Sam Robinson is a well known Hawke’s Bay sheep and beef farmer who is highly respected in the red meat industry and an acknowledged farming leader.
Formerly Chairman of Richmond Ltd before its acquisition by PPCS (now Silver Fern Farms), Sam Robinson is currently Chair of AgResearch. He was a member of the Prime Minister's Growth and Innovation Advisory Board, and was also a member of the Government's Food & Beverage Task Force. Formally he was the Chair of the Agricultural and Marketing Research and Development Trust (AGMARDT) and has also been a director of the Port of Napier and Farmlands.
He farms close to Waipukurau.
Dr Jane Adams Appointed July 2007
Dr Adams has wide ranging experience in food
technology in public and private sectors and is currently employed
by Zespri Group Ltd in as Innovation Leader, managing research into
kiwifruit productivity and market access as well as extension services.
After gaining a PhD in plant biochemistry, Dr
Adams joined Goodman Fielder Wattie Ltd as an export and development
manager for a company involved in new innovations in fresh food. She
was also technical advisor to the New Zealand Board of Goodman Fielder
Wattie Ltd and undertook one of the first waste audits of a major
company in New Zealand. She later joined the Ministry of Agriculture
and Fisheries Quality Management Division, became a registered quality
systems auditor and developed quality assurance systems for several
food companies. She then developed her own consultancy business in
post-harvest science and science management. In 1996 she joined UNITEC
Institute of Technology as a senior academic manager and became Dean
of the Faculty of Health and Environmental Sciences.
She has been involved in strategic management
of research both at an institutional and national level. She
contributed to national research strategies for food science and
technology and for forage crops and reviewed applications for
research funding for the Foundation for Research and Technology
from 1992 to 1998. In 2006 Dr Adams became a Member of the New
Zealand Order of Merit for her services to food science and
technology. She is currently chairperson of the New Zealand
Horticultural Science Advancement Trust and a member
of Sustainable Aotearoa New Zealand.
Mr Danny Chan Appointed July 2005
Danny is the Executive Chairman
of Alpha Asset Management Ltd and has had interests in floriculture,
education, seafood processing and security systems. Until 1994, he
headed the Taiwan office of Fidelity Investments of the USA, the world’s
largest fund management company. He was formerly a director of Airways
Corporation Ltd and Everbright Pacific, a subsidiary of the Chinese
government-owned China Everbright Ltd. Danny has lectured in managerial
finance and business analysis at Victoria University of Wellington.
Danny is currently a director
of the following companies (and subsidiaries thereof): Academic Colleges
Group Ltd, Assessment Services Ltd, BioPacific Management Ltd, FlowerZone
International Ltd, Griff Trading Ltd, Guardall Security System Ltd,
Orient New Zealand Property Trust, Orient Pacific Management Ltd,
PhytaGro Inc, Tahere Callas Ltd and Talaford Investment Ltd.
Dr Michael Dunbier Appointed September 2009
Dr Michael Dunbier is a research scientist with expertise in genetics and plant breeding, a former director of DSIR Crop Research and founding Chief Executive of Crop & Food Research.
He Chairs the Boards of the BioProtection Centre of Research Excellence, Pastoral Genomics Consortium, HorticultureNZ Vegetable Research and Innovation Board and the Governance Groups of two NIWA OBIs. He is also a Director of the Foundation for Arable Research.
Previous Directorships include FRST, Grains Research and Development Corporation (Aust), SunPrime Seeds (Aust), Quality Wheat CRC (Aust), Lincoln International and Dairy InSight.
In 2005 he received the Bledisloe Medal from Lincoln University, and he is a Fellow of both the NZ Institute of Agricultural Science and the NZ Institute of Management.
Mr Barry Harris Appointed September 2009
Barry Harris had an extensive career as a Chief Executive in regional government, and lately as a senior executive in the dairy industry. Until recently Barry was Director of Fonterra Milk Supply and a member of the Fonterra Leadership Team. He also sits on the board of DairyNZ and works part time for Fonterra leading sustainability strategy.
Barry has a Masters degree in Agricultural Science from Massey University. He lives in Auckland and is married to Wendy with three adult children.
Ms Susan Huria – Deputy Chair Appointed July 2005
Susan Huria is a specialist in the Maori sector with experience in governance,
marketing communications and general management. She held a senior role at
Auckland International Airport for ten years before starting her own management
practice in 2000, Huria Anders. Her previous directorships include Radio New
Zealand Limited, Housing New Zealand Corporation, Ngai Tahu Development Corporation
and Workbase. Since 2005 Susan has been an independent member on the Fonterra
Governance Development Committee.
She is currently a director of Airways, Watercare, Northland Port and Manukau Leisure Services Limited
Mr Andrew MacPherson Appointed June 2008
Andrew MacPherson was CEO of textiles R&D institute Canesis Network (which was acquired by AgResearch in 2007) and prior to this was CEO of AgResearch’s fully owned subsidiary, AgVax. A trained Veterinarian, he is currently chairman of the Johnes Disease Research Consortium and a director of the Animal Health Board.
Mr MacPherson owns an east coast sheep and beef station and lives in Wellington.
Mr John Loughlin Appointed November 2009
John Loughlin is a professional company director. John was formerly chief executive and chief financial officer of meat marketer and processor Richmond Ltd. and prior to this was an institutional fund manager. He is currently chair of ZESPRI Group Ltd, Allied Farmers Ltd, Allied Nationwide Finance Ltd. and Tru-Test Corporation. He is a Director of AgResearch Ltd, Metlifecare Ltd, Port of Napier Ltd, Kermadec Property Fund Ltd, Taupo Motorsport Park Ltd, Firstlight Foods Ltd and Centralines Ltd. He is a former issuer appointee to the New Zealand Markets Disciplinary Tribunal and a Former Ministerial Appointee to the Representatives' Committee of the Animal Health Board.
John is married to Kathryn, they have three secondary school age children. Together Kathryn and John have successfully developed Askerne Winery and vineyard from a green field back in 1993 to now creating award winning wines.
