Tuesday, 20 February 2024 15:55

MIA announces nine scholarships

Written by  Staff Reporters
Meat Industry Association chief executive Sirma Karapeeva. Meat Industry Association chief executive Sirma Karapeeva.

Nine young Kiwis have been selected for the Meat Industry Association (MIA) scholarship programme for 2024.

Three post-graduate and six undergraduate students from Christchurch, Gore, Lumsden, Waikawa (Southland), Timaru, Ngāruawāhia, Dargaville, and Feilding, have joined the programme, alongside nine returning scholars.

Every year, the MIA provides scholarships of $5,000 per year for undergraduates and $10,000 per year for post-graduate students.

All are tertiary students studying a subject relevant to the red meat processing industry and planning a career in the sector beyond the farm gate.

This year’s new scholar intake are pursuing subjects including mechanical engineering, environmental management, commerce, global management, marketing, and agribusiness and food marketing.

Returning scholars include undergraduates, and postgraduate students undertaking Masters and PhD research in areas including foodborne pathogens and prevention of musculoskeletal injuries in the sector.

Sirma Karapeeva, chief executive of the MIA, says that the industry needs to continue to recruit ambitious and highly skilled people to grow.

“This scholarship programme provides an important pathway for school leavers, undergraduate and graduate students into the New Zealand meat processing industry,” Karapeeva says.

“Every MIA scholar has the potential to become future leaders in the sector,” she adds.

As well as financial support, MIA scholars benefit from the organisation’s mentoring programme and participation in a range of industry events and networking opportunities. Assistance may also be provided to help them to secure vacation or part-time work in the meat processing industry.

The new MIA scholars for 2024 are:

  • Sophie Ridd, from Feilding, Masters in Global Management and Marketing, Lincoln University
  • Kelly-Anne Bentley, from Ashburton, Masters degree working on identifying biomarkers in lamb meat, Lincoln University
  • Kelsi Hayes, from Waikawa, Southland, Masters in Environmental Management, Massey University
  • Oliver Stark, from Gore, Mechanical Engineering, University of Canterbury
  • Fynn Mitchell, from Lumsden, Commerce majoring in operations and supply chain management, Lincoln University
  • Emily Irwin, from Gore, Agribusiness and Food Marketing, Lincoln University
  • Wiseson Kuang, from Timaru, Commerce majoring in international business, minor finance, University of Canterbury
  • Thomas Hayward, from Te Ākau, Waikato,  Law and Commerce majoring in operations and supply chain management, Lincoln University
  • Angus Bradley, from Dargaville, Commerce majoring in finance and accounting, specialising in agriculture, Lincoln University

More like this

Red meat's China push

The red meat sector is launching a new campaign to lure Chinese consumers to New Zealand grass-fed beef and lamb.

Primary sector chuffed

Meat Industry Association chair Nathan Guy says his organisation welcomes the new trade deal with the United Arab Emirates (UAE), noting the UAE is the second largest market for the red meat sector in the Gulf Cooperation Council after Saudi Arabia.

Featured

Better animal genetic gain system

A governance group has been formed, following extensive sector consultation, to implement the recommendations from the Industry Working Group's (IWG) final report and is said to be forming a 'road map' for improving New Zealand's animal genetic gain system.

SIDE 2025's new schedule, venue

Annual farmer gathering, the South Island Dairy Event (SIDE), is set to make history as it heads to Timaru for the first time.

Taranaki piggery goes solar

Installing 400 solar panels at their Taranaki piggery and cropping operation will have significant environmental, financial and animal welfare benefits for the Stanley family.

Editorial: Keep FTAs coming

OPINION: The dairy industry will  be a major beneficiary of a new free trade deal between NZ and the Gulf Co-operation Council (GCC).

National

Food charity to hold online auction

Meat the Need, New Zealand’s dedicated charity delivering locally sourced protein meals to food-insecure communities, is launching an online National…

Machinery & Products

An ideal solution for larger farms

Designed specifically for large farms that want to drill with maximum flexibility, efficiency and power, the new Lemken Solitair ST…

Landpower increases its offering

Landpower and the Claas Harvest Centre network will launch the Claas Scorpion and Torion material handling solutions to the market…

» Latest Print Issues Online

The Hound

Leaky waka

OPINION: Was the ASB Economic Weekly throwing shade on Reserve Bank governor Adrian Orr when reporting on his speech in…

Know-it-alls

OPINION: A reader recently had a shot at the various armchair critics that she judged to be more than a…

» Connect with Rural News

» eNewsletter

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter