Gong delights women farmers pioneer

EXCITED: Lindy Nelson is made a member of the New Zealand Order of Merit.PHOTO/FILE

Lindy Nelson's contributions to agriculture and women have led her to become a member of the New Zealand Order of Merit.

The Alfredton-based woman said, when she first saw the letter carrying the stamp of Government House, she got excited because she thought she'd been invited to someone else's investiture.

"And so I was reading through it and it kind of didn't make sense, and then I thought, 'Oh, it actually says me'," she said.

Mrs Nelson is the founder and executive director of the Agri Women's Development Trust which develops the leadership, business and governance competencies of women in New Zealand agriculture.

"I think it changes people's perspective of women in our sector on not only what they can do but where they want to contribute and that's from grassroots farming, right up to our Agri Corporates," she said. "If agriculture is going to be successful in the future, it needs 100 per cent of its talent, and women are 50 per cent of that so they need the appropriate skills in order to contribute.

"We focus on the technical requirements to lead a business but we're also giving women the confidence and the know-how to apply those skills."

Mrs Nelson launched the AWDT in 2010, after three years of self-funded research, and spent up to 80 hours a week for the next two years as an unpaid executive creating the programmes, culture, and bringing strategic partners on board. The trust delivers development to more than 500 women per year and the impact of graduates is transforming the sector.

Many graduates have gone on to some of New Zealand's largest agricultural boards and industry organisations and have launched new businesses.

"There's this huge sense of pride to do something that is recognised by New Zealanders for the people of New Zealand," Mrs Nelson said.