The New Zealand Future Food and Fibre Summit

E Tipu

May 2026 More details coming soon - Stay tuned!

#TrendingIntoTheFuture

E Tipu 2025 Location & Venue

Fly Palmy Arena | Palmerston North | Manawatū

Come and join us in this exciting journey toward a sustainable and resilient future for food and fibre production in New Zealand and beyond.

E Tipu The New Zealand Future Food and Fibre Summit 2025 will be an opportunity to join a vibrant, immersive experience to help answer some of the most critical, sometimes uncomfortable questions about how we can grow together as a sector for the future.

E Tipu 2025 uses a bold new format to inspire and empower its delegates.

This is a summit not just about sharing ideas; it’s about igniting innovation and fostering a collaborative spirit that can drive the industry forward.

E Tipu will encourage connection, spark conversation, and convert critical thinking into action.

#Tipu Ake
Ngātahi Tātou

Connect — Converse — Convert

Experience three days of mind-blowing talks, expert panels, special Q&As and actionable next steps from world leaders in food and fibre.

#Growing
Together

E Tipu 2025 Speakers

Liam Lenaghan
GO.FARM

Have you been wondering how we can create high-growth and transformational investment opportunities?

  • Come along to E Tipu 2025 to explore and unpack this question alongside Liam Lenaghan.

    Liam founded GO.FARM in 2013, driven by a vision to transform underutilised and undercapitalised land and water into highly productive and sustainable farming systems. With over 20 years of experience spanning applied agricultural research, agronomy, farm management consultancy and private investment, Liam identified an opportunity to bring new capital into the sector to drive step change in productivity.

    GO.FARM has grown to manage over $1.2 billion in agricultural assets across 96,000 hectares of farmland, producing high-value crops including almonds, mandarins, tomatoes, wine grapes, olives, grains and oilseeds.

    With a commitment to Responsible Agriculture, execution excellence and innovation, GO.FARM is positioned as a leader in transforming Australian agriculture and creating value for its investors, regional communities and the sector.

    Don’t miss out on the chance to hear from Liam. Secure your tickets now for E Tipu 2025 and be part of an event that’s all about delivering value, fostering connections, and driving meaningful conversations.

Max Elder
Food System Innovations

Have you ever wondered about the signals shaping our future—and why they matter and how they will impact the food we produce in the future? 

  • Join us at E Tipu 2025, where Max Elder will explore this question with you. As a futurist, member of the E Tipu steering committee and a standout speaker, Max will take the stage on Day Two where he will demystify the concept of future signals. He will run an interactive workshop later in the day to give you an opportunity to work with some of the future signals as they relate to your role in the agrifood and fibre sector.

    Don’t miss the chance to hear from Max and engage in these thought-provoking sessions. Secure your tickets now for E Tipu 2025 and be part of an event that’s all about delivering value, fostering connections, and driving meaningful conversations.

    Max Elder is the Managing Director of Food System Innovations, a philanthropic impact platform accelerating the protein transition. Previously, Max was a Research Director at the Institute for the Future where he advised organizations like the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Google, and Nestlé, among many others. He has published numerous articles and book chapters on food systems and he's been invited to speak everywhere from Walmart to the US Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry. Max sits on several boards and studied at both Kenyon College and Oxford University.

Nigel Davenport
Sustainable is Attainable

Have you been wondering what the future of food and fibre innovation looks like in our regions and how they can thrive in the future?

  • Join us in 2025 at E Tipu: The New Zealand Future Food and Fibre Summit so you don’t miss the opportunity to hear Nigel’s thoughts and engage in this thought-provoking panel.

    @Nigel Davenport brings a varied set of business skills, knowledge, and networks to his current role. He has first-hand experience as a business owner, holds various governance roles and is involved with a number of community organisations.

    He serves as a board member on Sport Canterbury and Economic Development New Zealand and is a Trustee of the Aoraki MRI Trust, Canterbury Sports Foundation and a Management Committee Member of the Canterbury Tactix.

    Nigel and Venture Timaru initiated the Sustainable is Attainable initiative which, in a first for New Zealand, is collaborative approach by a large group of South Canterbury food processors to their waste management, minimisation and value extraction opportunities. An initiative now expanded to involve industry across the Hawkes Bay and the Manawatu regions. 

    Don’t miss out on the chance to hear from Nigel. Secure your tickets now for E Tipu 2025 and be part of an event that’s all about delivering value, fostering connections, and driving meaningful conversations.

Lee-Ann Marsh
General Manager for AGMARDT

Using common ground to grow value through clustering for economic and strategic development.

  • Join us at E Tipu: The New Zealand Future Food and Fibre Summit so you don’t miss the opportunity to hear from Lee-Ann and the panel engaging in this thought-provoking session.

    Lee-Ann is the General Manager for AGMARDT an independent, not for profit organisation that strategically invests in research, innovation and leadership across Aotearoa New Zealand’s food and fibre sector. AGMARDT has proudly supported the E Tipu Summit since its inception in 2019 and believes in its power to inspire and activate innovation.

    Lee-Ann is an experienced global marketer with a background in consumer insights and innovation. She made the move to New Zealand at the end of 2010, discovering a passion for all things food and fibre and has worked in various trans-tasman and global roles with Fonterra, Nestlé, and Beef + Lamb New Zealand.

    Secure your tickets now for E Tipu 2025 and be part of an event that’s all about delivering value, fostering connections, and driving meaningful conversations.

Jodie Kuntzsch
Chief Executive, Moananui

Using common ground to grow value through clustering for economic and strategic development.

  • Join us at E Tipu: The New Zealand Future Food and Fibre Summit so you don’t miss the opportunity to hear Jodie’s thoughts and engage in this thought-provoking panel.

    Jodie Kuntzsch has 20 years’ experience leading collaborative projects across the global seafood industry. Working across four continents and hundreds of marine farms, fishing vessels, seafood factories and businesses she thrives on bringing together diverse stakeholders with a common purpose.

    She has developed environmental and social sustainability programmes both in Aotearoa and around the world. Jodie spreads an infectious passion for the blue economy, thriving on inspiring and nurturing the Moananui partnership to boldly lead the future of ocean business.

    Secure your tickets now for E Tipu 2025 and be part of an event that’s all about delivering value, fostering connections, and driving meaningful conversations.

Prof. Joanne Hort
Fonterra Riddet Chair in Consumer and Sensory Science

Join Professor Joanne Hort alongside her fellow panellists for dinner E Tipu to discuss nurturing the land, and unlocking it’s potential.

  • Prof Hort, Fonterra-Riddet Chair in Consumer and Sensory Science at Massey University, is an internationally renowned sensory scientist. She is also Principal Investigator and associate director at the Riddet Institute. Her research focuses on a multidisciplinary approach to understanding factors affecting consumer perception of food and their consequent choice behaviours, and developing effective methods to measure them.  Her interests include individual differences in sensory perception, cross-cultural differences and the impact of context on perception, especially concerning emotional response to foods. She is director of Feast, the Food Experience and Sensory Testing Lab, a future facing Consumer and Sensory Science Centre at Massey’s Manawatu Campus, developed to support New Zealand food companies, large and small, to apply a consumer-led approach to ensure improved product success.

    Professor Hort has over 130 research publications and is co-author and editor of several key texts in Sensory Science.  She is associate editor for the Q1 journal Food Quality and Preference and is a director of the global Pangborn Sensory Science Trust.  She is a Fellow of the UK Institute of Food Science and Technology (IFST), Member of NZIFST and Royal society of New Zealand. She is a founder member and past Chair of the European Sensory Science Society.

