Geoff is a reproductive biologist working primarily on productivity of farmed deer. He has been involved in deer research since 1980, starting his career at the Ruakura Animal Research Station and transferring to Invermay in 1993.

Geoff is currently the Project Leader for the Venison Supply Systems Programme (VSSP), a multi-year funded R&D partnership between AgResearch, Deer Industry New Zealand (DINZ) and Landcorp Farming Limited, that seeks to improve farm-gate productivity and profitability of venison production systems. He actively manages the relationship between AgResearch and the New Zealand deer farming industry.

Geoff has published more than 100 papers in peer-reviewed science journals. He was influential in establishing DEEResearch Ltd, a 50:50 joint venture between AgResearch and DINZ that oversees the investment of industry venison levies into industry-good research and technology transfer. He contributes widely to international science conferences, industry conferences and farmer field days. He is on the international steering committee of the International Deer Biology Symposia.

Geoffs research interests include: artificial breeding technologies; reproductive endocrinology; mitigation of reproductive wastage interaction between nutrition, fetal growth and lactation; control of antler growth; high-country deer farming systems; farmer knowledge adoption and practice change and ex situ management of endangered cervid species

Anna specialises in using commercially focused science to improve agricultural food products.  She has a PhD in Biotechnology and has worked in science roles in Australia and in New Zealand. In her desire to become more commercially focused she bought into growing Dunedin company, AbacusBio, eight years ago where she is now the Managing Director.

Anna believes increasing global demand for protein and the shift of trade from West to East will create unprecedented opportunities for New Zealand agriculturalists.  Those opportunities exist for our high-quality food exporters, but also for those who just know how to produce good food and can determine how to ‘productise that knowledge’.  So what can we do to get on the front foot and capture lasting value for New Zealand?

Prior to joining Landcorp in August 2013, Steven was General Manager of PGG Wrightson Seeds Australia from 2010.  Steven began at PGG Wrightson in 2008 as Group Manager of Business Development, serving also on the NZTE Beachheads Advisory Board.  From 2003 to 2008, he worked at McKinsey & Company, a global management consulting firm, in New York and Auckland advising companies throughout North America, Europe and Australia. Prior to that he was General Manager of New Zealand’s first internet retailing company, FlyingPig. His proudest accomplishment is the founding of the First Foundation in 1998, a program that helps talented but financially disadvantaged secondary school students successfully complete university through workplace scholarships. He is the author of “NZ Unleashed”, published by Random House in 2007. He holds an LLB and BA from Auckland University, and an MBA from Harvard Business School.

Dr Scott Champion has been the Chief Executive Officer for Beef and Lamb (formerly Meat & Wool) New Zealand since September 2008.

Before this role Dr Champion was the General Manager, Market Access and Services with Meat & Wool New Zealand and prior to that, he was the Research, Development and Product Innovation Manager with The New Zealand Merino Company Ltd in Christchurch.

Prior to this, Dr Champion was a lecturer in animal production and related subjects at the School of Agricultural Science, University of Tasmania and had a research group leadership role within the Tasmanian Institute of Agricultural Research.

Dr Champion holds a PhD from the University of New South Wales.  His thesis looked at sheep nutrition and its impact on wool growth.

Areas of research include Searching Bio active substances derived from natural products resources, especially developing anti-viral agents against HBV and antidote for poisonous amanita mushrooms (8 patents obtained). Constructing a database for tradiMED DB (traditional oriental medicines). Toxiology and safety of herbal drugs, regulatory aspects of traditional medicines

Rural Manager – Sustainable Farm Systems

Blake’s role is to provide the bank with research and analysis on the impact that impending environmental regulations will have on New Zealand’s agricultural sector in order to help the bank add value to clients by assisting them understand and plan for changing environmental regulations. Blake is based in Dunedin and has a strong affinity with farming, having grown up on a South Otago sheep and beef property. He recently completed an Otago University Masters in Business Administration (MBA). Prior to completing his MBA Blake practiced as an environmental and public lawyer.

