This article was among Farmers Weekly’s most read in 2022.
Sheep, beef, dairy and consulting all form the backgrounds of the 2023 Nuffield scholar recipients, in a reduced field that sees a return to the award’s pre-covid template that includes extensive overseas travel as part of the study programme.
The award’s usual allocation of five places was reduced to four this year, reflecting the increased travel costs associated with the course’s requirements.
The 2023 recipients are Gisborne-based dry stock farmer Kerry Worsnop, Matt Iremonger, a dry stock farmer from Banks Peninsula, Taupō dairy farmer Kylie Leonard and James Allen, managing director of AgFirst consulting in Waikato.
The recipients received their awards from Agriculture Minister Damien O’Connor at a Parliamentary awards evening.
Rural Leaders chief executive Chris Parsons said this year’s field of applicants was particularly strong and represented all regions and industries within the sector.
The 2023 awards had seen the most applications since 2018 for the prestigious grant. It also marks something of a return to normal where recipients can engage in extensive overseas travel in the course of their study work.
Recent research work between Rural Leaders and the Otago University school of business highlighted the success enjoyed by the programme’s participants.
It determined Nuffield Scholars held on average 14 senior leadership roles over their career, each created an average of 3.3 new businesses and the equivalent of 48 full time employment positions.
This year’s scholar subjects will cover environmental health, social equity and economic performance, integrating beef production with the dairy sector, and “fit for purpose” rural professionals.
While you’re here, why not listen to Rural Leaders’ interview with 2017 Nuffield Scholar Mat Hocken? Mat discusses his research topic ‘Innovation in Agriculture,’ which led to the creation of the Rural Innovation Lab.
