Agmardt
You are here: Home > Latest News and Events
LATEST NEWS AND EVENTS
Latest News and Events
12 November 2011
AGMARDT Postdoctoral Fellowships Awards for 2011/12
On the advice of its Advisory Panel, the AGMARDT Board of Trustees have awarded Postdoctoral Fellowships to:
Dr Brad Kim (Mentor) and Dominic Lomiwes (Fellow), AgResearch Ltd
Topic: Novel approaches to enhance the value of New Zealand beef – optimising proteolytic enzyme activities to maximise ageing potential of intermediate pH bull beef.
Dr John Munro (Mentor) and Dr Isabel Moller (Fellow), New Zealand Institute for Plant and Food Research Ltd
Topic: Lowering glycaemic impact and improving bowel health through dietary fibre – the role of cell wall structures in potato.
Sixteen applications were received this year and all were of a high standard.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
28 June 2011
APPOINTMENT OF AGMARDT’S FIRST ASSOCIATE BOARD MEMBER
AGMARDT has announced the appointment of Nathan Flowerday as the first Associate Board Member to join its Board of Trustees.
AGMARDT Chairman Jeff Grant said that the purpose of creating the Associate Board Member position is to provide an emerging agribusiness leader with an opportunity to observe and experience governance in action within an innovative agribusiness environment
“I would hope that when Nathan has completed his 18 month term as an Associate Board Member, he would have received the experience and training to be able to take on future governance roles in agribusiness and beyond,” said Mr Grant.
“We received 69 applications for the role of Associate Board Member, which clearly demonstrates the desire of people to take on governance roles and make a contribution to agribusiness.
"Developing emerging good leadership and governance skills is going to be paramount given the importance of agribusiness to the economy. AGMARDT intends to support initiatives focused on growing leadership skills and good governance.”
____________
Nathan Flowerday's Bio
Nathan Flowerday grew up on a dairy farm in the Waikato and graduated from Massey University with a Bachelor of Applied Science, majoring in rural valuation and farm management. From 1997 to 2003 he worked as a rural manager for ASB Bank in the Bay of Plenty specialising in lending to the dairy and kiwifruit sectors.
He then spent two years with Merrill Lynch Investment Managers (MLIM) in London as a business analyst and management accountant before returning to New Zealand where he spent three years working for Opotiki Packing & Coolstore Ltd (OPAC) becoming Grower Services Manager and IS Project Manager. OPAC provides grower, post-harvest and orchard management services to kiwifruit growers from Gisborne, through Eastern Bay of Plenty to Te Puke.
In August 2009 Nathan resigned from OPAC to focus on the growth of his own kiwifruit orchard businesses and is now Managing Director of two companies, NWF Holdings Ltd and High Fives Orchard Ltd growing all five commercial ZESPRI Kiwifruit varieties in Te Puke.
Nathan manages the day-to-day orchard operations, right through to the financial statements, and the companies are running in the top 25 per cent of kiwifruit orchard performance.
He also currently holds directorships or consultant positions with Riverlock Orchard Pack & Cool Ltd, NZ Kiwifruit Growers Inc and Kiwifruit Vine Health. In June 2011 he became the first Associate Board Member to join the AGMARDT Board of Trustees.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
23 June 2011
Foreign Ownership in New Zealand - ‘Setting the Scene’
The AGMARDT Agribusiness Breakfast is held in conjunction with the National Bank Young Farmer Contest. Its purpose is to provide a forum to discuss issues of national interest to the rural community. This year’s theme is on Foreign Ownership in New Zealand and our guest speakers include:
Chris Nixon of NZIER: Chris is a Senior Economist at NZIER. NZIER is a non-profit organisation that undertakes independent economic research on economic issues in the public interest.
Download Chris Nixon's Presentation
Tom Sturgess of Lone Star Farms: Tom immigrated to New Zealand in 1996 and is proprietor of Lone Star Farms Ltd, a large South Island sheep and beef cattle producer.
Alex Duncan of Fonterra: Alex is Fonterra's General Manager Group Strategy & Corporate Finance. In this role he leads teams working on a variety of areas of strategic focus.
The intention is to provide a ‘fact based’ information platform on which you can make up your own mind on Foreign Ownership in New Zealand.
The AGMARDT Agribusiness Breakfast will be held on Friday, 1 July at the Copthorne Hotel and Resort, Solway Park, Masterton commencing at 7.30am sharp. If you would like to attend this event, please call 03 303 3057 or email www.youngfarmercontest.co.nz Tickets are $30 each, which includes breakfast.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
11 April 2011
AGRIBUSINESS Governance Learning Opportunity
AGMARDT is inviting applications for an Associate Board Member to join the Board of Trustees.
AGMARDT, the independent not-for-profit trust which is tasked with fostering and encouraging leadership, innovation and research in New Zealand’s agricultural, horticultural and forestry sectors, is calling emerging leaders and talented individuals to apply for the Associate Board Member position by the end of May.
“Leadership and governance are often cited as being critically important to the future success of agribusiness, yet there are very few opportunities to help prepare individuals for these roles,” said Chairman Jeff Grant.
“The Associate Board Member position is an opportunity to observe and experience Governance in action within an innovative agribusiness environment.”
He added: “In the past, there were a large number of cooperatives and agribusiness entities; there are now fewer companies which means fewer opportunities for talented individuals to gain governance experience.
“In a moment you can go from a school board of trustees to an agribusiness board with a billion dollar turnover. AGMARDT is keen to help manage this transition by offering an individual a unique opportunity to participate in Board meetings.
“Sound leadership and good governance are going to be critically important to the future success of New Zealand agribusiness. Hence there is a real need to ensure that our future leaders receive the necessary experience to allow them to succeed.
“I would hope that when the individual has completed their 18 month term as an Associate Board Member, they would have received the experience and training to be able to hit the deck running in whatever future governance role they choose to take on”, said Mr Grant.
AGMARDT is an independent not-for-profit trust that aims to foster and encourage leadership, innovation and research capability within the agricultural, horticultural and forestry sectors of New Zealand.
The Associate Board Member:
- will be appointed for a fixed term of up to 18 months starting 1 July 2011.
- will attend AGMARDT Board meetings and participate fully in discussion without having decision making authority.
- will be given the opportunity to attend an Institute of Directors governance course or similar course.
- application form is available at www.agmardt.org.nz or 04 499 6173 and the deadline for applications is 20 May 2011.