Prestigious, International Agri Conference grows from NZ BBQ

Prestigious, International Agri Conference grows from NZ BBQ

• PPP celebrates 10 years with announcement of inaugural agri award winner

This week, agricultural networking fraternity, the Platinum Primary Producers (PPP) Group, will head to Darwin, Northern Australia, to celebrate its 10th anniversary conference – and announce the winner of a new agri award.

Founded in New Zealand by head of Allflex Australasia and Wairarapa farmer, Shane McManaway, the Group started with a handful of producers at an informal BBQ in 2005. It now comprises over 130 of Australasia’s most influential agri-businessmen and women.

The collective, which seeks to share experiences and knowledge from both sides of the Tasman, represents around 20 million livestock units and some 12 million hectares (around 25%) of land ownership across Australia and New Zealand.

Shane McManaway, PPP Chairman, comments: “This is a phenomenal gathering of Australasia’s finest and most innovative primary producers. We meet annually at conference to discuss the tough issues of the day and draw on each other’s expertise to map out industry solutions.

“This year we will hear from a series of keynote speakers including Australia’s Northern Territory Deputy Chief Minister – and we will share video messages from Prime Minister John Key and the Hon Nathan Guy, Minister of Primary Industries.”

McManaway adds that the Group’s 10th anniversary is marked by the announcement of the inaugural winner of a new trans-Tasman agri award – The Zanda McDonald Award.

The award was devised by the Group to encourage the industry’s future leaders to step forward – and to honour Zanda McDonald, the late Queensland cattle baron and founding PPP member who died after a farm accident in 2013.

Athol New, Farm Manager at Purata’s (formerly Synlait) Dunsandel Dairies near Christchurch and Luke Wright, formerly Farm Manager at Landcorp’s Stuart Farm in Te Anau (but recently relocated to Canada), will compete alongside Queensland Beef Extension Officer, Emma Hegarty, in the final stage of judging on Tuesday 23rd June.

The prize package includes an expenses paid, tailored mentoring package whereby the winner will spend time with those PPP individuals best placed to help them further their career, a place on the 2016 Rabobank Farm Manager’s Programme (worth $7,000) and $1,000 cash.

The 2015 PPP Conference runs from Sunday 21st June to late on Tuesday 23rd . The winner will be announced after 9:30pm on Tuesday 23rd June

ENDS

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