OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Our Directors are passionate, committed and focused on ensuring we accomplish our objectives. They are responsible for our company’s corporate governance and strategic direction. Under our Constitution the Board is made up of between six and nine Directors.

Up to five directors are elected by shareholders who are suppliers of livestock to the company. Up to three may be appointed by the board.

Nominations for the 2026 election have closed. Anna Nelson and Rodney Booth have been reelected unopposed. 

The Co-operative's constitution requires a minimum of five Farmer-Elected Directors. 

Your current elected representatives are: 

Director

Elected

Next Election

Retirement

Gabrielle Thompson

2020

2027

2030

William Beetham

2022

2028

2031

Rodney Booth

2023

2029

2032

Anna Nelson (Chair)

2023

2029

2032*

Adrian Ball

2024

2027

2033

*The chair of the Co-op and the Co-Chair of Silver Fern Farms Ltd is also eligible for an additional two terms of three years. 

To ensure transparency to shareholders we also wish to provide further context that affects the composition of our board. Gabrielle Thompson has indicated that when her current term expires in 2027 she is intending to retire from the Co-operative Board. 

At our meeting immediately following the 2025 Annual Meeting in May 2026 the Board will also give consideration to the establishment of a Board-Appointed Farmer Director role during the second half of 2026. If this proceeds we will be seeking nominations during June or July. The successful appointee would not be eligible to stand for election in 2027. 

 

  •
    Tim Gibson - Director (Independent)
    Tim is Managing Director of Tūhana Consulting Limited. He is a successful international executive with strengths in strategy development and implementation, stakeholder management, and building high performing teams. He has been a Chief Executive in Government and held Managing Director and senior executive positions in co-operative, and public companies. Tim's career spans roles in the New Zealand Dairy Industry, in New Zealand, Asia and Europe. It includes Managing Director, Anchor (UK) Limited; Managing Director, North Asia, New Zealand Dairy Board; and Group Director Global Strategy, New Zealand Dairy Board. Tim is Chair of the Port Otago Ltd (port and property); Chair of the Skills Group (vocational training); and a Director of Silver Fern Farms Ltd (New Zealand's largest meat processing and sales business). He is a Trustee of the Gillies McIndoe Foundation and Research Institutes, and was previously a Director of LIC and Miraka Limited.
  • Gabrielle Thompson - Farmer Elected Director
    Gabrielle graduated from Massey University with a Veterinary degree in 2000. Gabrielle developed her own companion animal clinic in 2004, growing to five clinics around the lower South Island over a 10-year period before selling these clinics to a nationwide company. Gabrielle and her family own and operate a 360 ha arable and store lamb farm at Dorie, Mid Canterbury. Gabrielle is a chartered fellow of the Institute of Directors and is a member of the Lincoln University Council.
  • Anna Nelson – Chair & Farmer Elected Director
    Anna runs a 1450ha breeding and finishing block in Aria with husband Blair (Munta), and in-laws Jon and Kaye. Anna is originally from Cheviot and has a veterinary degree from Massey University. As well as 10 years at a vet practice in central Waikato, she has also been an Associate Director at Beef + Lamb and is currently a catchment coordinator at King Country River Care. Anna was appointed Chair of Silver Fern Farms Co-operative following the Annual Meeting held in May 2024.
  • Adrian Ball - Farmer Elected Director
    Alongside his wife Pauline, Tirau farmer Adrian runs Dennley Farms, a 196ha fully integrated dairy and dairy beef finishing farm supplying finished cattle to Silver Fern Farms. He is also the Chairman of Rahinga Dairies in Dacre, Southland.
  • William Beetham - Farmer Elected Director
    William graduated with a Diploma in Farm Management from Lincoln University. He has had a 10-year professional career spanning agricultural consultancy, integrated land management, systems development and commercial business management, working in New Zealand, England and Australia.

2025 Annual Meeting

The Annual Meeting for the 2025 financial year was held Tuesday 5 May 2026 at 11am. This was preceeded by an overview of Silver Fern Farms Limited by Chief Exective Dan Boulton at 10am. 

Watch the videos below.