Sue is a pioneering New Zealand business leader and an internationally award-winning executive having been recognized as New Zealand Young Executive of the Year, Southlander of the Year and the World Young Business Achiever award winner. Her career has taken her from running the family farm in Southland to the leadership of a Top 200 New Zealand organization where she is directly credited with leading a team and master minding growth strategies that increased revenues by over 200% in less than five years. Since retiring from her corporate career Sue has become one of this country’s most sought after business speakers, she is a Master Executive Coach and retained by leaders as a mentor and strategist. She is the co founder of Think Actual a research consultancy that is challenging the way organisation’s think about research and providing a depth or insight rarely seen that informs strategy and focuses leadership. Not only is Think Actual’s research at the cutting edge of insight Sue has worked alongside some of the world’s most highly regarded business thought leaders including Tom Peters, Dr. Lance Secretan and collaborated the GenY project in the US. Sue’s governance experience is also extensive, and she has been a member of the BNZ Growth Program Faculty for eight years. The owner of three businesses she really understands the day to day challenges of doing business and leadership in todays chaotic context.

Appointed to the Board in 2003 and became Managing Director in 2008.
Andy has more than 30 years experience in the Meat and By-Product industry, starting as a factory worker and progressing to Managing Director. Andy has many years experience in property development.
In 2006 Andy Lowe and other land owners embarked on a huge, ambitious project to restore Cape Kidnappers peninsula back to its former wildlife glory. Covering 2,500ha Cape Sanctuary has the most diverse range of native bird life on coastal mainland New Zealand

Alasdair  is Chair of the Port of Napier Limited, Silverstripe Ltd, Optimal Products Limited, and industry body Tomatoes New Zealand. He also Chairs the Hawke's Bay branch of Export NZ. He is a retired Partner of Deloitte NZ, with specialist skills in economic development, strategy facilitation and business growth. He is also an (accidental) avocado grower.

A former Civil Engineer, he completed his MBA over 20 years ago, and has worked in a diverse range of sectors within New Zealand and overseas. He is keenly interested in economic development generally, the primary sector in particular, and he is intrigued by the way in which the web is changing the world, particularly the fusion between social media and business.

When not at work, Alasdair enjoys travel, reading, swimming, cooking, and being out on his boat.

Karen Silk is General Manager, Westpac Corporate & Institutional Banking. She has been at Westpac New Zealand Ltd since November 2012. Prior to this she was Managing Director, Debt Capital Markets at Westpac Institutional Bank in Sydney.

Karen first joined Westpac New Zealand in 1987 as part of our graduate program. She has held various senior positions at Westpac and Banque Indosuez in New Zealand, leading businesses in both the institutional and middle market segments.

Karen led our Agribusiness team for almost four years, before moving to Sydney in 2007 when she was appointed to the role of Executive Director, Corporate Banking and Property in Westpac Institutional Bank Sydney.

Ben Veldkamp is the head game buyer for one of the largest food service distribution companies in the Netherlands.  Ben is responsible for securing supply of game products for the company Hanos, which supplies around 100,000 restaurants in the Netherlands and Belgium from their 16 distribution depots across both countries. 

Ben has been purchasing New Zealand venison for supply during the Dutch game season for many years, recognising its consistent quality and good flavour.  Ben recognised buyers' demands for superior consistency and supply integrity – and so New Zealand venison has become a larger part of his game season offering over the past few years.

At the same time Ben recognised that New Zealand venison has a wide variety of uses outside of the traditional game season presentations, but found increasing sales difficult due to the firm place venison has in Dutch seasonal cuisine.

In 2014 Ben visited New Zealand to learn more about deer farming, processing and the culinary uses of farm raised venison.  This visit convinced Ben that a new direction was possible for New Zealand venison to supply the Dutch demand for high quality summer grilling meat.  Ben has worked closely with First Light Foods, DINZ and Silver Fern Farms' customers to put together the 2015 Cervena Venison Summer promotion.  

We are delighted Ben can join us via video link during the Deer Industry Conference and look forward to hearing his views on prospects for summer venison.

Jamie has worked with AgResearch since 1996. From 1996 to 2003 he worked for GenomNZ at the lab bench and in customer service and management. In 2003 he moved to the Deer Systems team (now the Farm Systems - South team of the Innovative Farm Systems group), to apply his knowledge of New Zealand deer industry and genetics in a research setting.