    Don’t miss out on the chance to hear from Joanne and this fantastic panel. Secure your tickets now for E Tipu 2025 and be part of an event that’s all about delivering value, fostering connections, and driving meaningful conversations.

Jana Hocken
The LeanFarm Project

Investing for growth on farm through lean practices.

  • Come along to E Tipu 2025 to explore how we can invest for growth on farm through the application of lean practices.

    Jana Hocken is the founder of The LeanFarm Project and is passionate about bringing lean thinking to farming, helping to create enjoyable, productive, high quality, profitable and sustainable farming businesses across the globe.

    With a solid foundation as a senior engineer with Toyota, Jana brings almost 25 years of experience in engineering, management consulting and coaching roles, focused on implementing lean and continuous improvement culture and methodologies. Jana has worked across most industry sectors including automotive, rail, aerospace, defence, healthcare, government, finance, IT and agriculture, and has helped hundreds of companies globally apply lean thinking to improve their operations.

    Since 2017 Jana has helped to bring lean concepts to farming, implementing lean on her family’s 1,000 cow dairy farm in New Zealand. Her LeanFarm training workshops have been delivered to over 3000 farmers across New Zealand, Australia and Europe. Jana has also engaged with thousands of farmers around the world, speaking at numerous agricultural events and conferences including Australian Dairy Conference, Nova Scotia Federation of Agriculture Conference, European Resilience for Dairy Project, South African Large Herd Conference, NZ Beef and Lamb Ag Innovation Conference and Dairy Women’s Network Conference. She is the author of ‘The Lean Dairy Farm’ – a highly practical book that has been used by all types of farmers from all over the world, to help them start their lean journey.

    This is a session you do not want to miss!

    In this session, you'll not only learn about the application of lean practices but also receive a practical tool that you can take away and apply to your business.

    Secure your tickets now for E Tipu and be part of an event that’s all about delivering value, fostering connections, and driving meaningful conversations.

Brendan O'Connell
Chief Executive, AgriTech New Zealand

What do we need to do to deliver more investment for food and fibre?

  • Come along to E Tipu 2025 to explore and understand what we need to do to deliver more investment for food and fibre alongside this fabulous panel facilitated by Brendan O’Connell.

    As Chief Executive of AgriTech New Zealand, Brendan O’Connell champions collaboration across Aotearoa New Zealand’s agricultural innovation ecosystem. He leads an independent membership organisation that unites innovators, investors, regulators, researchers, enablers, and practitioners to foster growth and drive global impact.

    With a career spanning technical, commercial, and leadership roles in international businesses, Brendan has led product innovation and development teams across New Zealand, Australia, the UK, Europe, and the US. He is skilled at opening doors, connecting businesses with the right people, and providing strategic insights that unlock new opportunities.

    Over nearly two decades in the agritech sector, Brendan has built a strong connection with the primary and technology industries—their people, challenges, and ambitions. He is particularly passionate about integrating agricultural knowledge with technological capabilities to position Aotearoa New Zealand as a leader in the global knowledge economy for food production.

    Don’t miss out on the chance to hear from Brendan. Secure your tickets now for E Tipu 2025 and be part of an event that’s all about delivering value, fostering connections, and driving meaningful conversations.

Lincoln Roper
Business Continuity Manager, Roper and Son Limited

We are the future: So, come along to E Tipu to hear what we think is needed to shape our food and fibre system for sustained prosperity.

  • Join us at E Tipu on day two to hear from this fantastic panel as they share their thoughts, insights, and perspectives.

    Lincoln’s horticulture journey began at age seven, helping in his family’s business. At 16, he was a runner-up in the New Zealand Young Vegetable Grower of the Year competition. This early experience sparked his interest in agribusiness, leading him to study a Bachelor of Agribusiness and Food Marketing at Lincoln University, where he also developed his leadership skills through the Future Leader programme.

    He has been involved in various local community groups, and national roles like former Vice Chair of The Food and Fibre Youth Network Council - He Tātai Rangahua.

    Lincoln’s career has taken him to diverse roles in the Chatham Islands, Mid-Canterbury, Western Australia, Auckland and Blenheim. After graduating, he joined KPMG Propagate™️, New Zealand’s Food, Agribusiness and Export Advisory Business, before returning to his family business, Roper and Son Limited. Established in 1991, the business grows and processes vegetables for New Zealand’s retail market. Lincoln currently supports compliance, management reporting, and managing a small team focused on production and packing, with some involvement in marketing and special projects.

    Don’t miss out on the chance to hear from Lincoln and this fabulous panel. Secure your tickets now for E Tipu 2025 and be part of an event that’s all about delivering value, fostering connections, and driving meaningful conversations.

Chelsea Hirst
Head of Acceleration and Engagement, Sprout Agritech

We are the future: So, come along to E Tipu to hear what we think is needed to shape our food and fibre system for sustained prosperity.

  • Join us at E Tipu on day two to hear from Chelsea and this fantastic panel as they share their thoughts, insights, and perspectives.

    Chelsea leads the Acceleration and Engagement team at Sprout Agritech, supporting agrifood startups through programmes and investment. Through a range of programmes delivered by Sprout, she has overseen the engagement with over 150 founders and innovators across more than 50 ventures.

    An experienced entrepreneur, Chelsea won the 2016 Manawatu Innovate competition with her startup, Peurgon. She previously worked at FMG as a Business Analyst and Rural Consultant and at Pamu as a Dairy Farm Technician. Chelsea has also been a dairy farmer and has contributed to industry research on grazing management.
    She holds a BSc in Agricultural Science from Massey University.

    Don’t miss out on the chance to hear from Chelsea and this fabulous panel. Secure your tickets now for E Tipu 2025 and be part of an event that’s all about delivering value, fostering connections, and driving meaningful conversations.

Victoria Hatton
CEO, FoodHQ

“We want this summit to create a hub for finding common ground on the road to future-proofing our industry”

  • Chief Executive - FoodHQ Innovation, New Zealand 

    Dr. Victoria Hatton is a passionate change maker in the food industry. As the Chief Executive at FoodHQ Innovation, New Zealand’s leading hub of food and food production scientists, she launched a ten-year plan to tackle industry challenges. This includes the Future of Food thought leadership publication, which has garnered global attention. Victoria also runs E Tipu: The New Zealand Future Food and Fibre Summit, set for May 2025. Previously, she was Director of Climate Change and Sustainability at PwC, worked with the UK and NZ governments, and the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation. She is Vice President of the British New Zealand Business Association and a trustee for New Zealand Food Waste Champions 12.3.

    Dr. Victoria Hatton is not only taking the helm of E Tipu 2025 Summit this May, but she will also be stepping into the spotlight as the facilitator for Day One, Session Two. In this session, she will lead an insightful panel discussion on "Sustainable Prosperity for the Sector through Sustainable Use of Land."

    This year marks a significant milestone, as it will be the first time FoodHQ has assumed ownership of the Food and Fibre Summit, bringing a fresh, bold approach to the event. With Dr. Hatton's deep passion and commitment to the food and fibre sector, her vision is clearly reflected in the innovative structure and carefully crafted programme of E Tipu 2025. The summit promises to be a must-attend event, offering valuable insights and shaping the future of the sector.

    “We want this summit to create a hub for finding common ground on the road to future-proofing our industry”:

    Build your toolkit for the future: The summit will provide the tools and insights you need to take actionable steps toward creating a more resilient and sustainable organisation. E Tipu is the place to discover the future of the food and fibre sector.

    Collaborate and network: E Tipu is designed to foster connections. It’s an opportunity to meet like-minded professionals, farmers, and industry leaders to share ideas, experiences and forge valuable partnerships.

