The new breed of agribusiness captains
ROBYN CLEMENTS
A founder, past chairwoman and trustee of the Dairy Women’s Network, Robyn Clements has had a lifelong interest in farming. ‘‘I believe agribusiness provides opportunities for individuals in the NZ primary sector industries to develop their own expertise, feed an expanding global population and provide a sound economic contribution to New Zealand now and into the future,’’ she says. ‘‘It’s a fastchanging, dynamic and innovative business that keeps extending you.’’
Ms Clements has had leadership positions that include working with Fonterra as a shareholder councillor, and member of its joint board and council committees. She is a Kellogg scholar through Lincoln University and has been chairwoman of community organisations. She is now on the Primary Industry Training Organisation board, in addition to agribusiness interests in Waikato, and Basketball New Zealand’s board. She lives on a Waikato farm with her husband. Ms Clements credits her parents as early role models and mentors. More recently, she has been inspired by the young women emerging as primary sector leaders. Ms Clements says the best piece of advice she ever received was: ‘‘It is OK to make a mistake if you learn from it — then it’s a lesson.’’
MAVIS MULLINS
Mavis Mullins was raised in Dannevirke on the family farm, where she still lives. Her CV is impressive. As well as working for her family business, Mullins Paewai Shearing, she was the Golden Shears’ first — and so far, only — female president.
She has had governance roles at Landcorp, 2degrees Mobile, health boards, the Massey University Council, Aohanga Incorporation, Atihau Whanganui Incorporation, Maori business development trust Poutama and Taratahi Agricultural Training Centre, to name a few.
Despite her extensive track record, Mrs Mullins laughs when asked about her leadership roles.
‘‘I started a governance career not by design but by accident,’’ she says. ‘‘But it’s been a great journey with some great people — it all comes down to people.’’ Mrs Mullins says she is lucky to have had many amazing role models, starting with her parents, who made her aware of the power of a great team.
In making decisions, she lives by a single motto.
‘‘You have to think with your head, feel with your heart but you always have to trust your puku, your gut,’’ she says. ‘‘You have to have all three things working for you to be right — no matter what it is.’’
LINDY NELSON
A sheep and beef farmer of 30 years, Lindy Nelson is heavily involved in promoting agribusiness to women. As a young bride, struggling to fit in and figure out the business, she says there was a lack of support. After years in business and in the community, she decided to do something about this. ‘‘I did some formal research and came up with solutions and wanted to hand it over to someone to take forward,’’ Mrs Nelson says. ‘‘But they didn’t see what I was seeing so I realised I had to create an organisation. It wasn’t a path I intended but it’s been incredible.’’ Mrs Nelson founded the AgriWomen’s Development Trust in 2010. It operates programmes aimed at providing education, business leadership and governance skills for women, as well as a supportive community. One of the most important things she has learned is about personal power. ‘‘Often women are held back because they don’t think they have positional power, but every one of us has it. That’s about influence and how we use it and how we create relationships.’’
FIONA GOWER
President of Rural Women New Zealand, Fiona Gower does not consider herself an industry leader, despite heading one of the sector’s largest organisations. ‘‘Rural women, we never look at ourselves as amazing leaders, we just get on and do things.’’ Raised on a farm in Rangitaiki, Mrs Gower worked in the woolsheds and service industry before managing rural retail stores. She then moved into community support and began her journey into leadership roles.
She says this would not have been possible without the amazing organisations put in place for rural women. ‘‘From branch president through to where I am now as national president [of RWNZ], that support from these organisations to get me where I am has been incredible,’’ she says. ‘‘It’s a sisterhood.’’
Mrs Gower represents RWNZ on other organisations including the LandCare Trust Board, police and Rural Stakeholders Partnership Group, Scotlands Te Kiteroa Trust and Rural Communities Trust, as well as community groups. She says agribusiness has incredible potential for women. ‘‘We need to keep encouraging younger generations and younger girls to see there is a real future – and it’s an amazing one.’’
TRACI HOUPAPA
Raised on a King Country sheep and beef farm, Traci Houpapa says that is where she is happiest, although a typical day usually involves juggling her many leadership roles.
Ms Houpapa sits on 11 boards of corporations, councils, authorities and foundations. That includes chairing Landcorp Farming, the Federation of Maori Authorities and the National Advisory Council for the Employment of Women.
She says her leadership career grew organically and is one she loves — although she has to get up at 3am every day to fit everything in.
She is regularly asked to add to her portfolio with other appointments, but is very considered in her decisionmaking. ‘‘I only accept appointments that will add to the forward movement of our country,’’ she says.
‘‘I’m big on supporting the role of women in terms of building, growing and leading in primary industry. It’s about normalising the role of women in leadership positions.’’
Ms Houpapa subscribes to the view that ordinary people doing ordinary things can achieve the extraordinary when motivated by a higher order or power. She describes her leadership style as firm, fair, inclusive and considered.