Jane Smith: Protecting Ravensdown's Co-operative Future for New Zealand Farmers

"Having seen overseas systems where farmers haven't supported their fertiliser co-operative, I've seen how fragmented and costly things can become. I wanted to be part of ensuring that doesn't happen here."

Governance Experience Across the Primary Sector

Smith's decision to stand for the Ravensdown board wasn't part of a broader ambition to build a governance portfolio.

In fact, it was quite the opposite.

"It was specifically Ravensdown that I wanted to be involved with. I genuinely wanted to contribute to this co-operative because I believe so strongly in what it represents for farmers and growers."

That commitment to service and sector leadership has been built over many years.

Along the way, Smith gained governance experience through roles on the Veterinary Council of New Zealand and the Red Meat Profit Partnership, where she served as a Crown appointee while maintaining a strong connection to farming communities.

Encouraging Farmers to Get Involved

Those experiences reinforced a belief that continues to guide her today.

"If you want to make a difference and put something back into your sector, you need to get involved.

Since joining the Ravensdown board, Smith says she has gained an even deeper appreciation of the complexity and responsibility involved in governing a farmer-owned co-operative.

Understanding the Complexity of Fertiliser Supply

A key insight has been the scale of the challenge involved in securing fertiliser supply for New Zealand farmers, even during times of relative geopolitical certainty.

She has also enjoyed working alongside Ravensdown's mix of elected and appointed directors and says the combination of farmer-elected voices and directors with specialist expertise creates robust discussion and healthy debate.

"We have really strong conversations around the board table. The mix of practical farming experience and specialist governance expertise is one of the strengths of our board."

Get Involved In Governance

For farmers and growers who may be considering governance roles in the future, Smith's advice is straightforward - start getting involved.

"Talk to people who are already in governance. Find mentors. Ask questions. Get experience wherever you can."

In fact, she believes some of the most valuable governance experience comes from local community and organisations and industry groups.

"Those roles can be incredibly challenging because you're often representing people you know personally and balancing different community expectations. They're great places to learn."

And for those wondering whether they could fit governance responsibilities into an already busy life, she believes passion makes a difference.

"When you're passionate about something, you find a way to make it work. It's incredibly rewarding to contribute to something that matters and to know you're helping make a difference."

Above all, she encourages people not to rule themselves out.

This year, Ravensdown will have the opportunity to nominate and elect two directors to the co-op board.

The call for director nominations will be advertised at the end of June, with voting expected to open late August.

More details on the elections and timetable will be available to shareholders in the coming weeks.