Growth Drives Dairy Companies to Step up Joint Activities

Growth Drives Dairy Companies to Step up Joint Activities

The growing complexity of producing dairy products for global markets is leading the Dairy Companies Association of New Zealand (DCANZ) to step up its activities and appoint its first full time Executive Director.

Kimberly Crewther will take on the role from 2015, when she moves into the full-time role. She currently works part-time as its Executive Director, through a secondment arrangement with industry body DairyNZ where she is General Manager of Policy and Advocacy.

DCANZ Chairman Malcolm Bailey says the change is in response to an expansion in membership for the 11-year old organisation, and the growing importance of companies working together in areas of common interest.

"Over the last 18 months DCANZ has taken on four new members - Dairy Goat Co-operative, Gardians (now Danone-Nutricia), Oceania Dairy, and most recently Yashili. We now represent companies accounting for more than 98 percent of the milk processed in New Zealand and the vast majority of dairy exports," he says.

"Growing global demand for high quality, sustainably-produced dairy products means significant opportunities for dairy exporters. At the same time dairy trade remains highly complex with policy having a significant impact on companies. The association needs to step up a gear and put in more resources so we can play a significant role in supporting New Zealand to realise its dairy export potential."

Bailey says the past 12 months has been an exceptionally busy one for dairy companies. "We've had such a lot of work to do including input into draft infant formula regulations, Trans Pacific Partnership trade negotiations, and well as those with Korea, Taiwan and India. There have also been Government and Industry Agreements for biosecurity to discuss and the Animal Welfare Act Amendment Bill. DCANZ is also a partner to the Strategy for Sustainable Dairy Farming and the Sustainable Dairying: Water Accord. A full time Executive Director will ensure we can respond to all these myriad of policy discussions that are increasingly relevant to dairy companies."

DairyNZ Chief Executive, Tim Mackle, has congratulated Kimberly on her appointment. He says that while the move leaves a gap for DairyNZ to fill, the boost to a full-time resource for DCANZ will benefit the dairy industry.
"Kimberly is not going far and DairyNZ and DCANZ will continue to work closely together."

Mr Mackle says there will be a smooth transition to the new arrangements. "I will start a search for Kimberly's replacement this week and she will continue with the current arrangements until the New Year."

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