"The more CEOs we have who are women the better. Diversity is extremely important," said Lynda.
"If the primary industries is to meet its growth targets, it needs to do everything it can to connect with young women."
"I'm hoping my appointment and having Ash-Leigh chairing our board will send a positive signal to women about our sector," she said.
Lynda has spent the past six years in management positions at MYOB.
Prior to that she worked for DairyNZ, was a business development manager for the Livestock Improvement Corporation (LIC) and an area manager for Fonterra in Timaru.
Listen to The Country's Rowena Duncum's interview with Lynda Coppersmith in the audio below:
"Lynda has great relationship building skills, excellent business acumen and experience dealing with grass roots farmer issues," said NZ Young Farmers Board chair Ash-Leigh Campbell.
"That will stand her in good stead working with our membership base and the organisation's other key stakeholders."
Lynda is married with two teenage children. Her daughter Sophie is excited about the new job.
"She goes to Christchurch Girls' High School and has friends who are in the school's TeenAg club which is run by NZ Young Farmers," she said.
Outside of work, Lynda loves to travel and study.
"We've spent a bit of time travelling through Southeast Asia and we've lived in Australia," she said.
Lynda is completing a Master of Business Administration through the University of Canterbury.
Her first day at NZ Young Farmers will be October 1st.
NZ Young Farmers has a network of almost 80 clubs, runs the iconic FMG Young Farmer of the Year contest and works in schools to get students excited about career opportunities in the primary industries.
