Gongs for top rural professionals

Batley, a consultant at AgFirst and based in the Manawatū-Whanganui region deals with climate change modelling, carbon accounting and farm systems analysis. He works alongside farmers, industry bodies and local and central government, and is very passionate about furthering the success of New Zealand's agricultural industry.

 Batley has experienced and achieved a lot throughout his short career so far, having won the IFAMA Global Student Case Study Competition in Costa Rica in 2021 and recently completing the Kellogg Rural Leadership Programme, where his research looked at ideas for furthering leadership skills in early career professionals within the New Zealand primary sector.

 In making their final decision, the judges noted that Batley had an impressive breadth and depth of knowledge, was highly articulate and has strong farm systems understanding. His integrity and willingness to collaborate with others, combined with his international experience and global insights, means that he’s capable of adding value widely across the primary sector.

 Batley says that winning the award was a pleasant surprise for him.

“It was a real surprise to win the award, especially given the talent of other finalists. I am proud to be working in the rural professional space in the primary sector and am lucky that my employer, AgFirst, has given me opportunities to develop, as well as help from NZIPIM and the MPI Career Pathways Scheme. It is great to know that I am heading in the right direction to make a positive impact on the sector.”

 Dan Smith of Lincoln University was announced as the Rural Professional of the Year for 2024.

Smith is an agribusiness and farm management lecturer and head of the agricultural diplomas programme at Lincoln. He works alongside Farmstrong as a mental health champion for his students and is eager to inspire and nurture students’ affinity for the primary industries.

Smith has picked up a wealth of knowledge through his agribusiness career, including at Ravensdown as an agri-manager and ANZ bank as a senior business banking manager, and he is now passing his wisdom onto the next generation.

Dan Smith with Gavin McEwen.

 The judges recognised his deep understanding and incredible perspective of the challenges and opportunities facing New Zealand’s primary sector. They said his passion for our industry rubs off onto both his students and colleagues, and his broad career has set him up perfectly to play a strategic role in preparing our future primary industry professionals.

 The winners were announced during the New Zealand Institute of Primary Industry Management’s (NZIPIM) National Conference Awards Dinner in Hamilton last night.

 The Emerging Rural Professional Award celebrates innovative young people who have industry experience of five years or less, while the Rural Professional Award recognises those at the peak of their careers, with more than five years spent in the agricultural industry.

 The prize for each award includes money to the value of $3,000 towards professional development, such as a research project, an overseas study tour, professional development programmes/qualifications or research equipment.

 FarmIQ executive general manager, Gavin McEwen, says the holistic agricultural knowledge that the award winners have is hugely impressive:

 “Every year it is great to see the high calibre of young professionals applying for the award, but this year it was extremely apparent to see the long-term and wide lens view that these rural professionals are applying in their everyday jobs. Not only can Dan and Louis support farmers one-on-one, but they deeply understand the New Zealand ag industry as a whole and how that plays out on the world stage, which is very important in these complex times.

 “Congrats to Louis – definitely someone to watch as he applies his skills to enhance our industry, and to Dan whose work inspiring the next generation of rural professionals is to be commended,” says McEwen.