Nominations for Dairy Women of the Year open

2017 Fonterra Dairy Woman of the Year Award winner Jessie Chan-Dorman.

Dairy Women's Network is putting the call out for the next inspiring industry leader after nominations for the 2018 Fonterra Dairy Woman of the Year Award opened yesterday.

This is the seventh year for the prestigious award which celebrates the outstanding leadership of women in the business of dairy.

Dairy Women's Network chairwoman Cathy Brown says the network has a proud history of celebrating the success of women and leadership in the dairy industry.

"The role of women in this industry is unique and unparalleled. Often these women are driven by their own perceptions of success and don't realise what they're doing is exceptional. These awards are about celebrating that success and giving others in the industry something to aspire to."

Ms Brown says 2018's winner, who will be announced at the network's conference in March, will be someone who is passionate about the industry, leads by example, and makes contributions at a leadership or governance level.

Jessie Chan-Dorman won the title in 2017 for her wide-ranging contributions to dairy at governance level. She is a Fonterra shareholders councillor, director of the Ashburton Trading Society and a member of the Institute of Directors and New Zealand Asian Leaders.

The 2018 Dairy Woman of the Year will be in good company with the five other previous winners: Rebecca Keoghan, Katie Milne, Charmaine O'Shea, Justine Kidd and Barbara Kuriger.

Mrs Keoghan is business manager at Landcorp Farming, Ms Milne is the first female president of Federated Farmers, Ms O'Shea is chairwoman of the Agri-Women's Development Trust, Ms Kidd is CEO Agribusiness for Milk New Zealand and Mrs Kuriger is currently a National MP for Taranaki-King Country.

Dairy Woman of the Year has been sponsored by Fonterra since it began, with awardees receiving a scholarship prize of up to $20,000 to undertake a professional/business development programme.

Fonterra's NZ Industry Affairs general manager Jo Finer says no other award in New Zealand recognises and encourages specifically the capability and success of women in the dairy industry.

"As an organisation we are 100 per cent behind initiatives like this that celebrate high performers in the dairy industry. Each year we see incredibly high calibre nominations come in for Fonterra Dairy Woman of the Year and I know we will find another outstanding woman for the award in 2018."

Three finalists for the awards will be selected by a judging panel comprising representatives from Dairy Women's Network, Fonterra, Global Women, Ballance Agri-Nutrients and a previous winner.

The 2018 Fonterra Dairy Woman of the Year award will also mark 20 years since Dairy Women's Network was established.

"The network started primarily as a way for women in dairy to connect with each other," says Ms Brown.

"Now, our purpose has evolved to match the needs of our members, and more than ever before we are providing development opportunities to dairy women who are getting involved in the business side of farming.

"Our core driver is to give women working in the dairy industry unlimited opportunities. As the business of dairy becomes increasingly complex, our members are gaining valuable education and experiences in the sector - and as that experience is built on, that's when we see those women being nominated for Dairy Woman of the Year."

She also says anyone can nominate a Dairy Women's Network member for the award. "You don't have to be a member yourself to nominate one for Fonterra Dairy Woman of the Year. Nominations are made online, and are welcome and encouraged from anyone - a neighbour, colleague, friend - it doesn't matter."

* Visit dwn.co.nz/dwoty to find out more about the awards or to make a nomination. Nominations close February 9, 2018.