Professional Development

To The Core - Leadership and governance development programme

This introduction to Governance enables you to take your Director skills to the next level and gain valuable insights and training with "To the Core", supported by Farmlands, Silver Fern Farms, LIC and sponsored by AGMARDT. 

 'To The Core' will help you to support your rural community as you develop your leadership and governance skills. To the Core provides access to relevant, influential speakers and directors who'll share their real-life experiences with the group.

This unique programme offers interested and aspiring shareholders of Farmlands, Silver Fern Farms and LIC the chance to gain the skills and knowledge in demand by modern co-operative agribusiness boards.
 
Everyone taking part learns about governance in our co-operatives, and develops the skills needed to operate at board level, but they also acquire a holistic view of leadership development as the skills learnt through the course can also be applied to any organisation, down to the level of volunteer sports club and charities.

Where: Novotel Airport, Burnside, Christchurch

When: Tuesday 4-6 June 2024. Applications will open February 2024. 

We have an outstanding line up of top speakers, as well as opportunities to discuss issues impacting boards.

Topics include:
• A perspective on agribusiness co-operative boards – strategy and structure
• How to navigate boards through risk and market disruption
• The future of farming and impacts for boards
• Lessons learnt from being a new board Director

✓ 100% of participants in 2023 agreed that the programme met or excelled against its objectives.
✓ 87% of participants said the programme had motivated them to progress their governance career
 

The programme fee for 2023 was $845, which includes all accommodation and meals throughout the course. Course fees can be paid using your Farmlands Card.

This fee is subsidised by AGMARDT and the support of our speakers, as well as by Farmlands, Silver Fern Farms and LIC. All travel to and from Christchurch is at the participants' own cost.

This is an opportunity to meet a diverse group of emerging rural leaders from throughout New Zealand - the connections made during this course, will last a lifetime.

For more information please contact Clark Taylor, clark.taylor@silverfernfarms.co.nz.

Participant Feedback

"Fantastic initiative between the co-ops to help secure a future pathway for directors. Clark awesome job on time management and keeping on track !!"

" This has been a brilliant few days.  A great group of people were selected to attend, very balanced group.  Fantastic experienced and open speakers who were very willing to share their knowledge and experiences. A great variety on sessions, was good to be challenged on our thought processes."

"I would like to thank everyone who had a hand in organising the course, all the speaker and facilitators were fantastic and it was truly inspiring"
"I believe running courses like this will only help the NZ Agri sector and make our governance strong across the industry. It's hard for younger people to get involved and this has been a great insight… I look forward to seeing where some of the course attendees end up in the future. Thank you for the opportunity"