    Be at the forefront of industry innovation: Learn from experts and visionaries about the latest trends, cutting-edge technologies, and practical solutions that can improve productivity, sustainability, and profitability. This is your opportunity to future-proof your business.

    “We wanted to create an event that wasn’t just about listening to speakers, but about real collaboration. That’s why we formed a steering committee to guide E Tipu, ensuring it represents the whole sector – not just FoodHQ”

Nicola O'Rourke
Founder and Managing Partner of Founders Advisory, Director

What do we need to do to deliver more investment for food and fibre?

  • Come along to E Tipu 2025 to explore and understand what we need to do to deliver more investment for food and fibre alongside Nicola O’Rourke.

    Nicola has over 20 years experience in FMCG industry across a range of disciplines, including Marketing, Sales, New Product Development and Operations. Throughout her career, she has launched over 200 products into global markets including Australasia, USA and China. Nicola O’Rourke was previously General Manager for New Zealand’s loved premium dairy brand, Lewis Road Creamery and lead their global expansion into USA, Singapore and China markets. 

    Nicola is known for her passion in the NZ food & beverage industry and her desire to foster our countries entrepreneurial spirit, commercialize our innovation and tell our stories.

    Don’t miss out on the chance to hear from Nicola. Secure your tickets now for E Tipu 2025 and be part of an event that’s all about delivering value, fostering connections, and driving meaningful conversations.

Bobbi Brown
GM Regional Strategy, Great South

Have you been wondering what the future of food and fibre innovation looks like in our regions and how they can thrive in the future?

  • Join us in 2025 at E Tipu: The New Zealand Future Food and Fibre Summit so you don’t miss the opportunity to hear Bobbi’s thoughts and engage in this thought-provoking panel.

    Bobbi has over 20 years’ experience in strategic and operational roles and is currently the GM Regional Strategy at Great South (Southland’s Regional Development Agency). 

    She has recently facilitated the development of the region’s long-term plan (Beyond 2025 Southland) in partnership with the Government and the region’s Iwi, businesses and communities. This Plan aims to create a shared future vision and pathway for Murihiku Southland acknowledging the need to diversify the economy while also looking after its’ people and environment.

    A proud Southlander born and bred, Bobbi has dairy farmed in South Otago with her husband and son for the past 25 years while also balancing a 15-year career as an international netball umpire.

    Don’t miss out on the chance to hear from Bobbi. Secure your tickets now for E Tipu 2025 and be part of an event that’s all about delivering value, fostering connections, and driving meaningful conversations.

Daniel Eb
Writer, Nuffield Scholar and impact founder • Dirt Road Comms

Facing a post-growth future.

  • Come along to E Tipu 2025 to explore and unpack this question alongside Daniel Eb.

    Daniel is a brand & marketing strategist supporting Aotearoa New Zealand’s transition to a just, regenerative food system. Through his agency, Dirt Road Comms, he supports progressive food & farming organisations with purpose marketing. He founded Open Farms - a national open farm day to reconnect urban Kiwis with our land, food & farmers. In 2022, Dan completed a Nuffield scholarship report - ‘The Home Paddock: A strategy for values-led redesign of our domestic food system’. He co-founded the Eating the Elephant Farmers Weekly writers collective and is an industry speaker – but remains a Northland farmboy at heart.  

    Don’t miss out on the chance to hear from Daniel. Secure your tickets now for E Tipu 2025 and be part of an event that’s all about delivering value, fostering connections, and driving meaningful conversations.

Marcus Henderson
Director, Cultivate Ventures and Northington Partners

What do we need to do to deliver more investment for food and fibre?

  • Come along to E Tipu 2025 to explore and understand what we need to do to deliver more investment for food and fibre alongside Marcus Henderson.

    Marcus is a director of Cultivate Ventures and Northington Partners with a family background in NZ farming and agriculture. He is passionate about working with high-growth NZ agri-tech and agri-foods companies that deliver positive impacts as well as commercial returns. Prior to joining Northington Partners and co-founding Cultivate Ventures, he established a successful track record investing in disruptive and scalable tech businesses operating in the UK, European, North American and APAC markets. Examples of high-growth companies he has previously invested in and helped to grow successfully include Current Health, Optoscribe, Symphonic Software, QikServe, Snappy Shopper and DeltaDNA. Prior to this, Marcus began his career working in consultancy and corporate finance with Deloitte UK, where he worked on several large M&A transactions and advisory projects for multinational corporations, government entities and private equity firms.

    Don’t miss out on the chance to hear from Marcus. Secure your tickets now for E Tipu 2025 and be part of an event that’s all about delivering value, fostering connections, and driving meaningful conversations.

Ian Proudfoot
Global Head of Agribusiness KPMG

Would you like to learn more about global food systems and their future?

  • Come along to E Tipu: The New Zealand Future Food and Fibre Summit to hear Ian’s insights on this topic. Don’t miss the chance to engage with Ian and be part of this thought-provoking session.

    Ian joined KPMG in the London office in 1992, moving to Auckland, New Zealand in 1996. Ian was admitted to partnership in 2004 and appointed as Global Head of Agribusiness for KPMG in 2013, leading a network of KPMG Professionals that now spans over 50 countries. Ian has a BSc (Hons) Industrial Economics from the University of Warwick, UK. Ian is a licensed auditor, working with food and fibre clients including businesses in the dairy, red meat, fishing, horticulture and viticulture sectors. Ian is one of the leading strategic thinkers on Agribusiness in New Zealand. He presents around the world on the future of food production, processing and consumption articulating a vision for a food system that delivers sufficient nutrition to the world in a sustainable manner through the utilisation of disruptive innovations and new business models. He is the lead author of the KPMG Agribusiness Agenda publications which have been published annually since 2010. Ian has recently been made a fellow of Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand.

    Come along to E Tipu to make sure you don’t miss the awesome opportunity to hear these insights from Ian. Secure your tickets now for E Tipu 2025 and be part of an event that’s all about delivering value, fostering connections, and driving meaningful conversations.

Nikki Middleditch
General Manager, FoodPilot

Join Nikki Middleditch alongside her fellow panellists for dinner E Tipu to discuss nurturing the land, and unlocking it’s potential.

  • Nikki is the General Manager of FoodPilot at Massey University, Palmerston North. She oversees the largest collection of pilot-scale food processing equipment in the southern hemisphere. The FoodPilot operates under a Risk Management Programme (RMP), the Ministry for Primary Industries’ strictest food safety regulatory plan.  This enables the FoodPilot to process materials for animal or human consumption, and for export.  With one of the most complex RMPs in NZ, Nikki’s team offers flexible solutions to the food and beverage sectors, handling any raw material type under one roof.  Nikki builds strong relationships between her team and clients, ensuring that they connect to all Massey’s expertise, and provide tailored support for research and development needs.  The FoodPilot is a member of the NZ Food Innovation Network, so Nikki also helps clients navigate commercialisation routes. Nikki’s background is in food manufacturing in the UK and Europe; she joined Massey as a food technologist in 2017; progressing to Food Innovation Team Leader in 2018.

    Don’t miss out on the chance to hear from Nikki and this fantastic panel. Secure your tickets now for E Tipu 2025 and be part of an event that’s all about delivering value, fostering connections, and driving meaningful conversations.

Alan Renwick
Professor of Agriculture Economics at Lincoln University

What opportunities for added value are staring at us in the face?

  • Join Professor Alan Renwick and his fellow panelists at E Tipu to learn about sustainable prosperity for the food and fibre sector through the sustainable use of land.

