No images? Click here
Hi there,
Welcome to this edition of the Rural Leader.
Earlier this month we saw the announcement of the 2025 Nuffield New Zealand Farming Scholars at the Grand Hall in Parliament. There’s more on the new Scholars and their intended research topics to share in this edition.
In our podcast Ideas that Grow, we hear from Esther Donkersloot, 2024 Kellogg Scholar, on growing up in the Netherlands through to her work at LIC breeding heat tolerant dairy cows, and Esther also discusses her Kellogg experience and research.
A new programme partnership agreement was recently signed with Beef + Lamb New Zealand. We’re pleased to share more on the strategic alignment underpinning the relationship.
In this edition we share a recent Ag in Conversation podcast from one of the three authors of the report ‘Realising Leadership Potential in Aotearoa NZ’s Food and Fibre Sector’.
2024’s Kellogg Programme Two present their research to fellow scholars and industry representatives this week at Lincoln University (24th to 28th). Read further to learn about their research topics.
A full Value Chain Innovation Programme heads to Napier in late January to explore the dairy, kiwifruit and apple value chains. It runs over an intensive five-days, ending in Hamilton – with a few diversions along the way.
A full and final pilot three of the Engage Programme ran in late October. Engage aims to bridge the knowledge gap for those entering the sector – or provide a refresher to others. Find out about the dates for Engage in 2025.
Alumni in the Spotlight covers Tracy Brown, Cameron Henderson, Hamish Marr and Ben McLauchlan, Nuffield Scholars, and Alison Bentley and Wayne Langford, Kellogg Scholars.
And to wrap up, we share News from our Partners and Industry News.
We hope you enjoy this edition of The Rural Leader,
The Team at Rural Leaders.
IDEAS THAT GROW PODCAST
Esther Donkersloot on leading research into cooler cows
In this podcast, Esther Donkersloot, 2024 Kellogg Scholar, talks to Bryan Gibson, Managing Editor at Farmers Weekly, about her research with LIC on breeding heat tolerant cows.
Esther came to New Zealand to do her Masters’ thesis and never left. Good thing too. Having studied at the prestigious Wageningen University, she has steadily built a career looking into better genetic outcomes for our dairy herd – especially as the planet gets warmer.
Along with her research at LIC, Esther discusses her Kellogg report insights on genetics’ social licence to operate.
Listen on your favourite podcast player:
Pictured: Lisa Rogers, CEO, Rural Leaders (left). Justine Kidd, GM Extension, B+LNZ (right).
PROGRAMME PARTNERSHIP NEWS
Beef + Lamb New Zealand and Rural Leaders renew partnership
The signing of a new partnership agreement between Rural Leaders and Beef + Lamb New Zealand aligns strongly with B+LNZ’s People and Capability Strategy which is focused on improving on-farm talent retention.
Justine Kidd, General Manager Extension, B+LNZ, says, “On-farm leadership is critical to solving the challenge of our people’s future on farm.
We are attracting enough young talent to the sector, but we aren’t holding them. Rural Leaders’ world-class delivery of leadership programmes supports our strategy, and we are looking forward to our continued joint effort growing great rural leaders across New Zealand.”
You can read more on this renewed partnership in a short article here.
AG IN CONVERSATION PODCAST
A Path to Realising the Leadership Potential in Aotearoa NZ’s Food and Fibre Sector
Rural Leadership was the topic of discussion on a recent Ag in Conversation podcast.
Dr Ellen Joan Ford, who along with Chris Parsons, MNZM, DSD and Josh Williams, was co-author of a report that seeks to provide a tangible framework for leadership development.
In this podcast, Dr Ford discusses the report and the importance of ‘Belonging, Autonomy and Purpose’ to building high-performing teams.
Listen on your favourite podcast player:
The report is part of a broader project collaboration between Food and Fibre Centre of Vocational Excellence and the New Zealand Rural Leadership Trust (Rural Leaders).
Download the report here: ‘A Path to Realising Leadership Potential in Aotearoa NZ’s Food and Fibre Sector’.
Kellogg Programme Two 2024 to graduate tomorrow
A full cohort of 24 Kellogg scholars have presented their research throughout most of this week’s Phase Three at Lincoln.
Phase Three is the culmination of the project work and the opportunity for our scholars to demonstrate the application of research and their critical analysis skills in front of colleagues and industry representatives, with discussion and peer feedback.
During Phase Three, and outside of the presentations, scholars complete a session on goal setting for the future, including personal brand identification and presentation.
On the last day of Phase Three (tomorrow) scholars are awarded their Kellogg Graduation Certificates.
We’ll have these latest Kellogg reports live on our site by mid-December. They will be shared with investing partners just prior to this.
Presentation topics for this graduating Kellogg cohort are:
Thomas Holmes (2024 Mackenzie Charitable Foundation Scholarship Winner)
Opportunities and Challenges for Arable Farming in Canterbury in the Future.
Hamish Symons
Is the Grass Greener Under Irrigation?
Rachel Joblin
The Value and Opportunities of Farm Planning in the New Zealand Sheep and Beef Sector.
Laura Deeming
Dairy Animal Welfare in New Zealand: Prioritising Issues and Identifying Novel Approaches and Solutions.
Oliver Hampson
How can we add value to non-replacement calves in the dairy industry?
Kendal Buchanan
Climate change in the Waikato: Land use and land value impact.
Kate Kellick
Shed or shear: Identifying reasons for change from wool sheep breeds to shedding sheep.
Anita Fleming
Levers for driving sustainable innovation within the NZ food and fibre sector.
Chloe Walker
Radical transparency: A strategy for global competitive advantage in New Zealand’s food and fibre sector.
Jane Rau
Marketing the nutritional benefits of eating beef and lamb.
Sam Connor
Partnerships in the rural sector: Do they return value to the farm gate?
Dave Nuku
Kaitiakitanga, an indigenous philosophy for a modern world.
Cheyenne Wilson
Creating a thriving food and fibre sector for rangatahi in Aotearoa.
Whitney Conder
Future proofing our workforce: Where will we find the skills for tomorrow?
Richard Pentreath
Answers under foot: Should soil health be our #1 sustainability goal?
Juan Giacomozzi
Regulation of genetically modified and gene edited plants
James Prunty
The path to peat free mushrooms.
Jordi Hoult
Growing leaders, growing impact: Empowering emerging leaders in Aotearoa’s food and fibre sector.
Lisa Gibbison
Who kiwifruit growers trust for advice during a biosecurity or adverse weather response.
Hamish Hodgson
The untapped potential: What are the main skills driving profitability on New Zealand dairy farms?
Iain Inglis
Low stress cattle handling: People, products and the wider New Zealand beef industry.
Nick Martin
The performance psychology of elite Canterbury sheep and beef farmers: How top operators could win in the sport of farming.
Ben Aiken
How have young dairy farmers in Northland got ahead?
Harry Wilding
Lessons from high performers: How can sheep and beef farmers better navigate climatic extremes in times of reduced cash flow?
If you would like to register your interest or apply for Kellogg Programme Two 2025 and join over 1100 Kellogg Alumni making positive change across food and fibre, head to https://ruralleaders.co.nz/application-kellogg/
Pictured: Alan McDermott, Dani Darke, Hon Nicola Grigg, Lisa Portas, Jon Pemberton.
2025 Nuffield Scholars announced 5 November
Four Food and Fibre sector leaders were awarded 2025 Nuffield New Zealand Farming Scholarships in Wellington on November 5th by Hon Nicola Grigg.
It’s Nuffield’s 75th year in 2025. With this in mind, Kate Scott, Rural Leaders’ Board Chair, in her speech suggested 2025 be the Year of the Rural Leader.
The 2025 Nuffield Scholars, embarking on their Nuffield journeys were announced by Hon Minister Grigg as:
Dani Darke – a King Country Farmer who is involved in Governance roles.
Alan McDermott – a Golden Bay Business Owner and Entrepreneur.
Jon Pemberton – a Southland Dairy Farmer also in Governance roles.
Lisa Portas – a South Wairarapa Agri-business professional.
