Staff profiles
Directors
Terry, Chairman of Potatoes New Zealand, began farming with his brother Greg 30 years ago. Today he farms potatoes and dairy with his nephews, Shaun and Paul Olsen, on 100 hectares at Opiki, near Palmerston North and Kahutuara in South Wairarapa. At first they saw potato crops as a supplement to dairying, a way of rotating pastures around the farm but soon he was hooked on the country's favourite vegetable.
Terry was elected Chairman of the Potato Growers' Group of VegFed in 2005. He has played a key role in establishing The Chip Group, and was at the forefront of Kiwi initiatives for the United Nations Year of the Potato in 2008. Terry was also instrumental in bringing the triennial World Potato Congress to Christchurch in 2009, including leading the organising team for the hugely successful event. After a whirlwind few years he has no plans to rest on his laurels: "This collaboration, this feeling of having us all working together and moving in the right direction, we can't let that die away. I don't want us to look back in 10 years with nothing to show for all our efforts."
Contact
Palmerston North
Ph / Fax: 06 362 7499
Mobile: 027 443 7967
+ Murray Turley - Vice Chairman
Murray Turley's father started farming with 26 hectares in 1952 but today Murray and wife Margaret farm a large-scale predominantly cropping operation spanning four locations in South Canterbury; from Temuka, north to the Rakaia River. As well as cows, sheep and deer, they also grow more than 500 hectares of potatoes and onions.
Murray is one of the country's biggest process potato producers, growing for McCain Foods and Talleys. Murray and Margaret's interests also include a shareholding in Southern Packers Ltd, which was formed to give growers better control over costs in the packing and exporting of onion crops. Murray was first elected to Potatoes New Zealand in 2003. He is Chairman of our Research and Investment Group, our representative on the Vegetable Industry Research & Innovation Board, and was a member of the organising committee for the World Potato Congress 2009. He regards his most exciting initiative in the industry as the funding of PhD students, raising the profile of potato research and "helping us grow potatoes in better ways".
Contact:
Temuka
Ph: 03 615 9053
Fax: 03 615 9226
Mobile: 027 434 2553
A Potatoes New Zealand Director for 33 years, Bharat has been farming with an enthusiasm and deep commitment he inherited from his parents. Bharat's father Hira came to New Zealand from India in the 1950s, initially working with other growers as a partner, leasing land for cropping before he bought his first 10 hectares. Bharat joined the family business from school in 1976 and, working with his brothers and sister, acquired more land, establishing one of the largest vegetable growing businesses in Pukekohe. Today the family grows potatoes all year round, as well as onions for export, and cauliflowers, cabbages, lettuce, pumpkins and carrots for local markets.
Joining the Pukekohe Vegetable Growers Association in 1995 led to him being assigned to attend Potato Sector meetings. He is a former vice chairman of the Potato Product Group (now Potatoes New Zealand) and has spoken out on many issues ranging from the Resource Management Act to the need for more funding for research and development, and consistency of councils' policies towards growers. Bharat is Chairman of the Potato Industry Export Market Development Group.
Contact:
Pukekohe
Ph: 09 238 0015
Fax: 09 238 7248
Mobile: 027 482 8305
+ Catherine Van de Klundert - Director
Catherine Van de Klundert is the first female director to join Potatoes New Zealand’s Board.
She and her husband Jo have been growing potatoes for over 20 years on the Midway Farm at Darfield, Canterbury. Their daughter Anne and son-in-law Jason Hann help run the family business. Currently the company farms 500 hectares of Canterbury land, consisting of 130 hectares of seed potatoes and 30 hectares for processing.
Catherine has also worked as a librarian in the local Darfield library, in addition to running the farm’s office for the last few years. However more recently Catherine has been able to slowly hand over the farm’s administrative duties to her daughter Anne. Catherine is also a true believer in lifelong learning and education for both young and old. Catherine has taken part in the Dale Carnegie course, studying at Christchurch Polytechnic for a New Zealand Diploma in Business. In 2008 Catherine also completed the prestigious Rabobank Executive Development Program in Australia, which offers leading farmers opportunities to develop and enhance their business management skills.
Contact:
Darfield
Ph: 03 318 8620
Ian is a third-generation potato grower from Kimbolton, in Manawatu, on 141 hectares of leased land. His grandfather planted the family's first potatoes back in 1949, and today almost half the staff are family, including Ian's son, Nathan. Focused solely on growing potatoes, Ian grows for all facets of the industry; seed, table, export and processing.
Ian is passionate about growing potatoes - he has to be, he says, because in these times there's no money in it, especially with psyllid around. However, he has no intention of giving up and is devoted to progressing New Zealand's potato growing industry.
