Rural Leaders

In this latest Rural Leaders Ideas that Grow podcast, we hear from Esther Donkersloot, 2024 Kellogg Scholar. Esther talks to Bryan Gibson, Farmers Weekly, about her research with LIC breeding heat tolerant cows. Esther came to New Zealand to do her Master's thesis and never left. Having studied at the prestigious Wageningen University & Research, she has steadily built a career looking into better genetic outcomes for our dairy herd – especially as the planet gets warmer. Along with her research at LIC, Esther discusses her Kellogg Rural Leadership Programme report insights on genetics’ social licence to operate. You can listen to the podcast or read the transcript here https://lnkd.in/gj-Bmpcp #NZRuralLeaders #IdeasThatGrow

Our latest Kellogg cohort's final research reports are live. Congratulations to all 24 Scholars.

Grab your earlybird tickets to March 2025's Research and Insights Forum in Wellington. The Forum showcases the projects helping to address the challenges our sector faces around workforce talent and the pace of change in technology. Runs across Tuesday 18 and Wednesday 19 March – and includes a networking function and a Capability Forum breakfast. Earlybird ends 31 January. Register below. #foodandfibreforum2025

Today was graduation day for Kellogg Programme Two 2024 (K52). These rural leaders started Phase One of their Kellogg in late June. They came from many parts of the country, from a range of industries, and all with a strong desire to grow as people and as leaders. After five months, including eighteen face-to-face days over three phases, many workshops, copious ‘aha’ moments, and insights from the sector’s most respected leaders, and having pushed themselves to deliver their final research reports and presentations – they have graduated. Congratulations to all the graduates of cohort K52. Here are a few words from four of the graduating scholars. “The people you meet on the programme, shake the hands of, listen to, and learn from, it’s hard not to be inspired by that.” Whitney Conder “I recommend the Kellogg Rural Leadership Programme to food and fibre leaders wanting to think and act more strategically.” Dave Nuku “Key for me is learning how to ask the right questions. I’d recommend Kellogg to all farmers and growers looking to become better leaders.” Oliver Hampson “I recommend Kellogg to anyone looking to grow in their career and become part of a respected network.” Jordi Hoult K52’s final research reports will be available on the Rural Leaders’ site in the coming weeks. Programme Two, 2025 applications close 13 April, 2025. Early applications are welcome. hashtag#NZRuralleaders hashtag#KelloggRuralLeadership Whitney C. Dave Nuku Anita Fleming Ben Aiken Hamish Hodgson Harry Wilding Cheyenne Wilson Hamish Symons Jordi Hoult Laura Deeming Kendall Buchanan Iain Inglis Jane Rau James Prunty Juan Ignacio Giacomozzi Lisa Gibbison Oliver Hampson Rachel Joblin Richard Pentreath Thomas Holmes Chloe Dallaway-Walker Nick Robinson Lisa Rogers Annie Chant Lyndsey Dance (PhD) Scott Champion Craig Trotter Allister Wakerley #NZRuralLeaders #KelloggRuralLeadership

Rural Leaders is pleased to announce the renewal of its partnership agreement with Beef + Lamb New Zealand (B+LNZ). The signing of this new partnership aligns strongly with B+LNZ’s People and Capability Strategy focused on improving on-farm talent retention. Core to delivering on the objective of increasing the retention of people from their first day on farm to their third year is the role of on-farm leadership. Justine Kidd, General Manager Extension, Beef + Lamb New Zealand, says, “On-farm leadership is critical to solving the challenge of our people’s future on farm. We are attracting enough young talent to the sector, but we aren’t holding them. Rural Leaders’ world-class delivery of leadership programmes supports our strategy, and we are looking forward to our continued joint effort growing great rural leaders across New Zealand.” You can read more on this renewed partnership in a short article here https://lnkd.in/gqZZ4FVS Pictured: Lisa Rogers, CEO, Rural Leaders (left). Justine Kidd, GM Extension, B+LNZ (right).