Congratulations to the recipients of the Nuffield New Zealand Farming Scholarships for 2025.
The Nuffield Scholarships are funded by Rural Leaders’ Strategic Partners DairyNZ, FMG, Mackenzie Charitable Foundation, AGMARDT, and Programme Partners Beef + Lamb New Zealand, Ministry for Primary Industries, Farmlands, LIC, Rabobank, FAR, HortNZ, and Zespri.
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.
This tour also provides a unique opportunity for Nuffield alumni to connect and reconnect, fostering valuable relationships and insights.
To stay informed about all the latest updates for Triennial 2026, register your interest today by clicking the button below.
Triennial runs MAY 18TH – 26TH, 2026.
Alison Bentley, 2023 Kellogg Scholar
Alison Bentley (Tikitere Farm) spoke yesterday at the event ‘Global and Local Approaches to Climate-Resilient Land Use: NZ’s Path Forward.’ Alison joined Angela Clifford (Eat New Zealand), in Session 2: Resilient Food Systems: Small-scale and Local?
Tracy Brown, 2020 Nuffield Scholar
Cameron Henderson, 2019 Nuffield and 2017 Kellogg Scholar
Tracy Brown and Cameron Henderson were confirmed in early November, as Chair and Deputy Chair of the DairyNZ Board, respectively.
Hamish Marr, 2019 Nuffield Scholar
Hamish Marr recently spoke to Dominic George (REX) about his role in connecting New Zealand agriculture with global markets. He explains how he navigates international conversations on sustainability, trade demands, and more.
Ben McLauchlan, 2020 Nuffield Scholar
Marlborough wine producer and grape grower, Balvonie New Zealand, has released Marlborough’s first Prosecco from Glera grapes planted in the Rapaura sub-region.
The 2023 Balvonie Prosecco has been a three-year project for owners Ben and Helen McLauchlan.
Wayne Langford, 2014 Kellogg Scholar
Wayne Langford, Federated Farmers national president, features in a recent Farmers Weekly article stating that both the general public and farmers are still unsure about what GE or GM means, and whether it is or isn’t already allowed in this country.
News from our partners
AGMARDT – The Common Ground
The Common Ground is a place where our food and fibre sector can come together to solve our wicked problems.
Proposed by AGMARDT and KPMG New Zealand, it’s a collaboration platform where food and fibre thinkers and doers team-up, get funded and tackle our mega-challenges and opportunities.
The Common Ground begins as a report and call for a sector-wide conversation about our collective future. Learn more, read the report and have your say at www.thecommonground.org.nz.
Industry news
Open Farms
New Zealand’s national Open Farm Day is set for Sunday 9 March 2025.
Open Farms is a chance to share the farming story – connecting urban Kiwis with the people and places that grow their food.
Interested in hosting? Open Farms will back you with the planning support, kit and marketing to make it happen.
After 14,000 visits, 130 events and great feedback across the board, now is the time to share your pride and passion for farming with others.
Learn more and register at www.openfarms.co.nz.
Getting Through
Farmstrong launches tales and tools for getting through tough times
More than 30 farmers, growers and industry leaders impacted by severe weather events in 2023 were interviewed as part of a series that has been pulled together by Farmstrong into a book and website to support those going through a long-haul recovery.
Developed by Farmstrong, you can check them out on the Farmstrong website here:
https://gettingthrough.farmstrong.co.nz.
These resources have a wealth of knowledge that farmers and growers can tap into and use as a roadmap to help them move forward from tough times. The tools and insights from Getting Through are relevant for anyone facing serious adversity.
Copies of the Getting Through book can be requested via emailing info@farmstrong.co.nz or can be ordered directly from the website.
Getting Through was made possible with the support of Ministry for Primary Industries, Health New Zealand Te Whatu Ora and Rural Support Trust.
Strategic partners:
Dairy NZ | AGMARDT | FMG | Mackenzie Charitable Foundation | Beef+Lamb New Zealand
Programme partners:
Ministry for Primary Industries | Farmlands | FAR | Horticulture New Zealand | Zespri | LIC | Rabobank
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
SHARE THIS EMAIL:
