Blake joined the bank in 2013 as a Rural Manager focusing on Sustainable Farm Systems.
In this role he has provided the bank with research and analysis on the impact that impeding environmental regulations will have on New Zealand’s agricultural sector, and assisted clients to understand and plan for the changes that will be entailed.

Blake grew up on a sheep and beef property in South Otago, which he now farms in partnership with his parents. He practised as an environmental and public lawyer before studying an MBA at Otago University in 2012.

Dave Morgan, Executive chairman of the New Zealand Deer Farmers Association.

David is passionate about his elk herd and breeding a good, solid meaty animal with high growth that will suit his operation as a terminal sire. This passion extends to his trophy stags which also make up part of the stag's breeding operation.

Succession planning looms large in David’s thinking. His son Brychan is directly involved and is cutting his teeth looking after the machinery and running a contracting business as part of the enterprise. "Succession is about more than just numbers. You have to take a holistic view."

 "It all comes down to what you get paid at the end of the day; how much you can do per hectare. You can be brilliant on the farm but at the end of the day if the market doesn't want what you are producing you aren't going to make money."  "You must be passionate about what you do and believe in your product. If you don't you are not going to be successful."

Craig Rispin is a Business Futurist and Innovation Expert 

Craig's expertise is in emerging business, people and technology trends – and how companies can profit from them.

Craig has over 20 years experience working where the future has been created – with some of the most innovative companies in the world in the IT, consumer electronics, internet and broadcasting industries.

He is an award-winning speaker and has addressed audiences as large as 16,000 people on 5 continents and has consulted with CEOs of leading companies worldwide.

Some of his clients include: BHP Billiton, Canon, Colonial First State, IBM, Kimberly-Clark, King & Wood Mallesons, NRMA, Sportscraft, Symantec, Toyota, Young Presidents’ Organization (YPO) and hundreds of professional industry associations.

An award-winning keynote speaker and CEO mentor, Craig shows his clients how to

Know First, Be First and Profit First

Nick Taylor is the new DINZ venison marketing manager. He replaces Marianne Wilson who is now food category manager at Z Energy.
 
A Cantabrian, Taylor studied marketing and Chinese at Canterbury University, holds a Masters in Marketing and is a member of the Asia New Zealand Young Leaders network. 

His marketing roles have been in the education sector, with the Wool Industry Network and in most recently, in membership organisations. He is well versed in the use of social media – skills he will now employ in his work with DINZ. This includes the redevelopment of the Cervena website for the USA and European markets as well as the development of social media strategies for both New Zealand and overseas markets.
 
Taylor is familiar with venison in the paddock, as well as in the pan. A family member has a deer farm that he frequently visits and he’s a keen home cook. “I’m looking forward to working alongside Graham Brown and picking up some tips I can use at home.”