Over regulated and under stress
OPINION: The consultation period for the Government’s emissions pricing plan for agriculture is closing as I write this.
“I like to see people come forward and grow,” she told Dairy News. Her prize, a 12-month Women in Leadership programme run by Global Women, will enable her to “learn and grow myself and take other women with me.”
“I also think the gap between urban and rural must be closed. This will enable me to work with urban mentors as well and cross-pollinate ideas.”
She says the value in the $27,000 Women in Leadership course would be in what she learned and who she did the course with.
Kuriger told the conference dinner it was “amazing”, and she thanked the Dairy Womens Network which she said was “growing and growing” which was evident in the partnerships it was forming. “This award is your award and I’ll share as much as I can of it with you.”
A Taranaki farmer with her husband, their business has expanded to involve all their children in equity partnerships.
She is a director of DairyNZ and AgITO, and recently Young Farmers, a member of the Nuffield Scholarship panel and a selector for the New Zealand Dairy Undergraduate Scheme.
DWN chairwoman Michelle Wilson says Kuriger told judges “anybody could do what I do,” that she needs a toolbox of knowledge and wants to surround herself with like-minded people. She believes in building bridges and growing people which brings a commonality in industries across New Zealand communities and globally.
The Dairy Woman of the Year prize is sponsored by Fonterra.
Fonterra director Nicola Shadbolt told the conference dinner the Women in Leadership programme run by Global Women was launched in 2009 and was working to expand the international impact of women leaders.
“We want to develop opportunities for women and mentor emerging leaders, and that’s how the Women in Leadership programme evolved,” she says. Global Women is committed to developing the next generation of women leaders in New Zealand.
Women in Leadership urges participants to develop themselves over a 12-month period. They have unprecedented access to mentors
from Global Women business leaders.
Six finalists were named in the awards, including Barbara Kuriger, Katrina Knowles and Shona Glentworth - all from Taranaki – and Raelyn Lourie of Westland, Justine Dalton of Hawkes Bay and Mandi McLeod of Waikato.
The judging panel included the Dairy Women’s Network chair, and representatives of DairyNZ, Fonterra and Global Women.
