Synlaits Dr John Penno and Masseys Professor Jacqueline Rowarth sweep Federated Farmers awards

Proudly sponsored by gen-I, Synlait’s Dr. John Penno has been named Federated Farmers first Agribusiness Person of the Year with Professor Jacqueline Rowarth, of Massey University, Federated Farmers Agricultural Personality of the Year.

“Our first winner, Dr. John Penno, is Chief Executive Officer of the privately held milk exporter Synlait. He deserves the award for showing the utmost confidence in the future of the New Zealand Dairy Industry, having opened an $80 million dollar facility earlier this year,” said Don Nicolson, President of Federated Farmers.

“Six excellent finalists were up for the first Federated Farmers Agribusiness Person of the Year Award. The finalists were judged by an independent panel comprising Auckland Mayor, the Hon John Banks, Sir Colin Meads, Annah Stretton and David Walker. All judges were highly impressed with the outstanding commercial contribution the six finalists have all made.

“Dr Penno has been described as a ‘milk maverick’ but is Federated Farmers kind of maverick. Synlait’s business model is revolutionary as it controls supply from the grass right through to finished product.

“Just as impressive is Professor Jacqueline Rowarth, Federated Farmers first Agricultural Personality of the Year. If you could bottle intellect, passion, dedication and charm, Massey University’s Professor Rowarth has it all and much more beside.

“As Director of Agriculture, Professor Rowarth is an inspiration to students and to farmers. Quite simply put, she ought to be on television with her upbeat and positive conviction that agriculture is an overwhelming force for good,” Mr Nicolson concluded.

2009 Federated Farmers Agribusiness Person of the Year

Dr John Penno gained his BSc in Agriculture at Lincoln University and continued his studies at Massey University, achieving his PhD in Animal Science. He commenced his working career in the dairy industry as a consulting officer before joining Dexcel. Dr Penno was General Manager of the NZ National Dairy Industry Extension Program before becoming a founding shareholder of Synlait. He has been Chief Executive since 2000. This award recognises John’s demonstrated leadership and the innovative business model Synlait has adopted as a cow to customer producer, his challenging of the status quo and contributing toward New Zealand’s growth. While currently a small scale player when compared to Fonterra, Synlait is an increasingly significant player in global export terms.

2009 Federated Farmers Agricultural Personality of the Year

Professor Jacqueline Rowarth obtained an Agricultural Science degree with first class honours in Agronomy and a PhD in Soil Science from Massey University. Professor Rowarth worked with AgResearch for six years and then taught Plant Science at Lincoln University for six years. She is now Director of Agriculture at Massey University. Professor Rowarth is an active scientist, with a strong commitment to promoting awareness of science and the importance of research to schools, interest groups and society in general. She received the Zonta Award for excellence in science in 1994, a New Zealand Science and Technology Medal in 1997 and in 2001, was elected as a Companion of the Royal Society of NZ. In 2003, she was elected as an Honorary Fellow of the New Zealand Institute of Agricultural Science. Her Majesty, the Queen, recognised Jacqueline’s contribution to agriculture in 2008 by awarding her the New Zealand Order of Merit

Other finalists for Agribusiness Person of the Year were:

Tom Henderson is to water storage what Burt Munro was to the Indian motorcycle. In the best traditions of the Kiwi do-it-ourself approach, Tom is a visionary who along with others took affirmative action on water back in 1981. He championed the highly successful Opuha Dam that opened in 1998. Last year this project, which happens to have an economic payback of some 8:1, was also recognised by Environment Canterbury winning its 2008 Supreme Canterbury Resource Management award.

Jeremy Moon is Managing Director of that lesson in wool marketing, Icebreaker. Established in 1995, Icebreaker uses pure New Zealand Merino wool and is New Zealand’s largest adventure-wear exporter. Never one to stand still, in March this year, Icebreaker introduced the innovative Baacode on their garments, where purchasers can go online and be told the story of their garments journey through the supply chain.

Craig Norgate is Chairman of the Christchurch based listed rural giant, PGG Wrightson. As the driving force behind the abortive $220 million merger with Silver Fern Farms, Mr Norgate remains as both an innovator and a force in New Zealand agriculture.

Sam Robinson is another well known agribusiness person from Hawke’s Bay and is Chairperson of AgResearch. Research and education are vital if we are to remain at the forefront of global agriculture. Sam took the lead this year in seeking to shake up the Crown research and university sectors. Such a shake-up is needed and while it did not conclude as planned, the concept remains alive.

Ben Russell is the Wellington-based General Manager of Rural NZ for Rabobank. He is nominated for reducing interest rates by 1.5 percent in line with the OCR, ensuring a much lower rate was passed on to Rabobank’s farm business customers.