Staff Retention More Cost-Effective Than Hiring New Employees
Investing in your people and in your own leadership skills is the path to success for a farming business, says economist Shamubeel Eaqub.
A partnership between Dairy Women’s Network (DWN) and Agricultural and Marketing Research and Development Trust (AGMARDT) has led to the creation of a new Associate Trustee role.
DWN says the role at their board table will provide a new opportunity and a next step on the leadership and governance journey for present and active members of the organisation.
Applications opened on 13 January 2022, with the first full 16-month term starting on 1 March.
The successful candidate will attend board meetings and Dairy Women’s Network events over the 16-month term while completing a targeted project focused on leadership or an industry challenge.
DWN chair Karen Forlong says the organisation is pleased to partner with AGMARDT, who are funding the pilot programme which provides the Associate Trustee with access to mentoring and external industry opportunities during the programme.
“Like many of us, AGMARDT have identified the potential of women in the industry who operate with purpose, and who are motivated to make change and craft transformation, to move into governance roles,” says Forlong.
“Our experience is that dairy women benefit from programmes that allow them to collaboratively discuss strategies and solutions while building self-confidence and learning new skills,” she adds, saying examples of this have been seen within DWN’s business groups.
“The aim now is to give women access to roles of increasing leadership and possibility.”
AGMARDT general manager Lee-Ann Marsh says the trust is ‘thrilled’ to support the development of the role and pilot programme.
“Not only will it provide learning opportunities for dairy women, enabling them to have greater impact in their sector, it will also offer a blueprint for other food and fibre organisations who recognise the value in growing future directors and in having fresh perspectives around their board tables,” Marsh says.
“We see this as a fantastic opportunity to grow our sector’s leadership through developing a best practice approach, while removing some of the barriers smaller organisations may face in establishing their own Associate Director programmes.”
Forlong adds that the programme brings the promise DWN sees in its members to the forefront, providing a pathway to build experience and confidence, and allowing them to develop a governance CV through actively participating in the governance framework.
“They can then take these experiences and skills to other roles and further opportunities, leading our industry into the future.”
Recent rain has offered respite for some from the ongoing drought.
New Zealand's TBfree programme has made great progress in reducing the impact of the disease on livestock herds, but there’s still a long way to go, according to Beef+Lamb NZ.
With much of the North Island experiencing drought this summer and climate change projected to bring drier and hotter conditions, securing New Zealand’s freshwater resilience is vital, according to state-owned GNS Science.
OPINION: Otago farmer and NZ First MP Mark Patterson is humble about the role that he’s played in mandating government agencies to use wool wherever possible in new and refurbished buildings.
For Wonky Box co-founder Angus Simms, the decision to open the service to those in rural areas is a personal one.
The golden age of orcharding in West Auckland was recently celebrated at the launch of a book which tells the story of its rise, then retreat in the face of industry change and urban expansion.
OPINION: Should Greenpeace be stripped of their charitable status? Farmers say yes.
OPINION: After years of financial turmoil, Canterbury milk processor Synlait is now back in business.