Federated Farmers builds talent with new appointments

1 October 2013

Federated Farmers builds talent with new appointments

Federated Farmers policy resource is being built up by several new appointments including a new dedicated regional policy advisor to be based in its Invercargill office.

“Federated Farmers is serious about meeting the needs of our members and is investing is capability where it is needed,” says Conor English, Federated Farmers Chief Executive.

“We have excellent and well qualified staff and I am pleased to announce two new policy staff.

“Tanith Robb joins Federated Farmers from the Ministry for Primary Industries and will work at Federated Farmers’ Southland office as a Senior Policy Adviser. A born and bred Southlander, Tanith grew up on a sheep farm in Forest Hill and worked on her family’s farm until she moved to Wellington for university. Just recently, she undertook two courses organised by Massey and Lincoln Universities on ‘Farming, Environment, and Society’ and ‘Agriculture in New Zealand’. At the MPI, she was a Senior Analyst responsible for leading the review of the Animal Welfare Act 1999 and supporting the Animal Welfare Amendment Bill through Parliament. Prior to the MPI she was a Senior Advisor at the Ministry for Justice and before that worked at the Ministry of Health.

“Sarah Crofoot joins Federated Farmers to boost our policy and environmental service to our meat and fibre members. Born in the United States and the daughter of current board member Anders Crofoot, Sarah moved with her family to Castlepoint Station in the Wairarapa in 1998. Sarah holds B AgriCommerce from Massey University with First Class Honours. Her research was a comparative study of business models in the New Zealand and United States’ red meat industries. Sarah was also a visiting scholar at the University of Missouri in 2012 and has twice competed in the International Food and Agribusiness Management case study competition in Shanghai (China) and Atlanta (USA).

“We also wish all the best to Taranaki Regional Policy Advisor, Kelly Martyn, as she takes up maternity leave.

“Yet we are very fortunate to secure Dr Lisa Harper as maternity cover for Kelly. Dr Harper was recently featured in Sunday magazine and recently moved to Taranaki from Marlborough. With a background in agriculture, science and business, she is a passionate advocate for rural New Zealand. In 2011, Lisa was New Zealand’s Rural Woman of the Year and has undertaken a Nuffield Scholarship looking at growing agricultural businesses in New Zealand. Dr Harper holds a Masters degree in Business Management and her PhD is in plant pathology.

“These appointments underscore the strong intellectual basis underpinning the Federation’s policy advice. It also shows our members how their hard earned subscriptions are invested to ensure they have timely and expert advice to ensure profitable and sustainable farming,” Mr English concluded.

ENDS

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