Making connections on the agenda at conference

Media release
For immediate release

8 March 2017

Making connections on the agenda at Dairy Women’s Network conference

Making connections is at the top of the agenda for Dairy Women’s Network as they gear up to host their annual conference.

Dubbed DWN17, this year’s conference is being held in New Zealand’s most popular tourist destination – Queenstown, 11-12 May.

Dairy Women’s Network CEO Zelda de Villiers say the decision to host the conference in Queenstown was a deliberate one, one she hopes will leave conference-goers feeling refreshed and ready to tackle another dairy season.

“Queenstown is the perfect venue to host our conference, and it’s the best time of year to catch up. Our members can take a few days out between busy seasons and combine the conference with catching up with family and friends,” she says.

“We’ve purposely planned the conference to take place on a Thursday and Friday so our members can use the opportunity to take a family trip or weekend away with friends.”

DWN17’s theme is ‘Connect’ and de Villiers hopes members will take advantage of the opportunities to reconnect with one another and celebrate their contributions to New Zealand’s dairy industry.

“It’s been a tough couple of years for the dairy industry, and I think our members have earned a couple of days to celebrate their hard work and take some time to refocus, get inspired, and have a bit of fun.”

The two-day conference features several workshops and keynote speakers, multiple networking opportunities and the Dairy Woman of the Year and Dairy Community Leadership awards evening.

Conference-goers will be inspired by this year’s keynote speakers, who are All Blacks manager Gilbert Enoka, entrepreneur Helen Robinson, and MP Louise Upston.

Workshops will focus on leadership and resilience, practical mastitis control, environmental management, financial management, health and wellness, communication skills, an open discussion on mental wellbeing, and a behind-the-scenes tour of the wine and tourism industry in Queenstown.

“This will be an incredible two days where women working in the business of dairying will be inspired by each other, by our amazing speakers, all topped off by the spectacular Queenstown scenery. It’s a must-do event to cap off this dairy season,” says de Villiers.

Registrations for DWN17 are open now, with early bird registrations at a reduced rate closing on 15 March. All members who register before 15 March will go in the draw to win back their registration fee. For the conference programme and to register, head to dwn.co.nz/dwn17-connect

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About Dairy Women’s Network
Dairy Women’s Network was established in 1998 by several of New Zealand’s leading dairying women to develop and educate women to add value to the business of dairying. Members have access to professional and in-person support through a mix of face-to-face events and web-based contact, which includes dairy modules, regional meetings, internet forums and the annual conference.

DWN17 Keynote speakers
Gilbert Enoka
Gilbert Enoka is internationally renowned for his 16-year history with the All Blacks, first as their mental skills coach and now as their manager. His expertise isn’t just limited to the sports field – he also spent 12 years as general manager of New Zealand’s largest real estate firm, Harcourts International.

Helen Robinson

Helen Robinson is co-founder, Executive Director and CEO of Organic Initiative (Oi) and the 2016 Supreme Winner of the NZ Women of Influence Awards. She is director of ATEED (Auckland Tourism Events & Economic Development), the NZ Defence Force, Fulbright NZ and a trustee of Aktive Sport & Recreation.

Hon Louise Upston

Louise Upston is the MP for Taupo, a seat she has held since 2008. She is currently the Minister for Corrections and Associate Minister for Tertiary Education, Skills and Employment and Associate Minister for Primary Industries.

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