Free trade deals & quotas save NZ beef $1b annually
Quotas and free trade deals are saving the beef sector over $1 billion in tariffs each year, says Beef+Lamb NZ chief executive Alan Thomson.
He’s currently working for Hitachi Australia as director of agribusiness. Originally from New Zealand, Thompson has had a lifelong career in, and affinity with, the agricultural sector and in his last role was involved in agritech.
He replaces Sam McIvor who is now working for OSPRI.
B+LNZ board chair Kate Acland says she’s delighted with the appointment and says the board was intent on taking the time to get the right person. She says they are confident that’s Alan Thomson.
“He has a strong commercial background and will be focused on delivering great outcomes for farmers. He wants to see our farmers thrive and our sector realise its potential. I know he’s excited about bringing B+LNZ’s refreshed strategy to life for farmers and making a real difference,” she says.
Acland says Thomson’s recent work in agritech has included projects such as supporting farmers in the Great Barrier Reef catchment area to capture data to enable operational decisions in order to mitigate environmental impacts. He’s on the board of DataFarming, an Australian agritech business, and prior to Hitachi, he was at Ravensdown for a number of years in a variety of roles in New Zealand and Australia.
Thomson will relocate to Wellington and will start on November 4. He says he’s excited to join B+LNZ and make a difference for farmers. He says he’s deeply committed to agriculture and sees huge potential for sheep and beef farming.
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“I’m proud of work I’ve done on the ground with farmers in New Zealand and Australia, working to understand what they need. That really drives me. On a personal level, I’m also looking forward to returning to New Zealand to be closer to family,” he says.
