increase font size
Jessie Chan-Dorman.
A Canterbury woman who has dedicated her career as a rural professional to New Zealand’s dairy industry is 2017’s Fonterra Dairy Woman of the Year.
Jessie Chan-Dorman, a Fonterra Shareholders Councillor, won the coveted title out of a group of three finalists which included CEO of Sirona Animal Health Claire Nicholson and agribusiness consultant Jolene Germann. The awards ceremony was held last night in Queenstown as part of a gala dinner at the Dairy Women’s Network’s annual conference.
Chan-Dorman, whose peers say is equally as confident at a grassroots level as she is in her governance and leadership roles, is director of the Ashburton Trading Society and is a Fonterra Shareholder representing farms in Rakaia; she is also on the Holstein Friesian New Zealand External Affairs Committee and a member of the Institute of Directors and New Zealand Asian Leaders.
With a career spanning farming through to business and governance, Chan-Dorman’s experience stems from her roles in large organisations such as DairyNZ and Environment Canterbury, and volunteer positions with Federated Farmers, the Land Use Futures Board, Land and Water forum and Ballance AgriNutrients as a judge for their farm environment awards.
Dairy Women’s Network chief executive Zelda de Villers says Chan-Dorman is a worthy recipient of the title, citing her positive role modelling for others in the rural sector and her ability to work across all aspects of the dairy spectrum.
“Jessie’s career over the past decade has seen her add extraordinary value to the business of dairy in New Zealand,” she says. “It’s clear that across the variety of roles she has had, from volunteering through to business ownership and governance, she has made it a priority to share her expertise and give back where she can.
“Jessie also brings her diverse experience and background through various forums to influence outcomes. She’s unique in that she recognises that issues need representation from different perspectives and she’s not afraid to have tough conversations.
“We’re very proud to present her with the Dairy Woman of the Year title.”
Fonterra General Manager NZ Industry Affairs Jo Finer says Chan-Dorman is deserving of the award.
“What quickly became clear in Jessie’s nomination is that she’s not afraid to get her hands dirty, but is more than capable of seeing the bigger picture at the same time,” says Finer. “Experience like Jessie’s is incredibly valuable in this industry.
“On behalf of Fonterra I’d like to congratulate her on this achievement and we’re looking forward to seeing more great things from her in the future.”
Chan-Dorman says the award is great step for her to continue role-modelling dairy leadership to her peers and those looking to come through the ranks.
“I see myself further influencing change by being involved at a governance or representation level in our cooperatives and advocating for the next generation to get involved in the industry with skin in the game.
“New Zealand’s dairy industry is unique in that we structure our farming businesses to bring the next generation of men and women on to the farm. I’m looking forward to working further on these kinds of collaborative relationships at a higher level.”
Chan-Dorman receives a scholarship prize of up to $20,000 to undertake a professional/business development programme.
Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters has joined the debate around the proposed sale of Fonterra’s consumer and related businesses, demanding answers from the co-operative around its milk supply deal with the buyer, Lactalis.
OPINION: Farmer shareholders of two of New Zealand's largest co-operatives have an important decision to make this month and what they decide could change the landscape of the dairy and meat sectors in New Zealand.
OPINION: As CEO of the Dairy Board in the 1980s I was fortunate to work with a team of experienced and capable executives who made most of the brand investments that created the international consumer business Fonterra inherited. Soprole in Chile was the largest, but there were more than 20 countries where consumer marketing companies were established and Anchor and other brands were successfully launched.
Fonterra has delivered a fifth straight year of record organic milk price for farmer suppliers.
Fonterra says favourable weather conditions supporting pasture growth is boosting milk production.
Like many manufacturers around the world, European agricultural machinery and tractor manufacturers are currently operating in a difficult market environment. But they are heading to the world’s largest agricultural machinery event in Hanover next month with a degree of cautious optimism.
Established in 2021, the John Deere Technician of the Year Awards champion the important contribution parts and service technicians make to the Australian and New Zealand agriculture, construction and forestry industries.
Beef + Lamb New Zealand (B+LNZ) is calling on farmers from all regions to take part in the final season of the Sheep Poo Study aiming to build a clearer picture of how facial eczema (FE) affects farms across New Zealand.
New Zealand is closer to eradicating bovine TB than ever before, but possums remain a threat, says Beef + Lamb New Zealand.
Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters has joined the debate around the proposed sale of Fonterra’s consumer and related businesses, demanding answers from the co-operative around its milk supply deal with the buyer, Lactalis.
The ACT Party says media reports that global dairy giant Nestle has withdrawn from the Dairy Methane Action Alliance shows why New Zealand needs to rethink its approach to climate.
OPINION: Dairy industry players are also falling by the wayside as the economic downturn bites around the country.
OPINION: Methane Science Accord, a farmer-led organisation advocating for zero tax on ruminant methane, will be quietly celebrating its first…
