Judging Panel member Phil McKendry with Farmlands Head of Sustainability and Land Use Katie Vickers and Fonterra General Manager of Capital Strategy Emma Parsons.
Farmlands Head of Sustainability and Land Use Katie Vickers was named Emerging Leader of the Year at the Cooperative Business New Zealand Annual Awards 2020 that were held in Christchurch this evening.
Katie was recognised for her significant contribution to the rural supplies retail co-operative, which has resulted in her being appointed as Farmlands first ever Head of Sustainability and Land Use.
A new award category for 2020, the Emerging Leader of the Year recognises an individual (under 35) who is making their mark within their member organisation or an individual who has established a co-operative. The award aims to honour contribution through innovation, driving best practice, collaboration or co-operation.
Katie joined Farmlands in 2014 as a Category Assistant. Since then, she has worked her way up the ranks through the marketing team, becoming Marketing Manager for Agri Products and Services, where she managed a team and a significant sized portfolio. This included oversight of the Farmlands Card, Nutrition, Grain and Seed, Horticulture and Real Estate businesses. In addition, Katie has been a participant in the Kellogg Rural Leadership Programme.
Cooperative Business New Zealand Chief Executive Roz Henry says: “After only six years at Farmlands, Katie has proven herself to be indispensable and she has been given major responsibility as the first-ever Head of Sustainability and Land Use.
“Farmlands is committed to putting their responsibility to support farmers to reduce their environmental impact and optimise value from the land at the front and centre and Katie has been tasked with leading this important outcome.”
Roz says the calibre of the nominations coming through in the Emerging Leader of the Year category was extremely high.
“It was encouraging to see such great examples of success coming through from our co-operative’s emerging leaders.
“It is important to recognise future leaders, who are so critical for succession planning and continuity, as well as those who are creating co-operatives from the ground up. It takes huge tenacity to start a business and the efforts of our co-operative entrepreneurs are to be applauded.”
The other finalists in this category for 2019 – 2020 were:
- Jamie Penney, Managing Director, Ion Technologies
- Morgan McCann, Head of New World, Foodstuffs North Island
