Primary Industries Summit and Awards | 23-24 June 2026 | Cordis Hotel Auckland
This year's nominations are closing soon — meet the hall of fame
Nominate your peers or yourself – this is a chance to recognise incredible work and stand amongst leaders who’ve made a difference to NZ agriculture.
Also, don’t forget to book your seat at the summit:
Primary Industries New Zealand Summit & Awards
Check out last year’s highlight reel at the end of the post.
2025
Emerging Leader Award
WINNER
Bridie Virbickas, Federated Farmers Bay of Plenty Sharemilker Chair
Champion Award
WINNER
Dr Robyn Dynes, Principal Scientist and Farmer Engagement Specialist, AgResearch
Team & Collaboration Award
WINNER
Fonterra, Ballance, Ravensdown, and LIC for the open data sharing ecosystem
Technology & Collaboration Project Award
WINNER
FAR for combine workshops
Food, Beverage and Fibre Product Award
WINNER
Chia Sisters
Guardianship & Conservation Award (Kaitiakitanga Award)
WINNER
Pacificvet and co-founder Kent Deitemeyer
Outstanding Contribution
WINNER
Eric Roy, Southland Farmer and NZ Pork Chair
Rural Hero of the Year
Award
WINNER
Chris Allen
2024
Science & Research Award
WINNER
Dr Theo Sarris, ESR – for the ESR Groundwater team and DairyNZ
Emerging Leader Award
WINNER
Claire Williamson – Velma & Beverley
Team & Collaboration Award
WINNER
NZ Ethical Employers
Champion Award
WINNER
Dr Warren Parker (Awarded Posthumously), Pāmu Farms of New Zealand
Food, Beverage and Fibre Producer Award
WINNER
Southern Pastures – Lewis Road Creamery
Technology & Innovation Award
WINNER
Farm 4 Life HUB
Guardianship & Conservation (Kaitiakitanga) Award
WINNER
Damian & Jane Roper – Farm Owners
Rural Hero of the Year Award
WINNER
Alistair Macgregor – Farmy Army
Outstanding Contribution Award
WINNER
Julian Raine – Dairy & Horticulture Farmer/Grower
2023
Science & Research Award
WINNER
AgResearch – The AgResearch Discovery Team
Emerging Leader Award
WINNER
Dr Louise Hennessy – Scientist, AgResearch
Team & Collaboration Award
WINNER
DairyNZ – Tararua Plantain Project
Champion Award
WINNER
Dr Dave Leathwick – Scientist, AgResearch
Fibre Producer Award
WINNER
OneFortyOne – Kaituna Sawmill
Technology & Innovation Award
WINNER
James Bourke – DairySmart NZ
Guardianship & Conservation (Kaitiakitanga) Award
WINNER
Adam Thompson – Restore Native NZ
Food & Beverage Producer Award
WINNER
Sanford – Big Glory Bay Salmon
Outstanding Contribution Award
WINNER
Prof. Keith Woodward – Honorary Professor of Agri-Food Systems Lincoln University
2022
Innovation & Collaboration Award
WINNER
Bremworth – Science & Research Sustainability Programme
Team Award
WINNER
UFMT – Foodbank Fruit & Vegetable Box Project during COVID-19 Lockdowns
Science & Research Award
WINNER
Breeding Low Methane-Emitting Sheep Team – AgResearch
Outstanding Contribution Award
WINNER
Professor Stewart Ledgard – AgResearch
Emerging Leader Award
WINNER
Quinn Morgan – Dairy Farmer, Pāmu (Landcorp)
Champion Award
WINNER
Chris Lewis – Federated Farmers
Producer Award
WINNER
MilkTechNZ
Guardianship & Conservation (Kaitiakitanga) Award
WINNER
Manawatu River Leaders Accord
2021
Innovation & Collaboration Award
WINNER
Hydrogen – Ballance Agri-Nutrients & Hiringa Energy
Team Award
WINNER
Surfing for Farmers
Science & Research Award
WINNER
Prof. Jon Hickford, Dr Huitong Zhou, Freeman Fang – Lincoln University
Outstanding Contribution Award
WINNER
Malcolm Bailey – Dairy Companies Association of New Zealand
Emerging Leader Award
WINNER
Emma Boase – Horticulture New Zealand
Champion Award
WINNER
Frances Clement – NZ Pork
Producer Award
WINNER
The True Honey Co.
Special recognition for outstanding cultural collaboration
WINNER
Tōtara Industry Pilot – Scion
2020
Innovation & Collaboration Award
WINNER
Precision Seafood Harvesting programme – Plant & Food Research
Team Award
WINNER
Poultry Defender team – Avian Empire, Bioforce & Tegal Foods
Science & Research Award
WINNER
Future Orchard Planting System (FOPS) – Plant & Food Research
Outstanding Contribution Award
WINNER
Rob Davison, Beef + Lamb New Zealand
Leadership Award
WINNER
Bernadette Hunt
Champion Award
WINNER
Wayne Langford & Siobhan O’Malley for Meat the Need
2019
Innovation & Collaboration Award
WINNER
Ecotain – AgriCom/Greener Pastures
Team Award
WINNER
Beef + Lamb New Zealand’s ‘Taste Pure Nature’ team
Science & Research Award
WINNER
ClearTech – Lincoln University
Outstanding Contribution Award
WINNER
Dr Merlyn Hay, Vetlife
Chief Executive Award
WINNER
Greg Campbell of Ravensdown
