New associate director for state farmer

Campbell joined in time for Pamu’s recent monthly board and sub-committee meetings in Palmerston North.

She has a strong agricultural and business background with extensive experience in the dairy sector. This includes her introduction to the sector as a relief milker whilst at high school, through to roles with Ngāi Tahu Farming as a technical farm manager, as well as being a variable order share milking partnership with 860 cows. She has also held roles with New Zealand Young Farmers as the Chairperson and was a board observer with UniMed. Ash-Leigh currently works for agri-tech company Halter in the customer success team.

In 2020 Campbell won the Fonterra Dairy Woman of the Year award.

Pamu acting board chair Nigel Atherfold says that growing a diverse range of directors for the future is a great way to ensure continuity and development opportunities for the benefit of both individuals and the wider primary sector.

“The associate director role provides those with potential and ambition, the opportunity to participate at a governance level. It also provides boards with exposure to new talent, ideas, and experiences.

“While Pamu has embraced digital technology to support its operations, sector-wide challenges remain in reducing the need for farmers to enter the same farm data multiple times and securing broad-based farmer uptake. Ash-Leigh brings a firsthand understanding of how farmers and growers can benefit hugely from digital technologies and data availability for better decision-making on-farm,” Atherfold says.

Campbell says she looks forward to working through how her experiences can be of benefit to the Pamu team and make a difference for the agricultural sector in New Zealand.

In February Pamu farewelled Libby Tosswill who had been in the associate director role for the past 12 months.

“It’s been an incredibly valuable experience, with lots of change and challenges in the sector. I’ve enjoyed observing and participating in the Board’s meetings and visiting farms across the motu, with the highlight being the diversity and scale of the business,” says Tosswill.