Thursday, 18 August 2022 14:55

Industry stalwarts among new WoolWorks board directors

Written by  Staff Reporters
Rob Hewett Rob Hewett

Silver Fern Farms Co-operative chairman Rob Hewett is among three new directors appointed to the WoolWorks Board.

Hewett, who farms 9,250 stock units along with a 960ha sheep and beef breeding property and a finishing unit in Manuka Gorge, also serves as chairman of Farmlands Co-operative, and used to serve as the chair of the Strong Wool Action Group.

Also appointed to the WoolWorks Board is John Rodwell who is currently a director of Manaaki Whenua Landcare Research, and the Lincoln-based research centre Bioprotection Aotearoa.

Rodwell is also the founder, chairman and part-owner of Kintore Dairy Farm, a 1,500-cow dairy farm in Canterbury, and its 330ha support farm, Broadfields Farm, in Ashburton.

Mike Smith, director of Maui Capital, rounds out the group of newly-appointed directors. He has held various positions on the boards of Argosy Property Trust, the Lion Foundation, Fonterra, and Fisher & Paykel Healthcare.

John Rodwell 2 FBTW

John Rodwell

“Mike and John will bring significant expertise and experience to the WoolWorks Board and we are looking forward to them making valuable contributions,” says Hewett.

“We have all joined the Board because we firmly believe WoolWorks has an exciting future in itself, but also for New Zealand.”

Rodwell says he is confident he and his fellow directors can build on WoolWorks’ foundation and progress further added value opportunities.

“What’s clear is that there has been a sea-change in the perception of wool as a natural fibre with its outstanding environmental credentials,” he says.

“Consumers are increasingly recognising the draw-backs of synthetics and their reliance on fossil fuels and chemicals.”

More like this

Bremworth board upheaval

Listed carpet maker Bremworth has been rocked by a call from some shareholders for a board revamp.

Hewett appointed AgriZeroNZ chair

Rob Hewett has been appointed the new chair of AgriZeroNZ, the public-private partnership designed to accelerate the development of tools to help Kiwi farmers reduce emissions.

Featured

Controls lifted at poultry farm

Movement controls have been lifted from Mainland Poultry’s Hillgrove Farm in Otago, after the successful eradication of H7N6 strain of high pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI).

Farmers urged not to be complacent about TB

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.

Editorial: Making wool great again

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.

National

Machinery & Products

Farmer-led group buys Novag

While the name and technology remain unchanged and new machines will continue to carry the Novag name, all the assets,…

Buhler name to go

Shareholders at a special meeting have approved a proposed deal that will see Buhler Industries, the publicly traded Versatile and…

» Latest Print Issues Online

The Hound

Make it 1000%!

OPINION: The appendage swinging contest between the US and China continues, with China hitting back with a new rate of…

Own goal

OPINION: The irony of President Trump’s tariff obsession is that the worst damage may be done to his own people.

» Connect with Rural News

» eNewsletter

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter