High calibre finalists for Fonterra DWOTY award

The award recognises a woman within the sector who has contributed to the sector with passion, drive, innovation, and leadership.

Previous winners include Donna Smit, current Dairy Women’s Network chair Trish Rankin, and former RuralCo chair Jessie Chan.

Smit, a Dairy Women’s Network trustee, says this year’s awards saw numerous high calibre entries.

“It is nice to see a good spread of capable grassroots farmers, inspiring leaders, and rural professionals who have contributed so much to the industry being nominated,” she says.

“A lot of the entrants have multiple skills across community, environmental, professional, and commercial,” she adds. “Based on this wide variety of skills, the dairy industry is in good heart for the future.”

The recipient of the award will be announced on Thursday 2 May at the Gala dinner of the Dairy Women’s Network 2024 conference. They will receive a scholarship to be part of the Kellogg Rural Leadership Programme.

Myfanwy Alexander

Originally hailing from Wales, Alexander came to New Zealand 18 years ago to intern on a dairy farm and fell in love with the country.

For the past decade, she has been contract milking on a 280ha, 920- cow farm in the Waitaki Valley.

Alexander is also a Dairy Women’s Network Regional Leader for North Otago and is president of the North Otago Federated Farmers.

She also sits on the governance group for the South Island Dairy Event.

In November 2023, Alexander co-founded The Sharefarming Consultants with Louise Gibson. The consultancy is aimed at improving the working relationships between sharefarmers and farm owners, offering monthly meeting facilitation services and recruitment consulting.

Alexander is described as “the embodiment of a positive role model”, and a hardworking, dedicated, caring and empathetic leader.

Amber Carpenter

Amber Carpenter

A city girl, raised in Bucklands Beach, Auckland, Carpenter has swapped the fashion industry for the dairy industry.

Before entering the dairy sector, Carpenter had worked for luxury fashion brand Karen Walker and had acted as a buyer for Farmers Trading Company.

Then, in 2007, she met her now-husband Fraser at a 21st party and added part-time farmer to her full-time commitments.

Now, 17 years later, Carpenter is at home on the farm, sharemilking 450 cows on a Paparimu dairy farm with a separated beef block.

She is the chair of DairyNZ’s Dairy Environment Leaders, and an ambassador for Farmstrong.

She has held leadership roles within the New Zealand Dairy Industry Awards, and is completing a Diploma in Agribusiness.

Carpenter is described as relatable, inspirational and a positive role model, able to connect both on a personal and group level to inspire connection and trust.

Katrina Roberts

Katrina Roberts

A herd health veterinarian and farm consultant, Roberts has been involved in the dairy industry for more than 20 years, starting out as a vet student in 2002.

Since then, she has completed a masters degree in vet epidemiology, specialising in heifer mastitis.

Roberts is actively involved in the sector, working on the redevelopment of the DairyNZ InCalf programme and has been on the stakeholder group for DairyNZ’s body condition score accreditation programme and DairyNZ’s FeedRight programme.

She mentors young vets and is an InCalf Trainer with DairyNZ and a member of several steering groups.

For the past 20 years, she has volunteered with Cambridge Riding for the Disabled and is an active member of the Walton School Board of Trustees, netball coaching, and Matamata Pony Club.

Roberts is described as an excellent role model who is curious, open to self-improvement and giving of her time.

Michelle Ruddell

Michelle Ruddell

Ruddell runs a largescale dairy farm near Whangarei and chairs the Northland Rural Support Trust.

She has a history of working in varying leadership roles in regional and national organisations, including as a National Trustee for the Rural Support Trust.

She proved instrumental in the Northland dairy sector’s recovery in the aftermath of Cyclone Gabrielle.

Ruddell provided hands-on support for those affected by the storm, and facilitated responses between various agencies.

She is described as an articulate, inclusive, and confident leader, building relationships with ease.

She is driven to support the people in her business, community, and sector.