Back on the Road

I'm back on the Nuffield road again.  I've got seven weeks accross eight countries with eight Aussie scholars.  If today is anything to go by, it is going to be amazing.

Today we have visted to the Australian War Museum, the National Museum, the National Gallery and spent  a while in the speakers gallery listenng to Julia Gillard and Tony Abbot strut their stuff in parliament.

We finished the day with dinnner at Parliament House with the Australian Miniser of Agriculture Hon Joe Ludwig, sitting MP Hon Bruce Scott and a few other parliamentarians and government policy advisors.  Nice meal, good company...well done Nuffield Australia.  What a great opportunity this scholarship is.

Below is a view of Canberra, the Australian Parliament House and the Australian War Memorial

NZ agriculture working together - PICA

Photo:  Myself, Associate Minister for Primary Industries Hon. Nathan Guy, Minister of Primary Industries Hon. David Carter and DairyNZ Director Ben Allomes at the Launch of PICA.

Yesterday we had the official launch of PICA - Primary Industry Capability Alliance.  This is a day of significance for NZ agriculture because it signifies the official launch of an alliance across sectors and between networks.

The alliance are working together on a collaborative strategy to grow people in the primary industry.  This has not happened in in NZagriculture before and collectively covers the major farmer networks and pastoral sector industry bodies.  I am not exaggerating when I say that this is a big deal.

The thing about it is, the launch happened yesterday but the work is well underway with the establishment of AgriKids, TeenAg, Young Farmers and the Rural Business Network over the last few years.  Now there is a strategy which brings them together as a talent pipleine to engage and grow people.

There is plenty of work to get on with, plenty of challenges and lots to learn, but the NZ agricultural industry is investing in it's most precious resource, its people; well done New Zealand!

Nuffield is a sleeping giant.

I had the prvillage of attending the Nuffield Biennial Conference this weekend past.

What a great gathering is was with Scholars spanning over the last 50 years in attendance.  It is rare and special to have a gathering of industry leaders who are wiling to pass on their wisom and knowledge about an industry that they love, and have served for decades.  I was struck by the intellectual horsepower, humility and comradeship of the group.

There is tremendous value in the interminging of a span of ages; young and old, old and young, sharing insights and experiences.  I saw this amongst the UK Young Farmer groups and admit it is something that is missing in the way NZ has structured our Young Farmer organisation.

I am looking forward to tapping into the Nuffield network and doing my part.

Below are a couple of us on the Contemporary Scholars Conference somewhere in Rotterdam