A Director of Potatoes New Zealand (and its predecessor) since 1997, Ian's focus is on getting profitability back into the pockets of growers. "There's so little money in growing these days that if a potato grower decides to farm something more profitable, it's very unlikely anyone will take his place. Eventually, New Zealand could find itself in the ludicrous position of having to import our vegetables. That's something we can't allow to happen."
Ian is the Chairman of the Promotions Committee and is on the Seed Potato Certification Authority.
Contact:
Fielding
Ph: 06 328 9712
Fax: 06 328 9717
Mobile: 027 444 4858
Kevin has had a grassroots involvement in the vegetable industry for over 45 years and has represented growers at a local and national industry organisation level for 35 years.
He is a shareholder and director of the Balle Group farming business comprised of 2,500 hectares of vegetable production plus associated dairy and beef production units.
Kevin rejoined the Board of Potatoes New Zealand as a Director in 2010. He is keen to see Potatoes New Zealand evolve into a formal whole of industry organisation that can deliver greater benefits across the spectrum of the industry and ultimately to the consumers of potatoes.
Contact:
Pukekohe
Ph: 09 238 5604
Nick, a Director of Potatoes New Zealand, is a second generation grower, farming 800 hectares at Winchester, near Temuka. His father Peter began growing potatoes in 1959 and Nick followed him into the business in 1990. The farm is mainly mixed cropping, with the potato crop mainly for processing, supplying McCain Foods and Bluebird, as well as sending some for export.
Nick takes a keen interest in innovation. "We aim to keep up with all the latest machinery and ideas. We're happy to try new developments in the quest to grow the perfect potato." His wider involvement in the industry began with attending Potato Growers' Association meetings in Temuka and going to conferences. He has been a Director of Potatoes New Zealand since 2008.
Contact:
Temuka
Ph: 03 615 8676 (w)
Ph: 03 615 7390 (h)
Fax: 03 615 8676
Mobile: 027 434 1402
Robin Oakley is the owner and Managing Director of Oakleys Premium Vegetables Ltd, near Christchurch, and also a Director of Potatoes New Zealand. He is a fifth generation vegetable grower in Canterbury and got into the business at the age of 15, initially selling his produce at the family farm gate in Halkett. Now he and his wife Shirleen have the majority of their operations in Southbridge in Ellesmere, Canterbury.
Robin is passionate about the industry and is a dedicated ambassador for the potato. The Oakleys sponsor a variety of local activities and take all opportunities to promote the health benefits of vegetables, especially potatoes. For their efforts they have won many industry accolades over the years, including being finalists in the FMG Rural Excellence Awards, winning the VegFed Young Achievers Award in Horticulture Award in 2001, then in 2002 being placed second in the Lincoln University Foundation (Horticulture) Farmer of the Year Competition. Robin was also invited to the 2002 Rabobank International Global Fresh Conference in Holland, and in 2005 he was selected to attend the New Zealand Horticulture Industry Leadership Programme at Lincoln University. In 2009, Robin was invited to the advisory panel for a joint Christchurch City Council and Business Development Group initiative, advising growers in their business affairs.
Contact:
Leeston
Ph: 03 324 2902 ext 4 (w)
Fax: 03 324 2611
Mobile: 027 226 3777
+ Todd Hughes - Independent Director
Todd is Potatoes New Zealand's first independent Director, co-opted in July 2010, to represent the views and interests of the broader potato industry. The appointment of indepedent Directors is the first step to achieve Potatoes New Zealand's Strategic Plan objective to broaden the organisation from one that represents growers to one that represents the entire potato industry.
Todd manages the Turners & Growers operation in Pukekohe and is a member of their domestic management team. He has been involved in the marketing of potatoes since joining Turners & Growers in Te Puke in 1985, and is passionate about selling a healthy, nutritious product to Kiwis.
Contact:
Pukekohe
Ph: 09 237 1812
Fax: 03 324 2611
Mobile: 021 918 069
Other staff
Ron began his working life with the Inland Revenue in his native Scotland and joined the Revenue Department here when he immigrated to New Zealand in 1966. In 1978 he was seconded to Parliament as a private secretary, staying until 1990 when he joined VegFed – the New Zealand Vegetable and Potato Growers Federation, now Horticulture New Zealand. Shortly after arriving at VegFed, he took on the role of potatoes product manager.
In 2009 Ron was awarded the Potatoes New Zealand Chairman’s Award for his energy, passion and enthusiasm for the industry. He cites attending five World Potato Congresses and helping organise the 2009 event in New Zealand as among his career highlights. “Seeing the industry grow and mature, and seeing people learning to work together has been incredibly rewarding. There is great maturity in the industry now. Potatoes have a great future. The past may have been difficult when the potato was being blamed for obesity, but now it is recognised as a nutritional goldmine and the industry has a huge future.”
Contact
Horticulture New Zealand
Ph: 04 472 3795
Fax: 04 471 2861
Mobile: 027 446 6838
+ Andrea Crawford - Administrator
Andrea is the Product Group Administrator for Potatoes New Zealand, but her skills are shared with the Process and Fresh Vegetable Product Groups. An experienced administrator, Andrea previously worked for Horticulture New Zealand in other administrative roles including database management. Before that she worked in sales and marketing roles within a variety of companies within the building industry including Assa Abloy (Interlock Group), Dux Industries and Master Plumbers, Gasfitters and Drainlayers Association.
Among Andrea's responsibilities are organising Potatoes New Zealand's meetings, arranging travel, attending and minuting meetings, and preparing the regular Potatoes New Zealand e-newsletter. She says that although looking after Potatoes New Zealand is only part of her job, she enjoys working for such a dedicated group of growers and being available to members who need her help.
Contact
Horticulture New ZealandPh: 04 472 3795
Fax: 04 471 2861
Email: andrea.crawford@hortnz.co.nz
+ Glenda Gourley - Food and Education Consultant
Glenda is Potatoes New Zealand's Food, Marketing and Education Consultant and advises the Promotions Committee. Glenda's role is to develop and implement the potato promotion strategy, aimed at encouraging more consumers to eat more potatoes.
That's not just about encouraging people to eat more; as a nutritionist Glenda is passionate about the health benefits of eating vitamin and mineral-rich potatoes. She believes that if you empower consumers with the facts and skills they need to make an informed buying decision, they will choose to buy potatoes and create quick and tasty meals. As the author of several health-focused cookbooks, Glenda is expertly placed to deliver those messages about our favourite superfood.
Much of her work for Potatoes New Zealand involves building relationships with industry partners, as well as other key influencers, including government bodies, teachers, health professionals and the media. Glenda chairs The Chip Group and is also a member of the International Potatoes Group, which is made up of people on similar potato promotion boards in other countries.
+ Dr Stephen Ogden - Psyllid Coordinator
Dr Stephen Ogden, a Director of Market Access Solutionz, is Potatoes New Zealand's psyllid response coordinator and advisor, charged with ensuring we take a comprehensive, planned approach to managing the pest. He is responsible for monitoring the impacts of psyllid nationally and communicating his findings, what the impacts are and any possible research objectives to the science community and Potatoes New Zealand. Dr Ogden also advises on the development of the science programme and monitoring growers' implementation of recommendations.
Dr Ogden has worked with the potato industry for many years advising on biosecurity and market access issues, as well as psyllid. He runs grower workshops, develops technical resources for growers and advises on the research programme. He has worked in agriculture all of his working life in the scientific, regulatory and private sectors.
+ Amanda Woodbridge - Communications Advisor
Amanda, from public relations agency Ideas Shop, is Potatoes New Zealand's communications advisor, and has been leading our communications strategy for the best part of the last five years. Her work has ranged across the whole gambit of the industry, from being a member of the psyllid working group advising on communications with growers, to working with Glenda Gourley to inspire consumption and clarify the nutritional value of potatoes, through to providing advice for how to engage with industry, growers and government (including the Minister of Agriculture and Biosecurity).
Amanda's goal is to build a strong, prosperous, respected potato industry with Potatoes New Zealand regarded as the centre of the industry - and, of course, to get more Kiwis eating more potatoes! And her work with Glenda Gourley and the Potatoes New Zealand team has been recognised with Ideas Shop and Potatoes New Zealand being awarded a prestigious Gold Quill Excellence in Media Relations Award - an international award recognising best practice in public relations. The award was given for the campaign, "Potatoes: a nutritional goldmine", which was a media campaign built around the 2009 World Potato Congress, aimed at correcting the myths around potatoes, such as that they were fattening and unhealthy. The campaign gained sustained media coverage about potatoes across print, radio, TV and online media, and turned once-skeptical journalists into passionate potato fans.
+ Shaun Slattery - Export Market Development Coordinator
From Market Access Solutionz, Shaun has been Potatoes New Zealand's export market development coordinator and market access advisor since 2008. He helps growers and exporters expand their businesses by getting their potatoes into new markets and boosting sales in existing ones. Because industry growth can only come about by achieving export growth, Shaun's work in researching and communicating opportunities in new and existing markets plays a crucial role in the future health of our industry.
Shaun's recent coup was in opening up the Taiwanese market to New Zealand potatoes - a process that took 10 years. Shaun's research focus currently is primarily on countries where entry barriers are not so high, such as Malaysia, Singapore, the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia. He is also looking at the opportunities for high value seed in selected Asian countries.