    Alan Renwick has been Professor of Agriculture Economics at Lincoln University since November 2015. Prior to moving to New Zealand, he worked in academic institutions in England, Scotland and Ireland. He was brought up on a mixed farm in Sussex, England and completed his BSc (Hons) in Agricultural Economics at Wye College and his PhD at Newcastle University. A main focus of his work has been the impact of agricultural, environmental and trade policies on the economics of the agrifood system. Recently a key focus of his work has been on the economics of existing and novel land uses and the potential business and finance structures that can support land-use transformation and adaptation to climate change. During his career he has led or been involved in over 50 research projects for government and industry covering the full spectrum of the agrifood sector. Currently, as well as leading the Future of Land Study for ASB, he is involved with the MBIE funded programme ‘Kai anamata mō Aotearoa – exploring future food system scenarios and impacts’ which is jointly led by the Riddet Institute and Wakatū corporation.

    Don’t miss out on the chance to hear from Alan and this fabulous panel. Secure your tickets now for E Tipu 2025 and be part of an event that’s all about delivering value, fostering connections, and driving meaningful conversations.

Bryan Gibson
Managing editor, AgriHQ

Have you been wondering what the talk around the globe is and how do we translate insights into new customers, markets and products? Or maybe you want to discuss nurturing the land, and unlocking it’s potential.

  • Join Bryan Gibson E Tipu: The New Zealand Future Food and Fibre Summit in May as he takes the stage to facilitate two fabulous panels. Make sure you don’t miss the opportunity to hear Bryan’s thoughts alongside his fellow panellists and engage in this thought-provoking session.

    Bryan is managing editor at AgriHQ, and has led the team that produces Farmers Weekly for 11 years. He previously worked as a communications adviser at Massey University and as a reporter at RNZ.

    Bryan is passionate about sustainable food production and always has an eye on the horizon, looking at new ideas and innovations that can help NZ farmers stay at the forefront of farming.

    As well as helping produce Farmers Weekly, Bryan hosts the Farmers Weekly in Focus and Ideas That Grow podcasts.

    He was awarded the Ravensdown Agricultural Communicator of the Year Award in 2022 and last year he and his colleagues won the Rongo – the supreme award for agricultural journalists in NZ.

    He has a Bachelor of Arts (Hons), a Graduate Diploma in Journalism and a Postgraduate Diploma in Communication Management, all from Massey University.

    Away from work, Bryan can be found battling it out on the bowling greens or making an unholy racket in his post-punk band.

    Join us to hear from Bryan and these two fantastic panels. Secure your tickets now for E Tipu 2025 and be part of an event that’s all about delivering value, fostering connections, and driving meaningful conversations.

James Robertson
Chief of Staff, Fonterra

We are the future: So, come along to E Tipu to hear what we think is needed to shape our food and fibre system for sustained prosperity.

  • Join us at E Tipu on day two to hear from James and this fantastic panel as they share their thoughts, insights, and perspectives.

    James is the Chief of Staff at Fonterra based in Auckland, where he oversees strategic initiatives, coordinates the executive team and business processes. He has recently returned to NZ after three years with the co-operative in China.

    James’ background is in dairy and in 2019 he became won the New Zealand Young Farmer of the Year competition. He has also served as Board member for the organisation and holds a bachelor of AgriCommerce and International Agribusiness from Massey University.

    Don’t miss out on the chance to hear from James and this fabulous panel. Secure your tickets now for E Tipu 2025 and be part of an event that’s all about delivering value, fostering connections, and driving meaningful conversations.

Peter Cook
General Manager Business Development, Plant & Food Research

Have you been wondering what the talk around the globe is and how do we translate insights into new customers, markets and products?

  • Join us in 2025 at E Tipu: The New Zealand Future Food and Fibre Summit so you don’t miss the opportunity to hear Peter’s thoughts and engage in this thought-provoking session.

    Peter is the General Manager Business Development at Plant & Food Research, a New Zealand government-owned Crown Research Institute.  His role is focused on generating impact from the research and technologies developed within the Institute.  He leads a team that identifies innovation opportunities, manages the Institute’s intangible assets, and implements commercialisation strategies. Peter also works to expand Plant & Food Research’s international reach through new commercial and research partnerships. Peter is a director of Plant & Food Research’s portfolio companies Scentian Bio and Precision Seafood Harvest.

    Secure your tickets now for E Tipu 2025 and be part of an event that’s all about delivering value, fostering connections, and driving meaningful conversations.

Lucie Douma
Client strategy & advice

Have you been wondering what the talk around the globe is and how do we translate insights into new customers, markets and products?

  • Join us in 2025 at E Tipu: The New Zealand Future Food and Fibre Summit so you don’t miss the opportunity to hear Lucie’s thoughts and engage in this thought-provoking session.

    Lucie Douma is the Head of Client Strategy and Advice Services at FMG, bringing over a decade of experience in both public and private sectors. Raised on a dairy farm in Southland, New Zealand, Lucie has a deep-rooted connection to agriculture.

    Lucie’s career highlights include setting up and managing the Covid Recovery and Supply Chain team at MPI. She is Nuffield Alumni, which allowed her to explore global agricultural practices and challenges. Lucie is known for her expertise in sustainability, geo political insights, and innovative agricultural solutions. She frequently speaks at national and international conferences, including with the UN, and contributes to agricultural podcasts, sharing her insights on the future of farming and risk management. Lucie holds a Master of Science from the University of Oxford and dual Bachelor’s degrees in Commerce and Applied Science from the University of Otago.

    Secure your tickets now for E Tipu 2025 and be part of an event that’s all about delivering value, fostering connections, and driving meaningful conversations.

Joe Davis
Innovation Architect & Transformational Leader

Have you been wanting to gain a deeper understanding of AI and how you can use it to unlock untapped value?

  • Join Joe Davis alongside Michelle Dickinson at E Tipu 2025 for their workshop on unlocking value through generative AI.

    Joe Davis is a leader, innovator, and author with a deep passion for bringing teams together to tackle big challenges with real purpose. He was the Co-founder and CEO of Nanogirl Labs, a venture he led alongside his wife and business partner, Dr. Michelle Dickinson. Joe’s mission remains to democratise access to world-class education by leveraging technology, education, and entertainment to inspire, educate, and empower learners.

    Joe’s leadership career spans various sectors, including software development, design, performing arts, sea rescue, automotive, and education. The common thread in his career is his focus on great people, deep culture, and a clear sense of purpose. As the CEO of Nanogirl Labs, Joe led a team of innovative educators, storytellers, and technologists who pushed the boundaries of learning. Under his leadership, Nanogirl Labs successfully created and delivered numerous best-selling edutainment properties, including books, live shows, and digital content around the globe.

    Joe continues to serve as a strategic advisor to some of New Zealand’s most trusted and recognised brands, including a longstanding relationship with Toyota New Zealand, the 2024 winner of the Kantar Corporate Reputation Index. Joe is a regular consultant and facilitator to boards and executive teams across corporate, government, and non-profit sectors, focusing on future strategy, innovation, culture, and leadership.

    Joe is also an experienced facilitator and energetic speaker, inspiring audiences on leadership, innovation, and building resilient teams. He addresses topics such as navigating rapid change, the impact of AI and other exponential technologies, and envisioning the future through impactful talks and real-world examples. Joe designs and facilitates high-impact workshops for clients ranging from major multinationals to government departments, corporates, and SMEs. His specialty is building a sense of co-ownership, co-creation, and deep candor, creating formats and environments that foster deep exploration of issues and the development of solutions with strong buy-in. He facilitates dozens of workshops each year and has extensive experience tackling complex issues with teams, navigating strongly held views to find a way forward. Joe is dedicated to understanding clients’ business challenges and proposing effective approaches to move things forward.

