10 vie for DairyNZ board seats

Voting papers will also be collected at the start of the annual general meeting on Tuesday, October 13, 2015.  Votes are weighted by annual milksolids production. Voter packs were posted last week to all dairy farmer levy payers DairyNZ. The estimated number of levy payers on the electoral roll is 14,500 – all dairy farmers in NZ who supply milksolids to a dairy company. At the close of voting the total number of votes will be multiplied by the quantity of milksolids produced by each farmer.

Voting papers must be in the hands of the returning officer by 12 noon on Monday, October 12, 2015.

 

Elaine Cook
Hamilton

Everyone standing for the DairyNZ board has governance experience, farming experience and wants better returns and more accountability, says Elaine Cook.

“What sets me apart is a focus on making it easier for you and every NZ dairy farmer to attract and retain better people,” Cook says. “I have spent my whole life farming, and my proudest professional moment was being named NZ Sharemilker of the Year, but it has become increasingly clear to me that dairy farming isn’t about ratios or percentages or graphs or even cows. Dairy farming is about people.”

The industry is struggling to get the people it needs. If it doesn’t get this sorted, everything else is irrelevant, she says.

“We need people good enough and committed enough to continue what those who farmed before us began and we have continued: the development of the most efficient dairy farms on the planet.

“I will not let anyone at DairyNZ lose sight of this. I will make sure DairyNZ attacks this problem…. That is my commitment to you.”

Experience:

• 2006 NZ Sharemilker of the Year

• 30 years dairy farming in Waikato and Southland

• 2015 Finalist NZ Dairywoman of the Year

• NZ Young Farmers director

• Southland Demonstration Farm director

• Southland Dairy Hub director

• MBIE governance committee for two DairyNZ led research contracts (chair)

• Associate director DairyNZ, 2013

 

Ben Allomes 
Woodville

As a current DairyNZ director seeking re-election, Ben Allomes says the success of the industry lies in its people, its ability to adapt to challenges and leverage off its skills. It is vital the levy continues to be invested in collaborative research and effective extension.

DairyNZ is integral to maintaining our global leadership in pasture-based dairying systems, he says.

As a Nuffield scholar this year, Allomes travelled through the US, Canada, Ireland, Lithuania and South America on a research trip. His topic is understanding what motivates farmers to participate in onfarm or industry leadership.

With his wife Nicky, Allomes farms in Woodville, Tararua, with his four children, milking 1350 cows in a mix of 50:50 sharemilking and an equity partnership.

Achievements:

• 2015 - Nuffield scholar

• 2011 - DairyNZ board member

• 2011 - DIA trustee, PrimaryITO DairyIPG

• 2011 - 2015 NMAC chairman, OSPRI stakeholders council

• Fonterra networker

• NZYF national president (2006 – 2008)

• 2008 NZ Sharemilker of the Year winners

• Bachelor of Natural Resource Management, Massey University.

“As your director I represent the next generation of farmers,” Allomes says. “I am committed to the future of our industry and have the drive and initiative to ensure NZ dairy farmers have the information they need to be world leaders in sustainable pasture-based production systems.”

 

Murray Jamieson 
Hamilton

NOW IS the time farmers need to see the value and outcome of their levies, says Murray Jamieson.

“Now is the time for strong and effective leadership: people who are lateral thinkers; who have a practical understanding of all sectors of the industry; who are innovative, collaborative, have empathy and who connect with farmers and are not afraid to make hard decisions.

“These are attributes the DairyNZ board needs to redefine the next two decades of dairying.”

Jamieson has worked his way up through the industry, from wages to 50:50 sharemilker, to equity partner and now farm owner.

“I am an experienced company director and have been privileged to represent the industry at home and overseas,” he says. Jamieson says he and his wife Vicky have gained a lot from the dairy industry and want to put something back.

Experience:

• 30 years farming with high and low input systems

• Winner Northland Dairy Industry Awards 2011

• Finalist Ballance Environmental Farming Awards 2011

• Principal rural advisor to Lincoln University

• Maori agribusiness strategic advisor for MPI

• Rural advisor to Ministry of Business Innovation and Employment

• Engaged by Peruvian Government to review proposed large scale dairy development in Peru

• Chair, Northland College farm

• Independent director Telford Farming 

• Kellogg rural leadership alumnus.

 

Kevin Ferris 
Te Awamutu

Future prosperity will be achieved by NZ farmers being lowest cost producers, NZ milk being a preferred product and market price improvement, says Kevin Ferris.

“As the guardian of ‘NZ milk inc’, DairyNZ has an increasingly important role to play in our onfarm management systems and promoting the dairy industry strategy.”

