Hi there,

Welcome to this edition of The Rural Leader. 

To our friends in Northland, we hope you are safe and dry amid the latest weather front to affect the country.

It’s been a busy first quarter for Rural Leaders with our Kellogg and Nuffield programmes in progress. Next week sees the pilot ‘Agri Educator Leadership Course’ begin at Lincoln University. 

The course was developed by Lynsey Stratford (2021 Nuffield Scholar). Lynsey will also facilitate for the 18 participants teaching agriculture in High Schools across New Zealand. We’ll share more on Rural Leaders’ LinkedIn page next week.

In this month’s Ideas That Grow Podcast, Alice Rule, 2019 Kellogg Scholar and Winemaker, talks to Farmers Weekly Managing Editor Bryan Gibson. 

Alice discusses her journey from a Bay of Islands farm to the wine industry, her Kellogg research into a circular glass economy, and balancing entrepreneurship, rural advisory work, and family amid uncertain wine markets.

We are down to the last few weeks to secure your place on Kellogg Programme Two (June 16 start). Applications can be crafted, saved and submitted online. You’ll need to get yours in by 19 April.

Our 2026 Nuffield Scholars have completed their Contemporary Scholars Conference in Japan. Most have returned home, with one staying on to begin his Global Focus Programme. The cohort got together to write an article on their insights from this year’s Conference.

In March’s Alumni in the Spotlight we share news from Kellogg alums: Madison Pannett, Whitney Conder, Dave Nuku and more. We also share news from Nuffield alums: Dan Eb, Hugh Ritchie, Kate Scott, Tracy Brown and Kylie Leonard.

You can also catch up on News from our Partners and Industry.

We hope you enjoy this edition of The Rural Leader.

The Team at Rural Leaders. 

PODCAST

Alice Rule, 2019 Kellogg Scholar, Winemaker, Rural Advisor.

Alice is no stranger to hard work and making things happen. Take a listen to this 10-minute podcast with Alice and Bryan Gibson discussing leadership lessons from Kellogg, the circular glass economy, uncertain wine markets, and more.

Listen on your favourite podcast player:

Read Alice's Kellogg Report here.

A bit about recent Kellogg Scholar Natasha Cave.

Natasha Cave graduated from Kellogg Programme Two in late November 2025. Natasha is a Sheep and Beef Farmer from Mokauiti. 
 
Her research was on ‘Beef on the brink of a tech revolution: wearables on NZ hill country.’ 

Natasha was born and raised on a sheep and beef farm in Taumarunui. After school, she joined the dairy industry, working up to lower order sharemilker. Natasha and her husband own a 390-ha sheep and beef property in Mokauiti. They have four busy children. 

Off-farm, Natasha is a Catchment Coordinator for the Whanganui Region Catchment Collective, Chairs the Āria School board, serves as treasurer of the local fundraising society, and sits on both the Mid Northern North Island Beef + Lamb Farmer Council and the Beef + Lamb Environmental Reference Group.

Natasha is passionate about supporting farmers, rural communities, and the sheep and beef industry. 

If you want to lead with purpose and impact, apply for Programme Two 2026 by April 19.

Read Natasha's Kellogg Report here.

The 2026 Nuffield International Contemporary Scholar’s Conference (CSC).

The Nuffield International 2026 Contemporary Scholars Conference in Japan (8–15 March) blended Tokyo, Awaji Island, and Mount Kōya into an unforgettable cultural and agri-immersion. 

From rare farm visits to temple life, the experience revealed a complex system shaped by history and values. 

The 2026 Nuffield Scholars (Clare Bradley, Jared Clarke, Kelly Heckler, Tracey Perkins) share five key insights that hint at tensions between security and practice, farming’s role beyond profit, the quiet power of structure, looming workforce shifts, and the need to lead with curiosity before judgement.

Take a read of the article here.  

Alumni in the Spotlight

In Alumni in the Spotlight we hear news about Hugh Ritchie (2000 Nuffield), Madison Pannett (2021 Kellogg), Troy Hobson (2022 Kellogg), Whitney Conder (2024 Kellogg), and Dan Eb (2021 Nuffield), who is taking an opportunity to enter politics.

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

Special CountryWide Club subscription offer for Rural Leader readers.

CountryWide are pleased to offer The Rural Leader readers a discounted Club membership.

A CountryWide Club membership includes four seasonal CountryWide magazines, two sector magazines of your choice (DAIRY Country or SHEEP + BEEF Country), and premium online access including member-only podcasts and webinars.

Special rates for Rural Leader readers:

• 12 months (print + digital): $79 (save $10)
• 24 months (print + digital): $159 (save $10)

Delivery to your mailbox is included.

To subscribe, visit the CountryWide Subscribe & Shop page and enter the discount code RURAL26 at checkout. The code applies to 12- and 24-month print and digital subscriptions, and is valid until 30 June 2026.

Orders placed by 10 May 2026 will start with the Winter issue. Orders after that date will begin with Spring.

Industry news

Registrations are open for Dairy Women's Network conference.

The DWN Conference 2026 is a two-day event at Addington Raceway & Events Centre, Christchurch, running from Tuesday 5 May to Wednesday 6 May. The programme features keynote speakers, workshops, networking, a Fonterra Gala Dinner, and the Fonterra & Global Women's Breakfast — find out more here.

The Fonterra Gala Dinner on the evening of Tuesday 5 May features live entertainment and the announcement of the 2026 Fonterra Dairy Woman of the Year — note this is a separate ticket purchase, not included in conference registration.

Board Connector.

New Zealand is a global leader in women’s representation, with women making up over 46% of Parliament and more than 50% of public sector boards. 

However, women hold just 31% of director roles on NZX-listed company boards.

BoardConnector connects women with governance opportunities and aims to grow a governance pipeline across the public and private sectors.

Read the Government press release here to find out more and to register with BoardConnector.

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

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