    In addition to his consulting and facilitation work, Joe is the author of "Silver Linings," published by Penguin Random House. The book explores the journeys of over 100 New Zealand businesses and community leaders who thrived during the country’s COVID-19 lockdowns. The insights from the book led Joe and co-author David Downs to develop a clear thesis on what enables companies to innovate and be resilient in times of crisis.

    Outside his professional career, Joe has over 20 years of experience as a sea rescue skipper in the Royal New Zealand Coastguard and has been actively involved in political campaigning and advocacy. Joe’s diverse experiences and deep commitment to purpose-driven leadership make him a dynamic and influential figure in his field.

    Don’t miss out on the chance to hear from Joe. Secure your tickets now for E Tipu 2025 and be part of an event that’s all about delivering value, fostering connections, and driving meaningful conversations.

Vaughan Cooper
Head of investment & infrastructure

Have you been wondering what the future of food and fibre innovation looks like in our regions and how they can thrive in the future?

  • Join us in 2025 at E Tipu: The New Zealand Future Food and Fibre Summit so you don’t miss the opportunity to hear Vaughan’s thoughts and engage in this thought-provoking panel.

    @Vaughan Cooper is the Head of investment and infrastructure at Northland Inc. Vaughan is responsible for facilitating investment proposals through the Investment and Growth Reserve and supporting key infrastructure projects that benefit the Northland region. Vaughan is responsible for the Tuputupu Grow Northland initiative which has a vision of Taitokerau Northland’s people and environment thriving through adaptation and innovation, leading to sustainable and optimal land use choices, commercialisation of new opportunities, and development of value-add products and manufacturing.

    Don’t miss out on the chance to hear from Vaughan. Secure your tickets now for E Tipu 2025 and be part of an event that’s all about delivering value, fostering connections, and driving meaningful conversations.

Niamh Patterson
Sensory and Consumer Insights Specialist

Forward Insight and Strategy

Why and how to empathise with your end customers.

  • Join us at E Tipu for an opportunity to hear from Niamh Patterson and work alongside him to gain practical insights on understanding your in-market end user base.

    Niamh joined Forward in 2023 after completing a PhD in sensory science with a focus on the physical and sensorial characteristics of food texture, and texture perception across consumption.

    Niamh is experienced in fundamental and novel sensory methods, applied to both consumer and panel research and specialises in primary products. She is passionate about applied sensory and consumer research in the product development pipeline. 

    This is a workshop you do not want to miss! Secure your tickets now for E Tipu and be part of an event that’s all about delivering value, fostering connections, and driving meaningful conversations.

Christiana Zhu
CEO Marvelous Foods, co-founder Good Trash

Our future customer is different to our current customer.

  • Join Christiana Zhu at E Tipu 2025 to understand if we are ready and able to move to new markets and how do we balance the risk with the reward?

    Christiana Zhu is a Kiwi entrepreneur based in Shanghai. She is the Founder-CEO of plant-based future food company Marvelous Foods, co-founder of circular solutions provider Good Trash, and Innovation & ESG partner at Kiwi-founded commercial growth agency Tribal Brands Asia. The creator of China’s first dairy-free coconut yogurt brand, Yeyo, Christiana is passionate about building premium products and brands for healthy and sustainable lifestyles.

    Trained in PR and communications at AUT, Christiana spent 8 years in consumer marketing and brand building before embarking on her start-up journey, serving as a China specialist at Tourism NZ and Destination Queenstown. A seasoned speaker, Christiana has presented at numerous industry events as a new protein product pioneer and female business leader.

    Join us for an engaging session with Christiana, one of our keynote speakers proudly sponsored by the Asia New Zealand Foundation.

    Secure your tickets now for E Tipu 2025 so you don’t miss the opportunity to hear insights from Christiana Zhu and be part of an event that’s all about delivering value, fostering connections, and driving meaningful conversations.

Nick Rowe
Innovation Manager, Silver Fern Farms

Join Nick Rowe alongside his fellow panellists for dinner at E Tipu to discuss nurturing the land, and unlocking it’s potential.

  • Nick Rowe is the Innovation Manager for Silver Fern Farms and has been involved in food innovation throughout his career with some of New Zealand's most well-known FMCG brands. Nick is focused on exploring, validating and executing ideas to drive meaningful impact in one of NZ’s most important sectors. With deep connections to primary industry, Nick’s current focus is building out nature positive at Silver Fern Farms to create authentic, high-trust market-led products and solutions that deliver both additional value for NZ’s sheep and beef farmers, and verifiable impact for nature.

    Join us at E Tipu: The New Zealand Future Food and Fibre Summit so you don’t miss the opportunity to hear from Nick and engage in this thought-provoking session at the summit dinner on the night of the 27th May.  

    Secure your tickets now for E Tipu 2025 and be part of an event that’s all about delivering value, fostering connections, and driving meaningful conversations.

Dean Fraser
Ngāi Tahu – Ōtākou, Manahautū - Te Pakati (General Manager Transformation)

Have you been wondering what the talk around the globe is and how do we translate insights into new customers, markets and products?

  • Join us in 2025 at E Tipu: The New Zealand Future Food and Fibre Summit so you don’t miss the opportunity to hear Dean’s thoughts and engage in this thought-provoking session.

    Dean (Ngāi Tahu – Ōtākou) was appointed as Manahautū - Te Pakati (General Manager Transformation) in July 2020 and has a wealth of global experience as well as an understanding of diverse stakeholder groups from different cultures.

    Having served on his local rūnanga board and being involved with iwi initiatives, he has a deep connection to Ngāi Tahu.

    Dean works closely with the executive leadership team and business units to enhance operational excellence and innovation, also providing support to the investment team.

    Secure your tickets now for E Tipu 2025 and be part of an event that’s all about delivering value, fostering connections, and driving meaningful conversations.

Aidan Gent
General Manager, Rural Banking, ASB

What opportunities for added value are staring us in the face?

  • Come along to E Tipu to discuss sustainable prosperity for the sector through sustainable use of land alongside Aidan Gent and his fellow panellists.

    Aidan joined ASB as National Manager, Rural Corporate in November 2021. Aidan was appointed General Manager, Rural August 2023.

    Born and raised in Ruawai, Northland, Aidan maintains an active involvement in his Ruawai farming business. Starting his banking career as a Rural Graduate in Christchurch. Aidan has had roles in Rural and Institutional Banking, Corporate Advisory, Strategy, Product and Transformation across NZ and Australia.

    Aidan is deeply passionate about the opportunities within the food and fibre sector and helping customers achieving their goals.

    Don’t miss out on the chance to hear from Aidan and this fantastic panel. Secure your tickets now for E Tipu 2025 and be part of an event that’s all about delivering value, fostering connections, and driving meaningful conversations.

Neal Wallace
Senior Reporter, Farmers Weekly

What is our place in the world?

  • Join Neal for an insightful fireside chat at E Tipu this year, where he’ll explore our position within the global context and help us understand where we fit in the bigger picture.

    Neal Wallace has been a reporter for both daily and specialist agricultural newspapers for 41 years, starting his career as a cadet at the Ensign Newspaper in Gore. For the last eight years he has worked for AgriHQ, publishers of the Farmers Weekly, writing for both the weekly newspaper and the website.

    For more than half his career, Neal has covered agricultural issues, covering topics as diverse as farm systems and politics to markets and international trade.

    He has been fortunate to visit many of our key meat and dairy markets but a career highlight was in 2004 when he spent a semester at Oxford University as a David Low fellow, studying the impact of the recent Foot and Mouth outbreak on UK agriculture and what that means to NZ sheep meat exports.