DairyNZ needs to be focused on leadership and innovation as the guardian, provider and promoter of farming systems that reassure our markets and the NZ public, and to drive production and profitability.

“Our success depends on future generations entering the industry; they will only do so by seeing prosperity in dairying.”

Greater coordination is needed between research and education institutions linking to onfarm extension, he says.  Engagement with government and regional councils must ensure the ability to increase productivity from the pasture-based system. 

Ferris has dairy farms in Waikato, King Country and Southland. He is a member Fonterra Shareholders Council representing Te Awamutu ward, a DairyNZ nominated and funded director on the board of the Southern Demonstration Farm Ltd and a DairyNZ appointed and funded director on the board of the Southern Dairy Hub general partnership.

If elected he will:

• Ensure DairyNZ delivers the best return on levy

• Commit to a high standard of governance

• Support DairyNZ to help farmers prosper via profitability, production and farmer returns.

 

Steve Hines 
Mangakino

In 1871 eight dairy farmers had the foresight to see benefits for individual farms in pooling resources, hence they formed the Otago Co-op Cheese Company, says Steve Hines.

“Fast-forward to today and DairyNZ is a natural extension of that foresight, focused on ensuring all NZ dairy farmers, current and future, have the necessary tools and solutions for competitiveness, sustainability and ultimate success in a demanding, well informed and continually changing global marketplace.”

As a director, his focus will be ensuring levy money is wisely invested and leveraged for maximum benefit.

Priorities:

• Creating cohesiveness and collaboration with dairy processors so farms are positioned to meet market needs without duplication of services

• Ensuring NZ holds its position as a respected, high quality, safe, sustainable dairy farming nation with long term profitability

• Clear communication and engagement with industry participants, wider stakeholders and communities.

Dairying has been Hines’ focus for the last 22 years building Doneve Agriculture to a multi-faceted operator as either owner, 50:50 or lower-order sharemilker on five properties with 10 staff.

Experience includes:

• Managing director, Doneve Agriculture

• Area manager, Fonterra Milk Supply

• Management cadet, Fletcher Steel

• Chairperson, Whakamaru School board of trustees

• ANZ Young Farmer contest, national committee

• Fonterra networker

• Chair, sharemilker section Rotorua/Taupo Federated Farmers

• Chair, Grand Final ANZ Young Farmer contest

• Judge, Dairy Industry Awards

 

Grant Wills 
Walton

Grant Wills farms in Walton, Waikato, with his family and has extensive knowledge of the agriculture industry from his earlier career in research/consultancy, through the development of the dairy business, to leadership roles in Fonterra, DairyNZ and the community. 

“My passion for strong governance in the dairy industry clearly focuses on enhancing what we have today from an economic, environmental and social perspective, to make our industry resilient for tomorrow’s wellbeing,” he says.

Education:

• Institute of Directors Certificate in Company Direction 2011

• Kellogg Rural Leaders scholar 2009

• BAgSc. Massey University 1979-82

Industry Experience:

• DairyNZ associate director 2014. Understands the DairyNZ business

• Fonterra Shareholders’ councillor, 2007- present. Former committee chair and leadership team. Presently financial performance committee

• Fonterra governance development committee since 2011

• Member NZDCDAP

• Dairy environment leaders forum

• Australia/NZ Dairy cooperatives forum

• Dairy farming since 1988: managing director of 700 cow Waikato dairy farm, equity partner in 700 cow Otago dairy

• DairyNZ tight management focus farm 2009-2010

• Dairy Awards judge

• Agricultural engineering advisor, Taranaki/Manawatu 1982-87.

• Speaking engagements: Agricultural leadership tour programme visits including Kentucky, South Dakota, Germany, Malaysia, International Farm Management Association, International Ruminant Symposium and SMASH Conference.

Industry Achievements:

• Waikato BFEA Supreme winner 2013

• Piako sharemilker winner and dairy farmer finalist

• National Sustainability Road Show organiser 2013.

Community Experience:

• Pohlen hospital trustee

• Walton BOT chairperson.

 

Kevin Old 
Lincoln

Kevin Old is a third generation dairy farmer at Tatuanui, Waikato. After managing and 50:50 sharemilking he now owns and operates, with staff, a 94ha dairy farm and has interests in family dairy farming operations milking 1450 cows in Waikato.

Experience:

• Shareholder director of the Tatua Cooperative Dairy Company

• Representative on the Dairy Companies Association of NZ

• Representative on the stakeholder group for operational solutions for primary industries

• Senior lecturer in farm management research at Lincoln University.

“The NZ dairy industry faces challenges and substantial opportunities over the medium term. DairyNZ is importantly positioned to assist farmers to meet these challenges and capture these opportunities,” says Old.

He says he has sound understanding and experience of governance and has strengths in strategy development, analysis, research and oversight.

He says he understands and interacts well with farmers and has a deep understanding of their requirements. “I am passionate about the NZ dairy industry. I have common sense and a strong sense of ethics. I have the energy, enthusiasm and commitment to make a positive contribution to DairyNZ.”

Qualifications and awards:

• PhD, governance of agricultural companies

• MBA

• BMS, major subjects accounting and finance and business policy

• Nuffield scholarship

• Kellogg Rural Leadership Programme.

 

Michelle Wilson 
Waihi

Michelle Wilson has been a dairy farmer for the past 24 years, operating, with her husband, large and small herd operations throughout NZ.

The former chair, trustee and executive chair of the Dairy Womens Network, she says she has an excellent understanding of the challenges faced by dairy farmers nationwide. She has extensive governance, professional development and management experience in a range of agribusiness and community organisations including:

Experience

• Owner / director farming businesses in Bay of Plenty and Southland 2002 - 2015

• Chair / trustee Dairy Women’s Network 2010 - 2014

• Executive chair Dairy Women’s Network 2013 - 2014

• Chair Waiau Health Trust 2011 - 2014

• Trustee Tuatapere Community Medical Trust 2011 - 2014

• Member of DairyNZ human capability leadership team - 2013

• Represented New Zealand dairy industry, APEC Women in Leadership Forum, Beijing, China, 2013

• Finalist in the Institute of Directors’ Aspiring Director Award 2013

• Institute of Directors Certificate in Company Direction 2011

• Kellogg Rural Leadership graduate 2009

• Sharemilker on dairy farms Hauraki Plains and Waikato 1993 – 2002.

“DairyNZ has a pivotal role to play in supporting NZ dairy farmers through the current period of uncertainty,” Wilson says.

“I will bring excellent analytical and interpersonal skills to the DairyNZ boardroom, and a clear strategic focus to support the delivery of the dairy industry strategy Making Dairy Farming Work for Everyone.”

 

Michael Spaans
Te Aroha

The highs and lows of our industry have never been more pronounced than today, says Michael Spaans.

“The challenges we all face, be they profitability, the environment or staff management, require us to be more proactive, productive and mindful.”

In today’s environment farmers need from DairyNZ:

1. Solid research

2. Practical, sound advice

3. Useful tools and templates

4. Advocacy and influence.

“It is imperative DairyNZ responds to farmer needs, while constantly working towards addressing challenges such as emission targets, water quality/availability and the impacts of a growing industry, always with profitability and competitiveness at the forefront,” he says.

Spaans says DairyNZ is guided by the industry strategy which highlights the issues confronting us and the need to influence a wide range of stakeholders in industry, government and the communities.

He says the pace of industry change has seldom slowed throughout his 30 years farming. “During my seven years on the DairyNZ board I have used my skills, experience and foresight in numerous industry governance positions to effectively help lead us into a confident future.”

Current positions:

Director 

• Fonterra 

• ASB Bank Ltd

• Shoof International Ltd.

Previous experience:

• Director 

• NZAEL

• OSPRI.

Chairman

• Waikato Innovation Park Ltd, Animal Breeding Services Ltd.

Professional

• Graduate Diploma in Finance

• Chartered Member, NZ Institute of Directors.

 

Greg Maughan
Marton

From a town background, Greg Maughan at age 13 started working on a dairy farm on weekends and school holidays and progressed through farm management and sharemilking to farm ownership. 

Notable activities outside the farmgate include:

• The NZ Dairy Industry Awards. He has been a past chair and national judge and over the past five years has run the Dairy Trainee of the Year study tour for 11 regional finalists

• The Fonterra Shareholders Council 2004-2008

• Young Farmers and Federated Farmers to a national level.

“I have wide understanding of the industry from the farm through to governance level and I have the skills and more than enough ‘skin in the game’ to be an effective director of DairyNZ,” Maughan says. “In these challenging times we need to focus on things that will deliver good outcomes for our farmers and the industry.”

These are, he says:

• Focus on the people in the industry, especially our younger farmers

• A three-way approach to sustainability: financial, generational and environmental

• Ensuring the levy is targeted to what can make the biggest impact on farmer profits. This may mean a change in priorities in the current strategic plan

• Ensuring the training and education funding our industry provides is providing the people farmers want and need.