Leading food and fibres sector funder AGMARDT is inviting applications for an Associate Board Member to join the Board of Trustees.
AGMARDT (Agricultural and Marketing Research and Development Trust) is an independent, not-for-profit charitable trust with more than 30 years’ experience funding and fostering innovation, research and leadership capability in Aotearoa New Zealand’s food and fibres sector.
“Agribusiness is pivotal to New Zealand’s economic and environmental wellbeing,” says AGMARDT Chairman Richard Green.
“The future success of our food and fibres sector relies on building strong leadership, management and governance capabilities now,” says Richard.
“At AGMARDT, as future shapers with an eye on the big trends that will influence our sector, we are focused on supporting the next generation of leaders to succeed and help accelerate positive change.
“The Associate Board Member position, a rare opportunity in agribusiness for talented individuals and emerging leaders to experience and observe governance first-hand in an innovative agribusiness environment.
“We’re inviting emerging leaders and talented individuals to apply for this position.”
The Associate Board Member position is for an 18-month term. The Associate gets to attend regular Board meetings and participate fully in discussions and develop their own Governance Development programme in conjunction with the Board.
“The position provides a direct pathway to governance roles. We hope that once the Associate has completed their term, they should be able to hit the ground running in whatever future governance role they choose to take on.”
For Taranaki dairy farmer Liam O’Sullivan, who completed his term as Associate Trustee on 30 September 2020, the role has provided invaluable learning and opened new doors.
“Nothing beats an active role for accelerating development and this role has definitely provided that for me,” says Liam, who has a background in agri-banking, a BA in Agriculture, Post Graduate Diploma in Rural Studies and is a graduate of the Fonterra Governance Development Programme.
“The support of the other Trustees has significantly enhanced the value I have taken from the interactions around the board table. And a real highlight has been the exposure to innovation, people development and in-market connections that AGMARDT supports.”
The role also gave Liam the opportunity to attend the International Horticultural Immersion Programme in Europe, a two-week executive education immersion programme with a whole-of-value chain focus, incorporating themes of collaborative innovation and capacity building.
“The trip gave me an appreciation for the great natural advantages we have in New Zealand as food producers, our need to continue to be better than the rest of the world in terms of our quality assurance and food safety, and to focus on value add pathways for products.
“The full supply chains across the agriculture and horticultural sectors is where I see my future contributions in governance.”
The AGMARDT Associate Board Member online application form is available at https://applications.agmardt.org.nz/
Applications close on Monday 8 March.
Contacts:
Richard Green, Chairman
Malcolm Nitschke, General Manager
06 323 8766