DairyNZ represents all New Zealand dairy farmers, to protect and advance their competitive edge on the global market

Board of Directors

John Luxton (Chair) - Farmer elected

John has extensive farming interests supplying both Fonterra and Tatua. A former Minister of Agriculture, he was a Cabinet Minister for nine years and also spent seven years in international agricultural consulting. As a farmer he was an A.C. Cameron Award winner.
John’s current directorships include Landcare Research, Tatua and Wallace Corporation and a number of other businesses in which he has an interest.
He is a trustee of the Massey University Foundation.

Helen Anderson - Independent

Former Ministry of Research, Science and Technology Chief Executive Dr Helen Anderson for many years was the government’s key advisor on science issues.
Prior to her chief executive role Helen was MoRST’s Chief Scientific Adviser for more than five years. She has been New Zealand’s representative at several international forums including APEC and the OECD and has recently been made a Companion of the Queens Service Order and a Companion of the Royal Society of New Zealand - an honour recognising outstanding leadership in science and contributions to the promotion and advancement of science and technology in New Zealand.

Alister Body - Farmer elected

Alister lives and runs his farming business in the Mid-canterbury region. He has a Bachelor of Commerce (Agriculture) from Lincoln University. Alister has been heavily involved in farmer advocacy, including acting as a farmer representative on Dairy InSight’s advisory teams prior to being elected to the board. He currently chairs the DairyNZ Human Capability Leadership group and is a director of Pastoral Genomics.

Michael Spaans - Farmer elected

Michael is a dairy farmer from Te Aroha and is Chairman of Innovation Waikato Ltd, Animal Breeding Services Ltd and the Tokanui Advisory Committee, which oversees the conversion and research activities of AgResearch’s new dairy farm at Tokanui.
Michael is also a former Fonterra Shareholders' Council member.

Kevin Ferris - Farmer elected

Kevin is a Te Awamutu dairy farmer, who also owns a farm in Southland. Elected to the DairyNZ board in October 2009, Kevin is jointly dairying with two of his three children and is a Fonterra Shareholders Councillor.

Barry Harris - Independent

Former Chief Executive of the Wellington Regional Council and Environment Waikato, for the last four years Barry was the Director of Fonterra Milk Supply. He was responsible for achieving Fonterra's milk growth goals in a way that is profitable for farmers and sustainable for the environment. Barry is also a Director of AgResearch.

Barbara Kuriger - Farmer elected

Barbara has been farming for 30 years with husband Louis and they farm two properties with family members in Taranaki.
She is currently a Director of Dairy Training Ltd, a Director of AgITO, Chair of the NZ Dairy Industry Awards Trust, a former member of the Fonterra Shareholders' Council, and past Chair of the LIC National Council.
Barbara received an AGMARDT Scholarship to attend the inaugural Food & Agribusiness Marketing Experience (FAME) in 2006.

David Milne - Independent

David is a Director of Westland Milk Products, Bullseye Development Ltd, and Cape Fear Ltd. He is former Chairman of the LIC board, Director of Combined Rural Traders and Karamea Dairy Company and has memberships of the AgITO Regional Training Committee and West Coast Farm Training Scheme. He and his wife, Margaret, were winners of the West Coast Dairy Farmer of the Year in 1982 and the A.C. Cameron Memorial Award in 1983.
They farm three dairy units and a dairy support.

John Spencer - Independent

John is Chairman of KiwiRail, AsureQuality,Tainui Group Holdings, WEL Networks and Telfer Young.
He is Deputy Chairman of Legal Services Agency and a Director of Tower Ltd. He is the Audit Committee Chairman of Tower and was the Chief Executive of New Zealand Dairy Group prior to the formation of Fonterra.
John is also a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants.