Top ag scientist to advise PM
A highly experienced agricultural scientist with specialist knowledge of the dairy sector is the Prime Minister's new Chief Science Advisor.
The Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI), AGMARDT (The Agricultural and Marketing Research and Development Trust) and Te Hono Movement launched the new scholarship programme – the Emerging Primary Industries Leaders Scholarship.
The scholarship recipient will attend the 2016 Te Hono Movement Stanford Bootcamp in Palo Alto, California.
MPI director-general, Martyn Dunne, says the purpose of the scholarship is to recognise the nominee who demonstrates the best potential to make a difference as a senior leader in the primary industries.
"Increasing consumer expectations, an emphasis on sustainability, new technologies, and an increasingly complex global supply chain are just some of the elements that are redefining the requirements of the primary industries. To excel, the primary industries need strong and innovative leaders," he says.
The Te Hono Movement was launched in 2011 and is the brainchild of The New Zealand Merino Company's chief executive John Brakenridge.
Te Hono Movement's vision is to accelerate the transformation of the primary sector from price taking to market shaping and to drive action to increase the prosperity of New Zealand.
The group comprises diverse alumni of more than 130 chief executives and leaders, representing 80% of the New Zealand primary sector.
John Brakenridge says the Te Hono Movement started with the premise that there is significant potential to unlock the value of the country's primary sector.
"Unlocking this potential requires thinking and doing things differently. The Stanford Bootcamp offers leaders the chance to learn the process of and apply design thinking to their business and seek opportunities for collaboration."
"New Zealand already has an excellent reputation for exporting high-quality foods and fibres. What's often missing is a deep appreciation of how to appeal to end users in a way that creates value. We need to be world leaders in what we produce, but even more importantly in how we sell it. Te Hono Movement has been established to bridge this gap," he says.
AGMARDT General Manager Malcolm Nitschke says the scholarship recipient will engage with current industry leaders and contribute to discussions about the future of the primary industries.
"It's a unique opportunity to think about and guide the future direction of the primary industries. The experience goes far beyond attending the Te Hono Movement Stanford Bootcamp, it means tapping into wider leadership initiatives within the sector," he says.
Nominations for the scholarship close on 16 May 2016.
