Olivia Jordan

Olivia began her career at DairyNZ in 2015 as a research technician. She is now a technical team lead, and manages the technicians based in the Waikato.

A key part of her role is ensuring the right resources and skills are on-hand to support DairyNZ’s scientists so they can successfully conduct their research.

Her day-to-day work includes looking after her team and carrying out tasks related to current research projects. “During my day I could be collecting samples from the animals we have in our barns, like faecal, urine, or blood samples; or pasture samples out in our paddocks; or pregnancy scanning cows. It all depends on the research protocol,” says Olivia. “I love the contact with animals, but I also enjoy working with my team. I really enjoy seeing others grow, excel and succeed in their roles.”

Olivia grew up on a dairy farm and always valued the outdoor lifestyle and working with animals. This passion led to her gaining a Bachelor of Science in environmental science and biology and a Master of Science in earth science, both completed at the University of Waikato. During her master’s her research examined the influence of different pasture sward mixes on root biomass.

At DairyNZ, she has enjoyed being involved in a wide range of research programmes, such as the Fertility Breeding Value and Emissions4Pasture projects. “I really love being in the research space. It's an exciting because you're at the forefront, leading the way for the industry and working to create great outcomes for farmers. My goal was always to work for DairyNZ and I achieved it!”