The Dairy Women’s Network (DWN) has opened nominations for the 2027 Fonterra Dairy Woman of the Year Award, an initiative aimed at recognising outstanding women contributing to New Zealand’s dairy industry. The award seeks to highlight individuals whose work strengthens farm businesses, supports rural communities, and advances leadership across the wider agricultural sector.
The initiative also provides a pathway for professional development through the associated Kellogg Rural Leadership Programme scholarship, helping recipients build the skills and industry connections required to take on greater leadership responsibilities.
The 2026 award recipient, Hinehou (Hine) Timutimu, highlighted the importance of the platform in supporting her professional growth and industry advocacy. Her Kellogg leadership research project, titled Not One More Acre of Māori Land, Not One More Voice Lost, examined the difference between women’s participation in agribusiness and their representation in formal executive and governance positions.
Her research highlighted that women play significant roles in farm-business management, community leadership, and environmental compliance. However, their contributions remain comparatively underrepresented in agricultural boardrooms and senior policy-making positions.
Addressing the Leadership Gap in Dairy Farming
Women’s contributions to the dairy industry extend well beyond traditional farm-management responsibilities. Across dairy businesses, women are actively involved in financial management, workforce development, animal welfare, biosecurity implementation, environmental management, and community engagement.
Despite these responsibilities, operational involvement does not always translate into formal leadership representation. The gap between the responsibilities women undertake and their participation in executive decision-making remains an important industry development challenge.
Dairy Women’s Network trustee and lead judge Jenna Smith noted that many influential women across the sector operate as quiet champions. These individuals manage complex dairy finances, introduce biosecurity systems, mentor farm employees, and contribute to local farming communities without necessarily seeking public recognition.
The Fonterra Dairy Woman of the Year Award aims to bring greater visibility to these contributions. By recognising women who are making meaningful differences within their businesses and communities, the initiative encourages broader participation in industry leadership and governance.
The associated Kellogg scholarship further supports this objective by providing opportunities for recipients to strengthen their leadership capabilities, undertake research, and develop a deeper understanding of the challenges affecting rural industries.
Fonterra’s Continued Support for Dairy Industry Development
Fonterra has supported the award since its establishment in 2012, reflecting the cooperative’s continued involvement in developing leadership opportunities across New Zealand’s dairy sector.
Over the years, the programme’s alumni have progressed into influential positions across dairy cooperative boards, regional councils, environmental committees, and industry advisory groups. Previous recipients include Barbara Kuriger, Justine Kidd, Trish Rankin, Ash-Leigh Campbell, Belinda Price, Donna Cram, and Jo Sheridan.
Their professional journeys demonstrate how leadership development initiatives can contribute to stronger industry representation and create opportunities for women to influence decisions affecting dairy farming and agricultural policy.
The programme also highlights the importance of connecting farm-level experience with wider industry governance. Women with practical knowledge of dairy operations can bring valuable perspectives to discussions involving farm profitability, sustainability, workforce management, and cooperative development.
Building a More Resilient Dairy Industry
The need for diverse leadership is becoming increasingly important as the global dairy industry navigates changing market conditions. International trade regulations, environmental targets, greenhouse gas emissions requirements, technological developments, and evolving workforce expectations are reshaping dairy production and business operations.
For New Zealand’s dairy sector, developing a strong pipeline of capable leaders will be essential to maintaining competitiveness and responding to these challenges.
Initiatives such as the Fonterra Dairy Woman of the Year Award provide an opportunity to identify emerging talent, recognise existing contributions, and encourage greater participation in strategic decision-making.
Beyond individual recognition, the programme represents a broader investment in the future of dairy farming. Supporting women in leadership positions can strengthen farm businesses, improve industry representation, and bring diverse perspectives to the development of agricultural policies and cooperative strategies.
As nominations open for the 2027 award, the initiative continues to reinforce the importance of recognising the people who contribute to the long-term development of New Zealand’s dairy industry.
