Conference looks at winds of change
More than 130 of Australasia's leading agribusiness professionals are gathering in Wellington today for the annual Platinum Primary Producers (PPP) Conference.
The Dairy Women's Network says this year's annual conference will be a treat for attendees, with some of the best speakers and workshops the organisation has ever offered.
The annual conference is the Network's key event and venue alternates between the North and South Island to ensure accessibility to all its members at least biannually. This year, the conference is to be held at the ILT Stadium in Invercargill.
DWN chief executive Zelda de Villiers says the organisation is excited to be holding the conference in one of the country's fastest growing dairy areas and cites the Southland farm tour as a particular highlight on the workshop timetable.
"Southland leads the way in wintering systems, so there be a lot to take away from that tour, particularly for the North Island farmers heading down with us," she says.
"We are very fortunate to have public and employment law specialist Mai Chen open the conference on Wednesday, Fonterra's Jacqueline Chow opening the second day and Dame Jenny Shipley to close the conference."
Former New Zealand prime minister Shipley, is now a director, advisor and keynote speaker who runs her own consultancy. She also chairs Global Women New Zealand and a number of companies as well as being a member of the World Women's Leaders Council.
Chow is responsible for Fonterra Group's customer and consumer brands' portfolio.
De Villers says the conference theme of 'Entering tomorrow's world' will be evident in the eight conference workshops, comprising financial management, sustainable environments, a presentation by high performance sport psychologist David Galbraith, farmer wellness, animal lameness, legal liability and more.
"With the calibre of speakers attending the conference, the workshops on offer and the Dairy Woman of the Year and Dairy Community Leadership Awards presentation and dinner on Wednesday night, we have yet another incredible conference planned."
This year's conference will be held 18-19 March at the ILT Stadium in Invercargill. Early bird registrations close on 28 February. Visit www.dwn.co.nz to register.
Farmer-led charity, Meat the Need is calling for donations to enable it to supply more meals to families in need.
Weaker pricing and demand from China continue to impact New Zealand red meat export earnings.
Fonterra has cemented its position as the country’s number one cheesemaker by picking up nine NZ Champion of Cheese trophies this year.
New Zealand dairy processors are welcoming the Government’s commitment to continuing to push for Canada to honour its trade commitments.
An educational programme, set up by Beef + Land New Zealand, to connect farmers virtually with primary and intermediate school students has reported the successful completion of its second year.
Horticulture NZ chief executive Nadine Tunley will step down in August.
OPINION: Canterbury milk processor Synlait is showing no sign of bouncing back from its financial doldrums.
OPINION: It seems every bugger in this country can get an award these days.