Black Heels and Tractor Wheels - Presented by Rural Women New Zealand

Today on the Black Heels and Tractor Wheels Podcast we have a great chat with Greer Paterson ✨

Greer lives on the Chatham Islands and provides us with an outlook of how truly unique and different Island life is. She talks us through the first moment she landed on the Chatham Islands, having never heard of it, or been there before she arrived. Her original plans changed and 6 years in, she is still on the Island 🏝

Greer really opens our eyes to how remote life is on the Island. We discuss some examples of seemingly ordinary activities like grocery shopping and planning for a birth take on a whole new meaning. We usually speak about rural and remote living, but this is really next level 🙌

Greer is so candid with her personal story and thoughtfully gives her perspective on how to overcome challenges and to develop a resilient mindset 🩷 

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We have a chat with Sandra Matthews, Chair of RWNZ and local community legend. We yarn about engendering volunteering from a young age, developing identity as a woman coming onto a farm from outside, depression and anxiety, and also leadership pathways. 

Sandra delivers some stellar advice on governance, leading yourself and leading others. Thank you so much Sandra for being so candid and open with us!

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We speak to Mel Bennett, a progressive leader in New Zealand's horticulture industry ✨

Mel has come a long way- From accidental beginnings in the avocado sector 🥑 to pivoting into kiwifruit🥝, and now embarking on her new journey as a mum. 

We discuss the importance of both backing yourself as well as getting super support in a new journey, building strong relationships, grabbing opportunities with both hands and when you bite off more than you can chew- you gotta chew like hell! 🙌

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Joining us on the Podcast is Nadine Tunley, CEO of Horticulture New Zealand. 

Nadine has always had a very strong connection with the food and fibre sector, having grown up in rural New Zealand. Prior to Hort NZ, Nadine was primarily in the apple and pear industry and Mānuka honey. 

Nadine candidly talks to Emma and Claire about surrounding yourself with great people, resilience and grit, and the importance of being bold and owning your mistakes. 

This was a great chat full of golden nuggets for anyone out there who may need an extra push to go out and make that next step.  

You can listen here: https://lnkd.in/gYz4hfXD

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Thank you so much for joining us Nadine!

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Today on the Black Heels and Tractor Wheels podcast, we have Kate Scott of Landpro joining us for a chat. 

Kate is Landpro’s Executive Director, a 2018 Nuffield Scholar and 2023 recipient of the Rabobank Emerging Leader award. Landpro is an environmental consultancy business, working with farmers and growers to help them navigate hurdles and challenges in the environmental space. 

Kate grew up on a dairy farm in Taranaki and packed up her life, along with her husband, to go and milk cows in central Otago. When Kate was 26, she jointly established Landpro which has now steadily grown to a team of about 75 people.

Kate chats about what makes a good leader, how Landpro cultivates such a great culture within their growing team, the importance of trying (and failing), and the advice she would give to 20-year-old Kate. 

Thank you so much for joining us Kate!

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Hayley Gourley joins us on the Black Heels and Tractor Wheels Podcast this week!

Hayley hails from a dairy farm on the West Coast, and has had roles in Skellerup, Pāmu, Rabobank and Environment Canterbury to name a few.  

Hayley has spent her career in the food and agribusiness sector, and is extremely passionate about all things Agri. 

Hayley talks to us about selling yourself, acknowledging your weaknesses, being calm under pressure, and the changing face of the sector. 

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Thank you so much for joining us Hayley! 

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Next up on the Black Heels and Tractor Wheels Podcast, we have Jen Scoular. Jen is an avocado grower, Board Chair of House of Science NZ, Board Member of International Fresh Produce Association AU & NZ and immediate past CEO NZ Avocado.

After 12 years at the helm of NZ Avocado, Jen stepped down earlier this year. After such an exciting career journey, we are very excited to see where Jen's path takes her next! 

We really enjoyed Jen's openness and enthusiastic personality, something that she is very passionate about bringing into her workplace culture. 

Jen speaks to us about her unconventional path throughout her career, her love for the horticulture industry, getting out of your comfort zone and being vulnerable, and cheering for people when they try (and fail).

Thank you so much to Jen for taking the time out of her busy schedule to chat to us! 

Listen here: https://linktr.ee/ruralwomennz

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Lynley and her husband Matt own Spring Valley farm in Kaituna Valley, in the Wairarapa. The business has won several agricultural awards, including Wairarapa Hill Country Farm Business of the Year, Greater Wellington Balance Farm Environment Awards, Wairarapa Gate to Plate, the NZ Golden Lamb Awards and the Allflex NZ Sheep Industry Award for Innovation.

While raising their two sons, now both teenagers, Lynley owned and operated a hairdressing salon for 11 years before Spring Valley became her focus while in a rapid growth phase. 

Lynley co-founded Wairarapa Rural Women Incorporated, a rural business discussion group set up to strengthen agri-business by bringing together women who are fundamental partners in their rural businesses. Lynley is also a Zanda McDonald judge, something that she is extremely passionate about. 

One of her favourite achievements is providing a platform for agri-women to learn, teach, share ideas and foster leadership, self confidence and friendship.

Lynley speaks to us about fostering the younger generation into becoming confident leaders, the importance of a cohesive partnership and what it means to be a good leader. 

Thank you so much to Lynley for taking the time out of her busy schedule to chat to us! 

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Bridgit Hawkins has an incredible resume behind her. Currently, Bridgit is the Chief Sustainability Officer at CropXTechnologies LTD and Chair for various organisations like Bovonic, Agritech and Cropsy Technologies. 

Growing up on a farm has led Bridigit into the agriculture industry and she is extremely passionate about making a difference in our sector. Bridgit is also the founder of ‘Fields of Change’, which advocates for a strong, diverse, and sustainable primary sector. Its goal is to encourage conversation about women leaders in agriculture, and to find out why the sector is missing a generation of women business leaders.

Bridgit speaks to us about the power of the collective, how to elevate female leaders, and where she sees the future of this sector heading. 

Thank you so much to Bridgit for taking the time out of her busy schedule to chat to us!

You can read more about Fields of Change here: https://fieldsofchange.org.nz/ 

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Today we speak to Dianne Downey, one half of the duo that makes up the Limery. Dianne is based in Wairoa with her husband Paul, where they create 100% pure New Zealand citrus products and juices.

As the business has grown, Dianne and Paul have helped grow their community too. They developed Te Rau Haumako, an on-site programme which offers industry experience to local rangitahi. The Limery also collaborates and encourages smaller growers, something that is very important to Dianne and Paul.

Dianne chats to us about why the Limery’s Business model works, her advice for those looking to run their own business, and how herself and Paul have built up the Limery to where it is now. 

You can check out the Limery here: https://www.thelimery.co.nz/

You can listen to the episode here: https://linktr.ee/ruralwomennz 

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