Rural Leadership was the topic of discussion on a recent Ag in Conversation podcast. Dr Ellen Joan Ford, who along with Chris Parsons, MNZM, DSD and Josh Williams was co-author of a report that seeks to provide a tangible framework for leadership development. In this podcast, Dr Ford discusses the report and the importance of ‘Belonging, Autonomy and Purpose’ to building high-performing teams. You can listen to the podcast here https://lnkd.in/ggQdBuyB The report is part of a broader project collaboration between Food and Fibre Centre of Vocational Excellence and the New Zealand Rural Leadership Trust (Rural Leaders). To download the report, ‘A Path to Realising Leadership Potential in Aotearoa NZ’s Food and Fibre Sector’, visit https://lnkd.in/diaFGFJB #NZRuralLeaders

There's still time to get your tickets for CROPS - An opportunity to meet arable farmers, researchers and others from the industry, while catching up on everything from agrichemicals to emissions.

The Value Chain Innovation Programme offers a high level of access to the leaders, founders and change makers across the apple, dairy, and kiwifruit value chains. You'll join a small group of farmers, growers, and agribusiness professionals on an intensive 5-6 day series of field trips, panel and group discussions - all expertly facilitated by Prof. Hamish Gow and Cllr. Phil Morrison. You'll also form a tight and lasting connection with a network of people as passionate about food and fibre as you are. Build disruptive new insights and a fresh mindset on food and fibre innovation by applying for the Value Chain Programme by this Sunday 17 Nov.   Programme runs from Sunday 26 January (Napier) to Saturday 1 February (Hamilton). To apply head to https://lnkd.in/gpdaU58a #NZRuralLeaders #ValueChainInnovation

Take a quick listen to Andy Whitson in this Farmers Weekly Media Insights round-up. The Rural Leaders Ideas that Grow Podcast is all about Rural Leaders' Programme Alumni (and sometimes Investing Partners) and the challenges they tackle on their programme research, in their work, and all from a leadership perspective. As Andy mentions, these podcast topics stand the test of time. Rural Leaders have a great working partnership with Farmers Weekly in producing these podcasts for you. Got a spare 15 minutes? Take a listen to a topic relevant to your industry - there'll be something there for you. You can also find the Ideas that Grow Podcasts on the Rural Leaders' website at https://lnkd.in/gDgrTEc (Once there, scroll down for the back catalogue). #KelloggRuralLeadership #NuffieldNZ #ValueChainInnovation #EngageProgramme

Four Food and Fibre sector leaders were awarded 2025 Nuffield New Zealand Farming Scholarships last night in Wellington by Hon Nicola Grigg. Before introducing The Hon Minister to announce the new scholars, Kate Scott, Rural Leaders Chair, welcomed everyone to the Awards and spoke about the need to celebrate not just leadership but also the sector’s successes. It is Nuffield’s 75th year in 2025. With this in mind and the need to celebrate our successes – and our leaders, Kate Scott proposed 2025 the Year of the Rural Leader. The 2025 Nuffield Scholars, embarking on their Nuffield journeys on the Year of the Rural Leader in 2025 were announced by Hon Minister Grigg as: Dani Darke – a King Country Farmer who is involved in Governance roles. Alan McDermott – a Golden Bay Business Owner and Entrepreneur.  Jon Pemberton – a Southland Dairy Farmer also in Governance roles. Lisa Portas – a South Wairarapa Agri-business professional. Congratulations to the recipients of the Nuffield New Zealand Farming Scholarships for 2025, the 75th year of Nuffield and Year of the Rural Leader. You can read more about our new Scholars here. https://lnkd.in/gehdZimn The Nuffield Scholarships are funded by Rural Leaders’ Strategic Partners DairyNZ, FMG (Farmers Mutual Group), Mackenzie Charitable Foundation, AGMARDT (The Agricultural and Marketing Research and Development Trust), and Programme Partners Beef + Lamb New Zealand, Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI), Farmlands Co-operative Society Limited, Livestock Improvement Corporation (LIC) Rabobank New Zealand, Foundation for Arable Research (FAR), Horticulture New Zealand, and Zespri International.