Massey professor and alumni win at Women of Influence Awards

Massey University Professor Nicola Shadbolt has received the 2017 Women of Influence Rural Award, and three Massey alumni also won categories at last night’s Women of Influence Awards.

Professor Shadbolt was unable to attend the gala dinner held at SkyCity in Auckland, but was well represented by a number of influential Massey women.

Specialising in farm and agribusiness management, Professor Shadbolt has left her mark in research and education, as well as having a range of governance roles, including her appointment as the first elected woman board member at Fonterra.

She has been contracted by both the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development and the European Union for research and workshops and is frequently invited to speak at international conferences on strategic issues in agribusiness.

Her strategic perspective on global agribusiness has served many organisations around New Zealand, but she also walks the walk. Professor Shadbolt has built up her own farming business with her husband from scratch into a $27 million combination of five equity partnerships, including dairy, sheep, beef, deer and forestry.

The awards, part of the New Zealand Women of Influence programme, aim to recognise and celebrate those who make a difference to other New Zealanders.

Professor Shadbolt was not the only Massey woman to be honoured. Three alumni also received awards: Bachelor of Arts graduate and Be. Accessible founder Minnie Baragwanath took home the Diversity Award; Diploma of Business Studies graduate and director of community at Kiwi Landing Pad Sian Simpson won the Global Award; Dr Hinemoa Elder from the Centre of Research Excellence for the Ageing Brain won the Innovation and Science Award; and Bachelor of Science graduate and head of responsible investment for the New Zealand Superannuation Fund Anne-Maree O’Connor took out the Board and Management category.

For the third year running, Massey sponsored the global category, which was presented by Assistant Vice-Chancellor Research, Academic and Enterprise Professor Giselle Byrnes.

Full details of the awards, finalists and winners are on the Westpac website.