Copeland comes to Young Farmers from Treasury Wine Estates, the second largest wine company globally, where he's been leading the export strategy and the supply chain team for four years.
Originally from Auckland, he now calls Christchurch home, and has experience in management, sales and marketing, supply chain management, tertiary teaching, journalism and as a brand ambassador. He's worked in Adelaide, Hong Kong and Tokyo.
NZYF says he has a strong connection to the rural community and his family has a farming background.
Copeland says his first move in the role will be to meet and engage with people within the broader NZYF family, and reach out to industry partners.
"This means getting around the countryside and soaking up the vast knowledge and experience and listen to what people think."
He says it will take some time for him to really understand the agriculture sector, where NZYF fits, and what it can do to improve the pathways for young people to seek agriculture as their first choice career direction.
His aim is to "inject a real passion for who NZYF is and nurture the staff to be creative and drive this organisation into being something all rural young people would naturally want to belong to."
He says he was drawn to the role because he saw an amazing opportunity to make a real difference to NZYF and he has a passion for mentoring young people.
"Plus this is something very real which will make an impact on society and the economy. It's vital that more young people commit to the agriculture industry, so that the country continues to grow and adds value to the whole population."
He has a bachelor degree in music from University of Auckland and a post graduate diploma in commerce and management from the New Zealand Institute of Corporate Managers, in association with Lincoln University. He is married with four children.
He replaces Richard Fitzgerald who is stepping down after twelve years as NZYF chief executive.
