recently elected Federated Farmers National Meat and Wool Chair, speaks with Bryan Gibson, Farmers Weekly Managing Editor on his family operation, work and his Kellogg experience.
You can also listen to Hugh Ritchie’s recent podcast. Hugh is a 2000 Nuffield Scholar and Hawke’s Bay farmer. He shares his leadership journey and insights with Bryan.
MyLead continues to grow with the addition of the Tautoko Toolkit and new programmes too. Take a look through the site and share it with anyone in your network looking to engage in leadership development.
We have launched a new ‘Speaker Directory’ section on the Rural Leaders’ site. Many programme alumni are available to speak on their specialist topics at your next engagement. We share more on this and a further opportunity for alumni to join.
In the space of two weeks a Kellogg Phase One (K54) and a Kellogg Phase Three (K53) have been delivered. The latter graduating last week at Lincoln’s Memorial Hall. This cohort’s reports will be live on the Rural Leaders’ site in the next two weeks.
Early Kellogg Programme One 2026 applications are now welcome. If you’ve had Kellogg in your sights, Programme One 2026 is the time to start. This programme will be the first to feature a new mentoring initiative.
We shared the completing 2024 Nuffield Scholars’ reports in the last edition, this time you can hear their podcasts - hosted by Sarah Perriam-Lampp, CEO and Editor-in-Chief at CountryWide.
We’re closing in on the final three weeks for Nuffield Scholarship applications. This unique learning experience is one of the most valued awards in New Zealand’s primary sector. Nuffield is an international food and fibre network promoting global vision, leadership and innovation. Applications close 17 August.
We're in Wellington next week for the 75th Nuffield Dinner. Held in Parliament, the evening celebrates 75 years of Nuffield in NZ. Over 100 alumni and their partners will share stories and reconnect.
The Engage Programme runs 24-26 September 2025 at Lincoln. If you’re new to the Food and Fibre sector, one challenge you can face is quickly gaining the knowledge to approach and work with farmers collaboratively. Engage was designed to address this knowledge gap. We share a little more about this foundational (and a useful refresh) programme.
We also share news from our alumni. This issue of Alumni in the Spotlight features: Sarah How, Marise James, Amber Carpenter, Carlos Bagrie and Iain Inglis.
Finally, you can also catch up on News from our Partners. We hope you enjoy this issue of The Rural Leader.
The Team at Rural Leaders.
IDEAS THAT GROW PODCAST
Richard Dawkins: From the World to Waihopai. A farmer’s rural leadership journey
In this episode of Ideas That Grow, Bryan Gibson, Farmers Weekly Managing Editor, talks to Richard Dawkins, 2023 Kellogg Scholar and Marlborough sheep and beef farmer. Richard is also the new Meat and Wool Chair for Federated Farmers.
Richard speaks about his Kellogg Rural Leadership Programme journey and research on lamb and ewe mortality, emphasising the need for better data and body condition scoring.
The discussion also covers leadership, collaboration, and the importance of timing when engaging in personal development.
Listen on your favourite podcast player:
Katie Rodwell joins NZRLT as Associate Trustee
Katie Rodwell joined the NZRLT Board as Associate Trustee in May, replacing Jack Cocks. A Kellogg Programme alumna and Rabobank Sustainability Manager, Katie brings a passion for leadership development, wide sector experience, and a commitment to driving positive change in agriculture.
Jack Cocks on one year as NZRLT Associate Trustee
Jack Cocks, is a high country farmer and speaker on farmer wellbeing. He has just completed one-year as Associate Trustee with the NZ Rural Leadership Trust. He valued learning governance, contributing to sector development, and now plans to focus on family and Mt. Nicholas Station.
New Rural Leaders’ Speaker Directory
A new Rural Leaders Speaker Directory is now live. It’s early days, but the programme alumni listed are interested and able to speak at industry engagements. The Directory can be filtered by region, industry and by specialist topics.
Rural Leaders’ programme alumni live, work and lead in rural communities across Aotearoa and in nearly every industry in food and fibre. So, if you’re looking for a speaker, this is the place to visit.
Head to https://ruralleaders.co.nz/speakers/ to take a look. When you select a speaker you’ll be asked to fill out a short form to make contact and arrangements with the speaker directly.
For programme alumni who would like to be listed as a speaker, simply fill out this form and the team will get you up and speaking.
MyLead adds Tautoko Toolkit
The Tautoko Toolkit can now be found on MyLead. The Toolkit is designed to support more Māori leadership in food and fibre and is for anyone wanting to explore leadership through Te Ao Māori.
The Toolkit guides participants through a free programme that encourages personal reflection and collective learning through a Māori lens.
It was developed with funding from Muka Tangata, the Workforce Development Council, Food and Fibre Centre of Vocational Excellence, and with expertise from Rural Leaders.
You can explore the Tautoko Toolkit here: https://tautokotoolkit.co.nz.