    Last year Neal embarked on a Meeting the Markets tour which took him to seven countries in six weeks, where he met some of our largest dairy and meat customers to learn of their requirements of our production systems.

    He also looked at the state of markets in the USA, Europe, UK, Middle East and China.

    Neal lives in Dunedin with his wife Liz and they have two children.

    Don’t miss out on the chance to hear from Neal and explore this important topic. Secure your tickets now for E Tipu 2025 and be part of an event that’s all about delivering value, fostering connections, and driving meaningful conversations.

Komal Mistry-Mehta
Chief Innovation & Brand Officer, Fonterra

How to innovate to drive advantage?

  • We are kicking E Tipu off with a bang!

    Join us at E Tipu for an in-depth discussion on how the agrifood industry can better position itself to unlock the full potential of innovation, meeting the evolving needs of customers and consumers, and solving their pressing challenges. In this engaging session, Komal will explore the critical question: How to innovate to drive advantage? 

    Komal will dive into key areas, such as how innovation can help us stay ahead in a competitive global market, and how an innovation system can help organisations maximise outcomes. Komal will also examine the intersection of customer problems, technology, and where Fonterra is positioning itself to deliver for farmer shareholders.  

    Introducing Komal:

    Komal leads Fonterra’s innovation, research and development functions along with the Co-operative’s brand and communications activities. This includes shaping the future of Fonterra by developing and commercialising innovation, technologies and new business models.
    In addition, Komal oversees the Active Living Business Unit, and has responsibility for setting the global strategy for Core Dairy, Foodservice and the Nutrition Science portfolio.

    Prior to joining the Fonterra Management Team in August 2022, Komal led Fonterra’s high-value global ingredients business Active Living, unlocking growth through developing and commercialising science-backed health and wellness solutions. In her prior role, Komal’s work establishing and developing Fonterra Ventures earned her the title of New Zealand’s Young Executive of the Year in the 2017 Deloitte Top 200 Awards. Prior to joining Fonterra in 2011, Komal worked for Deloitte in Europe.
    She is known for her leadership in developing people and her strong advocacy for diversity and inclusion.

    Komal has completed the Executive Program at Stanford University School of Business and holds Bachelor of Laws and Bachelor of Management degrees from the University of Waikato. She is a Barrister and Solicitor of the High Court of New Zealand as well as a member of the New Zealand Institute of Chartered Accountants.

Cam Calkoen
That Awesome Guy

Who are we not to try?

  • Join us at E Tipu 2025 to explore this question alongside Cam Calkoen an inspiration, social entrepreneur, charitable fundraiser, and athletic gold medalist.

    Cam will take to the E Tipu stage on Day Two where he will deliver the critical message: Through relentless and tireless trying, so much more than we ever believed possible can be achieved.

    Don’t miss the chance to hear from Cam and engage in these thought-provoking sessions. Secure your tickets now for E Tipu 2025 and be part of an event that’s all about delivering value, fostering connections, and driving meaningful conversations.

    Cam Calkoen dreams of a world where everyone is inspired to embrace their opportunity and our physical being is no barrier to succeeding in our dreams and aspirations. It is dreams that have brought the world to what we see today and our aspirations that will propel it into the future.

    No one can walk and talk at birth. Some people like Cam, are presented with this likelihood for the rest of their lives. He chose to defy the odds and now showcases what can be achieved when we identify a challenge, leverage our opportunities and uniqueness, and indeed live for awesome!

    Born with Cerebral Palsy Cam was told that his biggest challenges would be the way he walks and talks, he dreamed big becoming an athletic gold medalist, highly effective charitable fundraiser, social entrepreneur and now a globally renowned inspirational speaker who ignites a connection and clarity between inspiration, dreams and people. 

    He is a living example that life is what we make it, and the values needed to achieve awesomeness are simple - we need to believe! In doing so, we leave no stone unturned. Through charisma, stories and artistic flair Cam's presence sees people identify the unturned stones on the path, he ignites, inspires, enlightens and delights others by modeling what it looks like to dream big and achieve more!

Michelle Bauer
Project Manager - Branching Out

Have you been wondering what the future of food and fibre innovation looks like in our regions and how they can thrive in the future?

  • Join us in 2025 at E Tipu: The New Zealand Future Food and Fibre Summit so you don’t miss the opportunity to hear Michelle's thoughts and engage in this thought-provoking panel.

    @Michelle Bauer is the Project Manager of Branching Out, a project initiated and led by Venture Taranaki, and supported by local sponsors and MPI’s SFFF Fund. Branching Out aims to strengthen and diversify the Taranaki economy, by identifying and supporting innovative, commercially viable food and fibre value chain opportunities. This supports the region’s strategy and long-term vision for a resilient, high-value, and low-emissions future as articulated by Tapuae Roa – the guiding strategic document for the region. Michelle has extensive CPG experience. Prior to joining Venture Taranaki, she was the founder and managing director of Good Juicery, a beverage company based in India. She has also worked in advertising in Dubai and South Africa, managing brands that include Pond’s and Sunsilk (Unilever), Heineken and Tiger Beer.

    Don’t miss out on the chance to hear from Michelle. Secure your tickets now for E Tipu 2025 and be part of an event that’s all about delivering value, fostering connections, and driving meaningful conversations.

Hamish Renton
HRA Global

Are we as good as we think we are?

  • Have you ever wondered how New Zealand products are perceived around the world?

    Join us in 2025 at E Tipu: The New Zealand Future Food and Fibre Summit so you don’t miss the opportunity to hear from Hamish and engage in this thought-provoking session.

    ​Hamish is an experienced board-level director with almost 20 years professional and personal experience in the Free From industry. He founded HRA Global, the successful boutique food, drink and personal care consultancy back in 2011, and Marketing, Strategy, Innovation & Exports remain his core passions. Hamish spent over 7 years at Board level with various FTSE 250 companies, including 4 years at Tesco as head of Own Label, Diet and Health, where he is credited with both launching the Free From, Wholefoods, Low Carb, Healthy Living ranges and being one of the major driving forces behind the success of the GI Diet, popularising the role of healthy fat and protein and he was an early crusader against the over use of sugar in the food industry.

    He holds a first-class degree from Cambridge alongside an MBA from Henley Business School. In addition, he is a full member of the Chartered Institute of Marketing (MCIM) and an associated of the Market Research Society (AMRS) and recently was awarded a lifetime achievement award for Free From. Hamish writes regularly for The Grocer, Bakery and Snacks, Dairy Industry News and Dairy Innovation Magazines, chairs both the annual Allergy Show Conference and Free From Expo conference and also serves as a judge for awards such as the Grocer Gold awards and the Food and Beverage Innovations awards. ​

    Come along to hear from Hamish. Secure your tickets now for E Tipu 2025 and be part of an event that’s all about delivering value, fostering connections, and driving meaningful conversations.

Louise Beard
Founder of Forward Insight and Strategy

What do we mean by growing value?

  • Join Louise Beard at E Tipu 2025 to gain an understanding of when and where building market value is a relevant strategy, and how to succeed in this amidst a shifting global context.

    Louise is a founder of Forward Insight and Strategy; a global market research and strategic planning agency focused on the unique challenges of the primary sector in understanding international markets, what is important to consumers, where to focus and how to build global value and demand growth.​

    With over 25 years of experience, Louise has collaborated with leading local and international organisations such as Zespri, Dole, T&G, New Zealand Beef + Lamb, Indevin and Sealord. She has been instrumental in developing market-aligned growth strategies, driving successful new cultivar innovation, and creating meaningful brands.

