Briar Loveridge

Briar’s been around the world helping farmers during her extensive dairying career. As a DairyNZ area manager, she’s bringing that experience into play to benefit our own dairy farmers. 

“Before I came to DairyNZ, I was lucky enough to visit farms and farmers across eight different countries outside of New Zealand,” explains Briar. “It was fascinating to see everything from setups similar to ours, to farms where herds’ longest walk from shed to paddock was only a few hundred metres.”

Briar says farming’s been a part of her life since she was little, so it’s more than just a job, it’s something she cares passionately about. “I know, too, that farming can be isolating, yet it’s also one of the most rewarding and impactful careers in this country.”

Outside of work, Briar plays netball and has an active role on that committee and enjoys going to the speedway to support family and hanging out with friends. Inside of work, she sees her role as being the connector between farmers, DairyNZ and the wider sector.

“It’s about understanding what’s happening on-farm – from the challenges to the goals and opportunities. A big part of our role is creating spaces for farmers to connect and learn from one another, and tap into the right people, tools and information. Often, just a couple of hours off-farm interacting with others can make a huge difference.”

Collaboration is also a huge part of her role, says Briar. “Working closely with rural professionals, from local vets, farm advisers, banks, councils, and dairy processors, is crucial in making sure we’re all aligned to benefit of the sector and its farmers.

“At the end of the day, I’m here to support farmers to thrive – not just production, but in people, wellbeing and long-term sustainability. Our regional support people are grounded, approachable and passionate about seeing dairy farming succeed – we’re on your team.”

• Find out more about DairyNZ’s other Upper North Island regional team members.
• Check out our nationwide regional teams.