No images? Click here
Hi there,
Welcome to this edition of The Rural Leader.
We are pleased to announce that Strategic Partner DairyNZ, Programme Partner Livestock Improvement Corporation (LIC) and Media Partner Farmers Weekly, have renewed their partnership agreements with Rural Leaders.
“As a result of the generosity of our investing partners we are able to deliver world-class leadership programmes for the food and fibre sector. Our shared belief that leadership capability will continue to play an increasingly important role in determining our sector’s success gives us a powerful reason to keep working together to grow the world-class leaders our sector needs,” said James Ryan, CEO, Rural Leaders.
At home base here at Lincoln University, we have new neighbours. The NZ Young Farmers team has moved in next door. We look forward to sharing ideas over the odd ginger beer in the months ahead.
The HortNZ Leadership Programme ran last week in Auckland. For the current and emerging leaders taking part, gaining practical, ready-to-use leadership tools and hearing from some of the sector’s most influential figures is just the beginning.
The cohort will come together again in September for Phase Two in Wellington.
Applications for the 2027 Nuffield New Zealand Farming Scholarships close this Sunday. If you feel you’re simply too busy to do a Nuffield, you might just be the sort of person we’re looking for. Head to the Rural Leaders website to learn more and apply before midnight on Sunday.
Applications for 2027 Kellogg Programme One are open until 25 October. Speaking about the experience, one recent graduate said: “We catch up online as a group regularly. I can’t tell you how special these people are to me.”
You can learn more about this highly regarded programme on the Rural Leaders website.
Our podcasts are also an excellent source of insight as you consider our leadership programmes as part of your professional development in 2027.
In this month’s episode of the Ideas That Grow podcast, 2023 Kellogg Scholar Grace McLeay joins Farmers Weekly Managing Editor and 2025 Kellogg Scholar Bryan Gibson.
Grace is a farmer and commercialisation specialist at the Bioeconomy Science Institute. She discusses turning science into practical outcomes for farmers, exploring climate adaptation, farm resilience, and the challenge of getting research into farmers’ hands. Grace also reflects on leadership, self-awareness and the impact of Kellogg.
As for this year's remaining Kellogg Programme (K56), the cohort will begin Phase Two on 7 September in Wellington.
In Alumni in the Spotlight, we feature updates from Kellogg alumni Julia Hardwick-Smith, Di Roadley, Robbie O’Brien, Jacqui Hawtin, Kaylene Bennett and Leo Pekar. We also hear from Nuffield alumni Clare Bradley, Mat Hocken, James Parsons and others making an impact across the sector.
You’ll also find the latest partner news, industry developments and leadership opportunities from across New Zealand’s food and fibre sector.
We hope you enjoy this edition of The Rural Leader.
Ngā mihi,
The Rural Leaders Team
PODCAST
From Science to the Farm: Helping Good Ideas Grow.
Grace McLeay, a 2023 Kellogg Scholar, farmer and Bioeconomy Science Institute commercialisation specialist, discusses climate adaptation, farm resilience and the challenge of placing research into the hands of farmers. Grace also reflects on leadership, self-awareness and the lasting impact of Kellogg.
Listen on your favourite podcast player:
Spotify, Apple Podcasts, iHeart Podcasts
Last days to apply for a 2027 Nuffield NZ Farming Scholarship.
In less than three months, up to five new Nuffield Scholars will be selected and awarded their scholarships in Parliament. During their scholarship year they will go on to grow as people and as leaders. They will make their mark in their communities and industries, and across the sector. All of this starts with an application.
“The first thing people say is, I’m not up to it. I’m too busy. Most people who are successful are also too busy. They say, I can’t afford the time. I can’t afford to be away. If you’re saying this, I would turn around and say, you probably can’t afford not to do it.” - Murray King (2003 Nuffield Scholar).
Applications close 23 August 2026.
2027 Kellogg Programme One applications are open.
When deciding whether to undertake a Kellogg, the words of others can be one of the strongest lines of information you can gather.
The Ideas That Grow podcasts often feature Kellogg Scholars discussing their backgrounds, work and Kellogg Programme experiences.
We have done some of the information gathering for you with twelve podcasts on Kellogg alumni – a key Kellogg quote shown next to each Kellogg alum interviewed.
Here are four quotes.
Kate Tomlinson (2026) – Dairy, Agribusiness
“This is a structured programme that has given me access to things and people that I would never ever have had access to.”
Alice Rule (2019) – Viticulture
“Something that really stood out for me is the amount of confidence that I got out of the programme. It just equips you with so many tools…”
Richard Dawkins (2023) – Sheep and beef
“I had a few connections and a reasonable understanding of the bigger picture. But look, to go into Kellogg, it just really supercharged that foundation I had.”
Dave Nuku (2024) – Māori agribusiness
“I can absolutely say without any word of a lie or doubt that it was the best leadership programme that I’ve ever done.”
Alumni in the Spotlight
In this edition, we hear news from Julia Hardwick-Smith, Di Roadley, Robbie O’Brien, Jacqui Hawtin, Kaylene Bennett and Leo Pekar all 2026 Kellogg Scholars. We also hear from Nuffield alumni Clare Bradley (2026), Mat Hocken (2017), James Parsons (2008) and others making an impact across the sector.