    This is a keynote you do not want to miss! Secure your tickets now for E Tipu and be part of an event that’s all about delivering value, fostering connections, and driving meaningful conversations.

Prof. Danny Donaghy
Professor of Dairy Production Systems

Join Professor Danny Donaghy alongside his fellow panellists for dinner E Tipu to discuss nurturing the land, and unlocking it’s potential.

  • Professor Danny Donaghy studied agricultural science at La Trobe University in Melbourne Australia, then completed a PhD at the University of New England, New South Wales. Before joining Massey University, Danny led and managed dairy research, development and extension as Dairy Centre Leader at the Tasmanian Institute of Agriculture. Professor Donaghy is the programme lead for the $26 million Whenua Haumanu Programme - the most comprehensive programme on regenerative and pastoral agriculture in New Zealand. The programme is a partnership between Massey University and the Ministry for Primary Industries through the Sustainable Food and Fibre Futures fund.

    Danny leads a team of researchers at Massey including a large group of early career researchers and PhD students, as well as co-ordinating the programme’s advisory group, farm research and collaborative partners network across the country.  Danny’s research is focused on diverse pastures - leading the conversation with farmers at National and Regional Fieldays in 2024 and 2025. Professor Donaghy is also Deputy Head of School and Director of Strategy for the School of Agriculture and Environment at Massey University which remains the pivotal institution for agriculture and agricultural research in New Zealand. 

    Don’t miss out on the chance to hear from Danny and this fantastic panel. Secure your tickets now for E Tipu 2025 and be part of an event that’s all about delivering value, fostering connections, and driving meaningful conversations.

Grant Verry
CEO, New Zealand Food Innovation Network

Using common ground to grow value through clustering for economic and strategic development.

  • Join us at E Tipu: The New Zealand Future Food and Fibre Summit so you don’t miss the opportunity to hear Grant’s thoughts and engage in this thought-provoking panel.

    As co-CEO of the New Zealand Food Innovation Network (NZFIN) Grant Verry is a distinguished business leader with extensive experienced in national and global operational management, commercial sales, marketing, manufacturing and supply chain across diverse business environments, including start up, SMEs, corporate and multinationals. He is a founding member of the Asia-Pacific Food Innovation Network (APacFin) and sits on the Board of Directors for Singapore's FoodPlant, a subsidiary of the Singapore Institute of Technology.

    Grant is recognised for innovative initiatives that deliver high value outcomes for stakeholders. He excels in building cohesive, top-performing teams both locally and across internationally dispersed locations and believes the key to unlocking high performance is in fostering a strong culture focused on, commitment, teamwork, collaboration and innovation.

    Don’t miss this fantastic opportunity!

    Secure your tickets now for E Tipu 2025 and be part of an event that’s all about delivering value, fostering connections, and driving meaningful conversations.

Andrew Watene Ngāi Tūhoe
Head of KPMG Propagate™, KPMG in New Zealand

Growing value through common ground. The art of clustering for economic and strategic development.

  • Join us at E Tipu: The New Zealand Future Food and Fibre Summit so you don’t miss the opportunity to hear from this panel which will be facilitated by Andrew Watene. Come along to hear their thoughts and engage in this thought-provoking panel.

    Andrew Watene is from Paengaroa in the Bay of Plenty and of Tūhoe descent.

    He is Head of KPMG Propagate at KPMG, one of the world's largest professional services firms where he leads a team of industry experienced cross-functional professionals who provide advisory services to food, agribusiness, and export-orientated clients nationally and internationally while simultaneously supporting KPMG's Global Head of Agribusiness Ian Proudfoot with the overarching agribusiness strategy at KPMG New Zealand.

    He returned to New Zealand a few years ago after two decades in varying end-to-end, senior, and executive roles in food and food production throughout Asia, Africa, the America’s and Europe with New Zealand, Japanese and Irish multi-nationals.

    Our aspiration is to fuel New Zealand's prosperity by accelerating the competitiveness of our food and fibre sector so there is never a boring day, and a lot to keep us motivated with the work we do.

    Don’t miss this fantastic opportunity!

    Secure your tickets now for E Tipu 2025 and be part of an event that’s all about delivering value, fostering connections, and driving meaningful conversations.

Kate Scott
Chief Executive, Horticulture New Zealand

What opportunities for added value are staring us in the face?

  • Come along to E Tipu to discuss sustainable prosperity for the sector through sustainable use of land alongside Kate Scott and her fellow panellists.

    Kate Scott is the Chief Executive of Horticulture New Zealand.

    Kate has been working in agribusiness for 20 years bringing experience in resource management, environmental policy and planning and stakeholder engagement having previously been an

    executive director of environmental consultancy Landpro, the deputy chair of Thriving Southland, and the current chair of the New Zealand Rural Leadership Trust. Kate was a Nuffield scholar in 2018 and was a recipient of the Rabobank Australasian Emerging Leader award in 2023.

    Kate’s qualifications include a Bachelor of Arts (Geography & Political Science) degree from Victoria University. She completed the Leading Professional Service Firms programme at Harvard Business School and the Institute of Directors Governance Development Programme.

Aimee Blake
Future Farmers NZ, Girls who Grow, Ernst & Young (EY)

We are the future: So, come along to E Tipu to hear what we think is needed to shape our food and fibre system for sustained prosperity.

  • Join us at E Tipu on day two to hear from Aimee and this fantastic panel she will take to the stage to facilitate as they share their thoughts, insights, and perspectives.

    Meet Aimee, a purpose-driven problem solver, systems thinker, and storyteller who thrives on learning by doing. As a senior consultant in EY's Climate Change and Sustainability Services team, Aimee works on wide array of agri-food, policy, and nature-related projects across Oceania. 

    With a robust academic background in commerce and social science, Aimee holds two master's degrees from Lincoln University. Her research delved into the role of information in land-use decision-making. She represents the sixth generation on her family farm with roots in the dairy and horticulture sectors. Aimee is also the co-chair of Future Farmers, a collective of diverse Kiwis dedicated to fostering unity and forward-thinking conversations across agricultural systems.

    Her passion for education and youth empowerment led her to co-found Girls Who Grow, a social enterprise driving systemic change by reconnecting young people with food systems and nature through immersive educational experiences. 

    Don’t miss out on the chance to hear from this fabulous panel. Secure your tickets now for E Tipu 2025 and be part of an event that’s all about delivering value, fostering connections, and driving meaningful conversations.

Jerry Shearman
CE Central Economic Development Agency (CEDA)

Have you been wondering what the future of food and fibre innovation looks like in our regions and how they can thrive in the future?

  • Join us in 2025 at E Tipu: The New Zealand Future Food and Fibre Summit so you don’t miss the opportunity to hear from Jerry and engage in this thought-provoking panel.

    Jerry is the CEO of the Central Economic Development Agency (CEDA), focused on fuelling Manawatū's economic prosperity. He spearheaded the recently launched Manawatū Regional Food Strategy and played a pivotal role in bringing E Tipu: Agri Summit to the region in 2024. With extensive senior leadership experience in the tertiary sector across Aotearoa, Australia, and the UK, Jerry is passionate about Manawatū's role in the national and global agrifood scene. Leveraging the region's unique cluster of scientists, researchers, CRIs, engineers, and startup incubators to revolutionize food production, he is excited about the future opportunities E Tipu can bring.

    Don’t miss out on the chance to hear from Jerry. Secure your tickets now for E Tipu 2025 and be part of an event that’s all about delivering value, fostering connections, and driving meaningful conversations

News and announcements posted first on LinkedIn

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CONNECT — CONVERSE — CONVERT —

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Summit programme

One field trip and four sessions over three days will answer critical questions on how we can grow together.

