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They are Claire Nicholson from Bay of Plenty, Jessie Chan-Dorman from Canterbury and Jolene Germann from Southland.
Claire Nicholson (Ngati Ruanui) is a director of Paraninihi Ki Waitotara (PKW) and chief executive of Sirona Animal Health; Jessie Chan-Dorman is a Fonterra shareholders council member and a director of the Ashburton Trading Society; and Jolene Germann is an Agribusiness Consultants dairy consultant and chair of Rural Business Network Southland.
The award will be made at an evening event during the Dairy Women’s Network (DWN) conference, this year in Queenstown on May 11-12.
DWN chief executive Zelda de Villiers says the finalists all contribute much to the business of dairying in New Zealand.
“They are making big decisions and contributions that affect the future of dairying. All are recognised leaders in their networks and communities, are influential at a national level and are committed to progressing our dairy industry internationally.”
Jo Finer, Fonterra’s general manager NZ industry affairs, says the co-op is “100% behind initiatives like this, that celebrate high performers in the dairy industry”.
“The calibre of the finalists is outstanding; every year we see worthy nominations and I have no doubt each will continue to excel in dairy leadership well into the future.”
Nicholson, a veterinarian, has been general manager for Intervet New Zealand and business development and marketing manager for Agrifeeds. She says she is “a big advocate for protecting and enhancing our dairy assets for future generations, and being nominated for this award signals that the work I’m doing is on the right track”.
Chan-Dorman has worked in rural policy making, R&D and sustainable farming. She sees herself “progressing further into [this] leadership role that will allow me to make further contributions to the industry”.
Germann is a relative newcomer to the dairy industry, milking her first cow just seven years ago. She and her husband own a 570 cow dairy farm in equity partnership in Aparima, Southland, and she has just been offered a partnership role at Agribusiness Consultants. She is a volunteer mentor for DairyNZ Dairy Connect and PrimaryITO.
She says she’s surprised to be nominated for the award, “and humbled at the same time. I’m constantly impressed with the opportunities and passion so widespread in the dairy industry.”
The award winner will receive a scholarship prize of up to $20,000 towards professional/business development.
Previous winners were Landcorp business manager Rebecca Keoghan (2016), Westland Milk Products board member Katie Milne (2015), Agri-Women’s Development Trust chair Charmaine O’Shea (2014), Milk New Zealand agribusiness chief executive Justine Kidd (2013) and Taranaki-King Country National MP Barbara Kuriger (2012).
