What inspired you to pursue a career in this field?
I grew up on a sheep and beef farm in the Wairarapa region of New Zealand, about two hours north-east of Wellington. That upbringing sparked a passion for agriculture and a love for spending time in the country. After university, I joined the graduate programme at MG Marketing in New Zealand, a fruit and vegetable co-operative supplying supermarkets, wholesalers, and restaurants. Seeing another stage of the food cycle really interested me, and that curiosity is what led me into this field. There is so much to learn and share about where our food comes from, how we support those who produce it, and what the future of the industry looks like.
What was your journey like before joining our team—any surprising career twists or lessons learned?
The journey before joining the team has been an interesting one. While studying at the University of Otago, I took a semester break to work as a ski instructor in Niseko, Japan. After graduating, I worked for MG Marketing, helping supply produce to supermarkets, wholesalers, and restaurants. From there, I used my economics degree to move into business banking with the Bank of New Zealand. In the year before joining Agricultural Appointments, I had the chance to tick off a lifelong dream—working as a greenskeeper on a championship-level golf course, in Amsterdam no less.
What excites you most about your new role here?
What excites me most about this role is the opportunity to work closely with businesses and help them achieve their goals. I’ve found a lot of satisfaction in supporting businesses and watching them grow and develop. I’m also really excited to be working in an industry I’m passionate about, and to be part of all the new developments and opportunities happening in agriculture.
What’s something you’re passionate about outside of work that people might not expect?
The obvious answers are golf and skiing—I love sports and spending time in nature. But something people might not expect is that I do all the cooking in my household, and I really enjoy it. Growing up surrounded by different food sources—diving for fresh pāua (abalone) or crayfish, hunting, foraging, and of course working on the farm—gave me a deep respect for food and where it comes from. Then, while working in produce, I was lucky enough to come across ingredients I’d never even heard of, which really helped expand my cooking skills.
Do you have a favorite quote or motto that guides your work or life?
“Your future is whatever you make it. So make it a good one.” – Doc Brown (Part III)
A pretty iconic quote from a very iconic movie franchise. Also, I am a big believer in taking control of your actions, and that it is on you to ensure your future works out how you want it to.
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