View programme

Understanding our place in the world

— Who is our customer and what do they really need from us?

— What are NZ's food and fibre strengths? 

— What is our competitive advantage?

Investing in growth

— What are the options for growing the bottom line?  

— What does an abundant future for NZ look like and how do we finance it?

Growing Value

— Are we really as good as we think we are?

— What has the opportunity to double value?

— What are the key people skills we will need to grow value?

Growing Futures

— Can we find common-ground if our future depends on it?

— Dream big, achieve more? Putting an action plan in place to face into the challenges ahead.

Field trips

For the first time, there is an opportunity to join four different half-day field trips to visit aspects of the food and fibre value chain in the Manawatū.

After the field trip finishes, you will be brought to Matt and Jana Hocken’s award-winning farm for a casual dinner in their hay barn. Dinner is an opportunity to mix and mingle. There will be a small number of speakers to set the scene for the E Tipu Summit.

  • Capacity: 35 spaces

    Want the opportunity to visit an award-winning farm? Come and join us for an afternoon visit to two local award-winning dairy farms that use virtual fencing and a lean approach to farming.

    Stewart Dairylands is part of a generational family farm that has been farming the land in Hiwinui for over 120 years. Situated in Manawatū, on the boundary of Palmerston North, the Stewarts farm 580 hectares of land. As a seasonal dairy farm, they milk over 800 cows twice a day for around 300 days of the year. They have diversified into feed crops and tourism with a five-star lodge for weddings, boutique accommodation, and a health and beauty spa.

    Grassmere farm consists of approximately 920 Friesian dairy cows, 500 young and replacement cows and 100 Friesian and Angus cross bulls. The Hocken’s have two dairy platforms of approx. 130 and 153 hectares effective, each with a 50-bale automated rotary shed. Grassmere are leaders in innovation and technological advancement on farm. As part of the Rural Innovation Lab, they are a pilot SmartFarm and are often the first to test cutting edge Ag technology that will improve farming practices.

    Tour hosts: James Stewart and Mat Hocken

  • Capacity: 35 spaces

    Ever wondered what is behind the science of food production? Come and join us for an afternoon around the FoodHQ campus at Fonterra and Plant and Food Research.

    At Plant and Food Research, you will have the opportunity to visit the unique Pilot Clinical Facility, showcasing food products developed for health functions. You’ll also see how molecular genetics and genomics are applied to understand genetic control in plants. Then, you’ll head over to the Food Development team, who focus on process and product development, specialising in plant-based ingredients, insect bioconversion, and aquaculture feeds. The tour of Plant and Food Research will conclude with a look at their clinical trials which focuses on investigating the health-promoting properties of plant- and marine-derived functional foods for support.

    Discover the future of Food Science at Fonterra Research and Development Centre (FRDC). Located in Palmerston North, the Fonterra Research & Development Centre (est. 1927) is one of the world’s largest dairy research facilities and is home to 350+ people comprising of nutritionists, scientists, researchers, and engineers from diverse nationalities. Don’t miss this chance to witness where the future of food science is being shaped! Join us for an opportunity to explore the FRDC. Our Centre overview will provide you with insights into our pioneering research and innovative projects. Following this, we will take you through to see our Pilot Plant facilities, Whole Genome Sequencing Suite, Microscopy lab, and invigorating Food Lab.

    Tour host: Victoria Hatton FoodHQ

  • Capacity: 12 spaces

    Te Utanganui – Central New Zealand Distribution Hub is a key pillar project for the region and will play a critical part on contributing to the movement of FMCG, primary goods, and manufacturing as we gear up to meet the government’s target of doubling exports by 2034. Or you might just be interested to see how toilet paper and chocolates get from the factory to the supermarket. The tour will open with a presentation about Te Utanganui and then have a site visit to two distribution centres and conclude with a full precinct tour.

    All delegates will need to have a high vis vest and closed toe footwear. All delegates will leave with a goodie bag.

    Tour host: Jerry Shearman CEDA

  • Capacity: 25

    Whenua Haumanu is a collaboration between Massey University and the Ministry for Primary Industries, supported by the Sustainable Food and Fibre Futures fund. It’s New Zealand’s most comprehensive program focused on regenerative pastoral practices. During the tour, you’ll visit our research sites to learn about the practical impacts of our work on farmers, primary industries, and the food sector.

    You'll also visit The Feast Lab to get an inside look at how we conduct sensory and consumer testing to predict product preferences and help industries create products that meet consumer needs.

    At FoodPilot on Massey University’s Manawatū campus, the team turns food and beverage ideas into real products using the largest collection of pilot-scale food processing equipment in the Southern Hemisphere. The FoodPilot team works with New Zealand food businesses to address production challenges. Lastly, at the Human Nutrition Research Unit, you'll discover how we assess the impact of different foods and diets on people’s health and wellbeing.

    Tour Hosts: Professor Danny Donaghy, Professor Joanne Hort, Nikki Middleditch, Professor Louise Brough, and Dr Janet Weber

Introducing our MC for E Tipu 2025

Dr Michelle Dickinson

Dr. Michelle Dickinson (MNZM) is a pioneer in nanotechnology and materials engineering, with over 20 years of experience driving innovation across sectors from healthcare to tech startups. She helps to bridge groundbreaking research with real-world applications and advising investors in the high-tech landscape. A champion for diversity in engineering, Michelle emphasizes that communication is key to technology's success.

Michelle is driven to make STEM accessible and engaging for all, creating inspiring resources like The Kitchen Science Cookbook and leading STEM programs in the Pacific Islands. An award-winning speaker, Michelle translates complex advancements in AI and robotics into compelling, actionable insights, sparking curiosity and inspiring audiences to embrace technology's potential. Her recognitions, including the New Zealand Order of Merit and the Women of Influence Award, underscore her commitment to empowering others through science.

Partners, supporters and exhibitors

We’ve partnered with some of the most innovative organisations in Aotearoa and globally. From government agencies to innovation accelerators, education providers to industry bodies, business networks to producers, growers, and food and beverage innovators.

We welcomed partners, supporters and exhibitors from all walks of the food and fibre ecosystem.

Keen to join them in 2025? Express your interest to explore what partnership opportunities are available to you.

Find out more

Plan your Manawatū trip

Manawatū rewards those who follow their nose and get off the beaten track to find the hidden gems to see and do. For the adventure seekers, the innovators, the eco and culture-conscious and the thinkers of this world, dive right in to get a flavour of Manawatū.

Explore

2025 SPEAKER ANNOUNCEMENT COMING SOON

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2025 SPEAKER ANNOUNCEMENT COMING SOON •

37 speakers, three days. Follow E Tipu on LinkedIn for the lastest.

2025 SPEAKER ANNOUNCEMENT COMING SOON

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2025 SPEAKER ANNOUNCEMENT COMING SOON •

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E Tipu 2025 Steering Committee

  • Dr Victoria Hatton

    CEO FoodHQ Innovation

  • Max Elder

    Managing Director, Food System Innovations

  • Jenny Cameron

    Chief Transformation Officer at Ministry for Primary Industries

  • Dr Jerry Shearman

    Chief Executive, Central Economic Development Agency (CEDA)

  • Lee-Ann Marsh

    General Manager for AGMARDT

  • Ian Proudfoot

    Global Head of Agribusiness KPMG

  • Ruth Mackenzie

    Executive Director, Marketing and Communications at Massey University

  • Anna Benny

    Technical Manager (IXOM), dairy farmer and catchment group lead

  • Mark Malone

    General Manager Science and Technology, Fonterra

  • Alice Ritchie

    Head of Healthy & Sustainable Diets, Tesco

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