Kellogg Programme One 2025 (K53) Graduates
18-inperson days in Lincoln and Wellington, a research report, a presentation of said research report, tens of insights sessions from industry leaders, workshops, reflections, at least 22 new friendships. Congratulations Programme One 2025.
Scholars presented their research work to their cohort throughout phase three last week. Their reports will be made available on the Rural Leaders’ site in the next two weeks after investing partners’ first look.
Take a read of the short article here, including these scholars’ report topics.
Kellogg Programme One 2026 applications are open
The Kellogg Rural Leadership Programme has been developing leaders for the rural and agri-food sector since 1979.
Over the last four decades, some of New Zealand’s most successful farm innovators, industry, business, and political leaders have graduated from the Kellogg Programme.
The programme is delivered across 6 months and includes 18 in-person days in both Lincoln and Wellington. Cohorts are carefully selected to maximise diversity across industries, level of experience, geographical location, gender and ethnicity.
Open to farmers, foresters, fishers, growers and agri-business professionals, the Kellogg Rural Leadership Programme expands ‘contextual intelligence’ and the critical thinking required for effective leadership.
Programme One, 2026 applications are now open. Head to our website to learn more.
The 2024 Nuffield report podcasts
The 2024 Nuffield Scholars’ reports were recently covered in a series of CountryWide podcasts. These podcasts were hosted by Sarah Perriam-Lampp, CEO and Editor-in-Chief at CountryWide.
You can listen to each of the four podcasts below.
Carlos Bagrie
Carlos highlights the need for long-term planning and diversification to address the limits of mature industries.
Rachel Baker
Rachel looked at how NZ could responsibly adopt gene editing technology while protecting its global reputation.
Jenna Smith
Jenna’s research looked into managing peatlands to reduce emissions while maintaining productive land use.
Peter Templeton
Peter’s research explores succession models like share-farming and equity partnerships, emphasising the need for early planning and industry leadership.
2026 Nuffield Scholarship applications
We’re closing in on the final three weeks for 2026 Nuffield Scholarship applications.
Nuffield is an international food and fibre network promoting global vision, leadership and innovation. And its alumni have been making strong contributions to the food and fibre sector since 1950.
The Nuffield Farming Scholarship is the catalyst you need to accelerate your leadership development while contributing to NZ's food and fibre sector.
If you wish to be considered for a 2026 Scholarship, you’ll need to apply by 17 August.
Engage Programme applications are open. Apply by 24 August.
One of the challenges people who first enter the Food and Fibre sector can face is acquiring the knowledge and skills to approach and work with farmers collaboratively.
The three-day Engage Programme was designed to address this knowledge gap, by helping you gain a deeper understanding of NZ food and fibre and the global context it operates within.
Engage is ideal for those connecting to the sector, and who might also be in a farmer-focused role such as policy, advisory, or regulatory. It has been popular with those after a knowledge refresh too.
Through discussions with industry leaders and two half-day field trips to working farm operations, you’ll build the skills, knowledge, and the confidence to engage with farmers and stakeholders.
You’ll grow your knowledge on: NZ farming systems, NZ agri markets, challenges, NZ trade opportunities. The regulatory and policy environment. Māori land ownership and perspectives. Rural communities and their wellbeing. Farm environmental consulting/farmer policy support. Implementation of insights into a work context.
The next Engage Programme will be delivered 24-26 September 2025 at Lincoln.
If you or anyone on your team might benefit from the Engage Programme get in touch with
us, or download our one-pager.
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:
Sarah How, 2018 Kellogg Scholar, Carlos Bagrie, 2024 Nuffield Scholar, Iain Inglis, 2024 Kellogg Scholar, Marise James, 1998 Nuffield Scholar, and Amber Carpenter, 2019 Kellogg Scholar.
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
Developing the next generation of leaders.
FMG Associate Board Director, Jackie Dalziel.
FMG have long supported leadership development and emerging governance talent across the food and fibre sector. The Associate Director role on the FMG Board of Directors is just one of the ways FMG do this.
The role provides an opportunity for an emerging agri-professional to join the FMG Board for two years, gaining first-hand experience in governance process, all contributing to developing the critical leadership skills that help drive the future of food and fibre.
DairyNZ
Join us for the 4th International Precision Dairy Farming Conference.
Hosted by DairyNZ this event brings together global researchers, farmers, advisors, and tech developers to explore the latest in automation, sensors, robotics, and data-driven insights shaping the future of dairy.
Registrations are now open - with dairy farmers, researchers, students, and sector professionals able to access a discount via Early Bird registration.
3 - 5 December 2025 in Christchurch – more details at precisiondairyfarmingconference.nz.
Rabobank – Funding boost for Catchment Communities Aotearoa
Funding boost for Catchment Communities Aotearoa.
Catchment Communities Aotearoa (CCA) has received a significant funding boost courtesy of the Government and Rabobank.
As part of a new funding agreement, the Government and Rabobank will both provide CCA with $100,000 to support the work it is doing to strengthen New Zealand’s network of catchment communities.
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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