Fert co-op voters back Smith

Ravensdown South Island shareholders have voted Jane Smith to the co-op’s board for a three-year term.

Jane Smith.

Chair Bruce Wills says this year’s election generated a lot of interest among shareholders, with over 25 per cent of the co-operative's South Island transacting shareholders voting, representing nearly 39 per cent of the shares held by that group.

“With her passion for Ravensdown and knowledge of the wider primary sector, voting shareholders have recognised Jane’s alignment to the co-operative ethos—a core governance attribute.”

Smith runs Newhaven Farms, a 9,500 stock unit sheep and beef farm, which includes stud sheep and stud beef operations supplying genetics around New Zealand and abroad.

Her governance experience includes 6 years as an independent director on the Red Meat Profit Partnership, a $64 million programme between agribusiness and government partners focused on driving long-term profits for NZ's red meat sector. She also served a term as a Crown-appointed layperson on the Veterinary Council of NZ, the statutory board responsible for regulating the profession.

Bruce Wills has also thanked outgoing South Island director, Nicky Hyslop, for her service and commitment to the Board.

“Her commitment to the co-operative and contribution to the governance of Ravensdown has been highly valued by me and the wider board. Thank you too, to Rebecca Keoghan for her participation in this year’s South Island director area election round.”

Jacqueline Rowarth was the only candidate nominated for the North Island director area. As a result, there was no election for the North Island and Rowarth remains a director for a further three years.