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Robin Congdon.
The New Zealand Dairy Industry Awards has appointed Robin Congdon general manager, succeeding Chris Keeping who served 18 years in the role.
Awards board chair Rachel Baker says the 2019 National Awards evening in Wellington last month was a fitting event to farewell Keeping.
“It was special having every executive chairman she had worked with present on the night, and many previous winners and volunteers, to acknowledge her care and contribution over the past 18 years,” Baker says.
“We look forward to seeing where Robin will take the role and our organisation into the future.”
Congdon is a marketing and events specialist with business management experience. Most recently he was the national events manager for Massey University, managing the NZ Food Awards.
Congdon is looking forward to the general manager role and believes his background in business, event programmes and communication and information technology will allow him to see new opportunities and efficiencies.
“The NZDIA programme has been built from virtually nothing to a substantial national awards programme over the last 18 years,” he said.
“It is important the NZDIA stays relevant and delivers value to the entrants, sponsors and the trust. I am also proud to be part of New Zealand primary industry, dairy.”
The awards provide a learning and growth platform for young and emerging farmers as they progress in their careers.
The national sponsors are Westpac, DeLaval, Ecolab, Federated Farmers, Fonterra, Honda, LIC, Meridian Energy, Ravensdown, DairyNZ and PrimaryITO.
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The winner of the 2025 Hawke’s Bay/Wairarapa Dairy Industry Awards enjoys the variety of work farming offers and the ability to improve each season.
Coronet Peak, Queenstown, was the venue for the 2024 NZ Dairy Industry Awards.
Acclaimed fruit grower Dean Astill never imagined he would have achieved so much in the years since being named the first Young Horticulturist of the Year, 20 years ago.
The Ashburton-based Carrfields Group continues to show commitment to future growth and in the agricultural sector with its latest investment, the recently acquired 'Spring Farm' adjacent to State Highway 1, Winslow, just south of Ashburton.
New Zealand First leader and Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters has blasted Fonterra farmers shareholders for approving the sale of iconic brands to a French company.
A major feature of the Ashburton A&P Show, to be held on October 31 and November 1, will be the annual trans-Tasman Sheep Dog Trial test match, with the best heading dogs from both sides of the Tasman going head-to-head in two teams of four.
Fewer bobby calves are heading to the works this season, as more dairy farmers recognise the value of rearing calves for beef.
The key to a dairy system that generates high profit with a low emissions intensity is using low footprint feed, says Fonterra program manager on-farm excellence, Louise Cook.
