Farewells for long-time DWN board members

Farewells for long-time DWN board members

While she might have handed over the reins as chair at the Dairy Women’s Network Annual General Meeting this week, Michelle Wilson will be retaining her membership and watching with interest.

As will board member Angela Fullerton, of Te Awamutu, who also officially stepped down after 12 years on the board.

The AGM was held at Narrow’s Landing on the outskirts of Hamilton on Wednesday night (22 October).

Both Wilson and Fullerton originally joined the board of the Network for Women in Dairying as Dairy Women’s Network was then known, and cite giving other women opportunities in the governance roles the Network offers as a main reason for taking a step back.

“The network has evolved over the last couple of years. It’s time for someone else to step up,” said Wilson.

That person is former Dairy Woman of the Year winner and BEL Group head Justine Kidd.

Wilson says her new focus will be on increasing her governance knowledge to give back to the rural sector. She has just completed stage one of the Fonterra Governance Programme and hopes to be selected as a participant for stage two of the programme.

“I have been fortunate to have had a number of mentors, not only within Dairy Women’s Network, but also from the wider dairy industry.

“The increase in the governance skills I have learnt whilst being on the board have allowed me to have the capability to serve on a number of not-for-profit boards.”

Wilson has been a Dairy Women’s Network member since 2003, and took on the regional convenor coordinator role in 2004, and first appeared on the board in 2006, at which time the membership was 2100.

Today, that figure looks more like 6000.

Wilson was acknowledged for how much she has achieved during that time, with some of her highlights including becoming board chair in 2010; seeing the Network’s regional groups grow from 12 to 30; and going from a volunteer convenor co-ordinator to having three part-time employees supporting the regional conveners throughout New Zealand.

“The membership growth has been an absolute highlight, as was being invited to represent Dairy Women’s Network and the New Zealand dairy industry at the APEC Women in Leadership Forum in Beijing and managing to continue Dairy Women’s Network business as usual whilst in the executive chair role.”

Since she and husband Pete have downsized their farming operation since moving north from the South Island to Waihi in the Bay of Plenty, Wilson is more hands on on-farm which she says she is enjoying.

“I never envisioned the journey I would have the privilege to travel in my time with Dairy Women’s Network, but it is satisfying to hand over the reins to someone of Justine’s calibre along with a passionate and dedicated board to support her.”

Fullerton said in her address at the AGM that it was after attending her first DWN conference in 1998 that she gave herself permission to get involved in the dairy farming business.

“I want to thank the Network and its members for recognising my strengths and abilities and allowing me to grow. You are women I treasure.”

ENDS

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