Scholarship tipped to add value

Tom Skerman will be a Nuffield scholar next year.

Hawke's Bay Regional Council economic development manager Tom Skerman has been awarded a prestigious Nuffield Scholarship.

Mr Skerman is one of four new 2016 Nuffield scholars, joining more than 140 of New Zealand's emerging agricultural leaders to have been awarded the scholarships in the past 60 years.

During the year-long scholarship he plans to research the importance of governance for successful and resilient farming businesses.

What Tom will learn and bring back ... will offer huge benefits.

Liz Lambert, interim CEO

Council chairman Fenton Wilson said Mr Skerman had an intimate knowledge of farming and the Ruataniwha Scheme and what he learned during his scholarship year would provide another opportunity for the regional council to add value to farmers in the region.

Mr Skerman said he fully supported the Ruataniwha dam as an economic development project.

"Ruataniwha dam really presents a lot of change and it will mean a lot of interesting conversations around kitchen tables," he said.

Asked about the research he would be doing and how it would impact the dam, Mr Skerman said: "Good governance is an insurance to dealing with volatility.

"Things don't always go as planned so it's good to have good systems in place."

Mr Skerman said there were lots of job associated with the dam, immediately and "downstream" as well.

He will travel internationally for at least four months in his scholarship year, take part in a conference with 60 Nuffield scholars from around the world, as well as a six-week Global Focus Programme through several countries with other scholars.

The council's interim chief executive, Liz Lambert, said the honour was "a tremendous opportunity" for a key regional council employee.

"While he won't be on the ground here in Hawke's Bay for some of next year, we believe what Tom will learn and bring back to the council and the wider community will offer huge benefits," Mrs Lambert said.

The scholarship is one of the most respected and prestigious awards available in the primary sector.

It offers a special opportunity for overseas travel, study of the latest developments in a number of leading agricultural countries, and an introduction to leaders and decision-makers that would not be available to the ordinary traveller.