You can read this edition of Alumni in the Spotlight in full here, or go directly to the alum of your choice:
Clare Bradley (Nuffield 2026)
REX podcast episode: Beyond the ‘engine room’; why NZ farming needs a new story. More...
Simon Cook (Nuffield 2018)
Farmers Weekly article: Taking in the big picture changes grower’s view. More...
Matt Iremonger (Nuffield 2023)
Irrigation Leader article: Diversification and Technology Adoption. More...
Lisa Portas (Nuffield 2025, Kellogg 2019)
Country Life podcast episode: Wonderful Wool - Nuffield scholar sees bright future for natural fibre. More...
Tracy Brown (Nuffield 2020, Kellogg 1997)
Talking Dairy podcast episode #131: What farmers need from the next Government. More...
James Parsons (Nuffield 2008)
REX podcast episode: Should you get wearables for your beef cattle? More...
Mat Hocken (Nuffield 2017)
NZ Dairy article: Grassmere Dairy continue to expand their operation. More...
Jenna Smith (Nuffield 2024, Kellogg 2021)
NZ Dairy article: Jenna Smith pursues passion project focusing on NZ’s peatland farming. More...
Julia Hardwick-Smith (Kellogg 2026)
Scene + Heard podcast episode: Kellogg conversations: triplet lamb survivability. More...
Jen Corkran (Kellogg 2023)
The Country: Rabobank’s Jen Corkran on the price of beef mince, and Farmers Weekly: Milk flowing strongly again from US dairy. More...
Richard Dawkins (Kellogg 2023)
Nine to Noon radio show discussing farm succession and Federated Farmers press release on wilding conifer control. More...
Di Roadley (Kellogg 2026)
Farmers Weekly article: Catchment groups - goodwill isn’t enough anymore. More...
Robbie O'Brien (Kellogg 2026)
Video interview on Varroa management planning among New Zealand beekeepers. More...
Jacqui Hawtin (Kellogg 2026)
Video interview on One Stop Profitability Shop and the tools farmers can use to better understand their farm’s performance. More...
Kaylene Bennett (Kellogg 2026)
Video interview on Invisible mental load a significant issue for rural women. More...
Leo Pekar (Kellogg 2026)
Video interview on Wearable technology on-farm and the strategy behind using cow bites as a management tool. More...
Luke Doyle (Kellogg 2026)
Farmers Weekly article: Why dairy’s next generation needs more than farming skills. More...
Sophie Henderson (Kellogg 2017)
Rural News article: Primary Sector Needs A Pipeline of Directors. More...
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
DairyNZ - Celebrating the people behind dairy
DairyNZ has marked Farm Worker Appreciation Day by recognising the people who keep New Zealand's dairy farms running, noting that it's often the small gestures that matter most, especially during calving season. More...
FMG - Strengthening support through severe weather
Severe weather is an increasingly familiar part of rural life. FMG says the impact extends beyond property damage to livelihoods and uncertainty, and is strengthening how it supports clients through these events. More...
HortNZ - Industry awards honour horticulture leaders
Five awards were presented at the New Zealand Horticulture Conference in Wellington, with the Horticulture Bledisloe Cup going to Pukekohe vegetable grower Peter Reynolds for decades of leadership and sustainable growing practice. More...
B+LNZ - A century of red meat exports to the US
B+LNZ has marked 100 years since New Zealand's first red meat shipment to the United States — just 14 tonnes in 1926 — now one of the sector's most important trade relationships. More...
Rabobank - Strong demand for Farm2Future places
More than 80 Year 12 students applied for 25 places on Rabobank's Farm2Future camp, a three-day residential programme exploring careers across New Zealand's food and fibre supply chain. More...
MPI - New scholarship to grow rural leaders
The Minister of Agriculture Future Leaders Scholarship will award three $10,000 grants annually to emerging primary sector leaders, supporting study, capability building and governance experience. More...
Zespri partners with the LA Sparks
Zespri has announced a partnership with WNBA team the Los Angeles Sparks, centred on youth literacy, wellness and fan engagement across the 2026 season. More...
LIC - Farmer data sharing drives LIC growth
LIC's full-year result shows animals connected through its wearable integrations up 93.8 percent, sexed semen use up 52 percent and genomic profiling up 19 percent as farmers invest in herd improvement. More...
Farmlands named Official Rural Partner for provincial rugby
Farmlands has partnered with New Zealand's 14 provincial rugby unions across the NPC and Farah Palmer Cup, including a Rural Round and a new programme recognising the volunteers behind community rugby. More...
Industry news
Buoyant year ahead for agribusiness results
Eighteen NZX-listed primary sector companies report between August and November. The S&P/NZX Primary Sector Equity Index has risen 23 percent in a year, with horticulture leading on stronger export returns. More...
Four megatrends could take exports to $100 billion
PwC says New Zealand's food and fibre sector could reach $100 billion in exports within a decade by competing on value rather than volume, driven by AI, climate adaptation, trade and traceability. More...
Leadership Opportunities
FAR is seeking an Associate Director
This 18-month unpaid development role offers an arable sector professional hands-on Board-level experience in governance, leadership and strategy. Applications close 5pm, Friday 28 August 2026. More...
