AGMARDT is excited to announce the appointment of Lisa Portas as its next Associate Trustee.
Lisa Portas has over a decade of experience working in agriculture, rural businesses, and supply chains in New Zealand and internationally. She is a Kellogg graduate and 2025 Nuffield Scholar whose research focuses on global agricultural value-chain models, exploring how greater transparency, trust, and alignment between producers and markets can improve long-term outcomes for farmers.
Lisa’s agribusiness background includes adding value to wool production, exporting, branding, and farm diversification into honey and agritourism. She and her husband Kurt were the Palliser Ridge executive team until June 2025.
Lisa says she is excited to be appointed as AGMARDT Associate Trustee and is looking forward to supporting the primary sector as AGMARDT implements its new strategy and continues its shift towards strategic partnerships and collaboration.
“A lot of people in the sector look to AGMARDT for supporting new initiatives and technology. I’ve been lucky to have some funding from AGMARDT in the past, and I’m interested to learn how these decisions are made and how AGMARDT uses all its resources, especially with a new strategy to execute. This is a pivotal time for the sector, with more limited funding options, and I’m keen to help ensure AGMARDT grants and food and fibre investments effectively support different parts of the primary industry.”
After spending time abroad conducting Nuffield research in 2025, Lisa hopes to bring international insights to the Board of Trustees, along with her “on the ground” perspective in the fibre and agritourism sectors. “I’m looking forward to contributing to Trustee discussions, while developing governance skills on the job. It’s a great chance to learn from an established organisation that touches all of the primary sector.”
AGMARDT Chair Nick Pyke says Lisa demonstrates strong strategic thinking and valuable understanding of both producer and market perspectives. “We are looking forward to supporting Lisa on her leadership and governance journey. The AGMARDT Board of Trustees will also benefit from Lisa’s regional governance experience, her cross-sector collaboration, her on-farm environmental excellence, and leadership in value chain innovation.”
Lisa is also a member of the Wairarapa Economic Development Strategy Steering Group, sits on the Destination Wairarapa RTO Board, and is regional co-ordinator for the Greater Wellington Ballance Farm Environment Awards. She is involved in commercial initiatives within the wool sector and is part of the Future of Fibre Aotearoa Governance Group.
AGMARDT created one of the early Associate roles for aspiring Directors in the food and fibre sector, providing emerging agribusiness leaders with the opportunity to gain governance experience.
In June 2024, AGMARDT farewelled Phil Weir, the previous Associate Trustee. Phil became a farmer-elected director at Beef + Lamb New Zealand during his 18-month term with AGMARDT.
“I see the AGMARDT mindset as being one of challenging norms, striving for continuous improvement, and driving change. This ethos is something I will carry forward in my own mahi,” said Phil Weir