Jodie Goudswaard

Jodie has been managing the DairyBase team at DairyNZ since 2023, after several years spent in the field working with farmers as a DairyBase contractor. “I am passionate about the dairy sector and supporting farmers so they can grow their farm businesses” says Jodie.

Jodie was brought up on a dairy farm and started her career in event management. After gaining a degree in Leisure Studies from Waikato University and spending time living in the city, she made the shift into dairy farming with her husband and continues to farm today.

“When we were sharemilkers working towards farm ownership, DairyBase was an invaluable tool. We can continue to use it today to shape how we run our business” says Jodie. “Being a dairy farmer myself, I can relate to what is happening on farm which was a big help when I was a contractor visiting farmers all over the country.”

Jodie finds her role highly rewarding as DairyBase not only provides a benchmarking service for farmers but also provides credible data which can be used internally by DairyNZ and to inform the wider sector. “The data we collect underpins a lot of the work we do at DairyNZ, whether it's the regional teams working out in the field with farmers, or being used by our policy and research and science team.”

Jodie holds certification in sustainable nutrient management, gained from Massey University, has completed the Kellogg Rural Leadership Programme, and spent several years working as a volunteer for the Dairy Women’s Network. Her diverse background has given her a wide range of skills that she brings to her current role for farmers.