Board

William Beetham, Board Chair, is the managing Director of Beetham Pastural in Masterton. He operates a large sheep and beef farm and is committed to building thriving rural communities. William brings extensive governance experience having previously served as a national board member, the Meat & Wool Chair and provincial President of Federated Farmers and a member of the OSPRI Stakeholder Council. He is currently a director of Silver Fern Farms Co-Operative and Silver Fern Farms Limited.

Prue Younger is the CEO of FICA (Forest Industry Contractors Association), the ex-CEO of Eastland Wood Council, and the owner/director of Public Impressions, a Marketing & Communications agency based in Hawke’s Bay. Prue was a trustee of the Hawke’s Bay Community Fitness Trust and has been appointed in several chair roles, including the NZCT Regional Advisory Group, Sport Gisborne Tairāwhiti, and Connext Trust and as well as the Board of the Fencing Contractors Association. As a business owner Prue brings seasoned experience in starting, growing, and developing a business. She has solid marketing, promotion, and event management background, as well as governance and relationship building capability.

Turi Ngatai MNZM (Ngai Te Rangi/Ngāti Ranginui, Tauranga-Moana) is the Director Māori for the Open Polytechnic of New Zealand, a member of the Kahui Kaumatua of Toi Ohomai and Māori Relationship manager for Seeka. He is also a member of the WDCieb for Primary Industries. Turi is a Director of the Māori-owned and operated Te Awanui Huka Pak and Chair of its investment company, Te Whāi Limited. He is Deputy Chair of the Ngai Te Rangi iwi post-settlement governance entity and Te Runanga o Ngai Te Rangi and representative for Ngai Te Rangi at the Iwi Chairs Forum. He is a kaumatua, a grower and a member of several Māori trusts. He was instrumental in establishing the Māori Kiwifruit Growers Association and has been the joint CEO of Te Wānanga o Aotearoa. Turi priorities are to achieve excellence in vocational education and workforce opportunities for Māori.

Dr Wiremu McMillan (Ngāti Porou) runs Wiremu McMillan Consultancy, an agribusiness consultancy specialised in providing service to commercial, industry, Māori-owned, and research and development businesses. Wiremu is Massey University’s first Māori PhD graduate. He is the Chair of Atareta Puaninga McMillan Whanau Trust. He is a member of several primary industry advisory groups. He has been involved in various research and development initiatives. Wiremu maintains extensive networks in NZ’s primary industries, Māori land entities, and Māori agribusiness. His focus is on supporting more Māori succeeding in all roles in all primary industries, as Māori.

Sandy Scarrow holds the role of Horticultural Consultant/Managing Director of Fruition Horticulture in Tauranga. Sandy’s areas of expertise include horticultural consultancy, orchard management, and strategic advice, primary sector education, quality management, and environmental management. Sandy is a member of the NZ Institute of Agricultural & Horticultural Science and the Certified Practicing Agriculturalist. She is a founding member and trustee of the Bay of Plenty Rural Support Trust, a member of the Bay of Plenty Institute of Directors, the Australasia-Pacific Extension Network, and a trustee of the Sydenham Botanic Gardens.

Glen Harkness is the Executive Director, Strategic Projects and Partnerships at the Eastern Institute of Technology (EIT) in Hawke’s Bay and Tairāwhiti. In his role, he oversees a range of significant projects – several connected to the primary sector – as well EIT’s marketing, communications and secondary/tertiary partnerships. Glen started in sport science before taking on several academic management and leadership roles. Glen brings a deep understanding of the tertiary education model, including the changes associated with the Reform of Vocational Education (RoVE). He has strong networks across the Te Pūkenga – New Zealand Institute of Skills and Technology network. His focus lies on innovation and technology in education.

Ben Allomes is the managing Director of Hopelands Dairies/Allomes Farming in Woodville. Ben has been a farmer elected Director of Dairy NZ from 2011 to 2019. He represented the Dairy Industry on several groups, including working with TEC an MPI on Human Capability reviews, Primary ITO IPG – Dairy, OSPRI Stakeholder Council, and as Chair of the National Mastitis Council. Over the last fifteen years, Ben has also been involved in the Agricultural Health and Safety Council, Dairy NZ Retention and Recruitment Group, M + W Skills and Education Mentoring Group, Rural Leadership Development Steering Committee, NZ Ag Safety Forum, and as an AgITO tutor. In 2019, his farm won the MPI Best Employer Awards.

Chrissie Hape has over 35 years’ experience working in the government and community sectors and nine years with Ngāti Kahungunu Iwi. Her career has predominantly focused on improving health, education, social and wellbeing outcomes for whanau. Chrissie has extensive senior leadership and governance experience i.e. previous Health HB Director and Chair, co-Chair Māori Economic Development Advisory Board, various advisory positions to central government agencies as well as a current Board member of Food & Fibre COVE. Chrissie was appointed as Chief Executive of Ngāti Kahungunu Iwi Inc in 2017. In 2023 Chrissie was awarded a New Years Honour being made a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit  acknowledging her service to Māori and Governance.