People Expo 2026

Thank you to everyone who joined us for the 2026 People Expo, brought to you by DairyNZ in partnership with Dairy Women’s Network. More than 400 farmers and rural professionals attended across four events in Dunsandel, Palmerston North, Waikato and Invercargill.

This year’s theme was Stepping up or stepping back: Planning your next stage in dairy farming. The event brought farmers and sector partners together to reflect on what success looks like for them, personally and in business.

Attendees heard practical insights from farmer panelists, explored workforce and operating structure considerations, and heard from best-selling author and chart-topping podcaster James Laughlin on how to build clarity, purpose and momentum towards meaningful goals.

Podcast

Recorded live at People Expo with Greg Duncan from Dairy Australia. This Talking Dairy In 10 episode is a practical conversation on progression, succession, and taking the first step.

Listen on:

Key take-away messages

Transition and progression go hand in hand

When experienced farmers step back intentionally, share their knowledge and create space for others, the next generation can step up with more confidence.

Strong people planning supports strong farm businesses

Clear roles, structures and pathways can help farm teams grow, adapt and make better decisions for the future.

Success starts with clarity

James Laughlin encouraged attendees to get radically clear on what they want, why it matters, and what they are prepared to sacrifice to achieve it.

Values should guide action

Taking time to reflect on personal values and long-term goals can help farmers make decisions that support both business performance and personal wellbeing.

Never underestimate the value of people. In tough seasons it is the people who shine

Tips from the farmer panel

Some of the most powerful moments came from the farmer panel. When asked for a gold nugget of information they wanted to share about transition and progression these were some of the quotes:

“Make people your #1”
“Align yourself with the right people”
“Grab opportunities – with the right attitude”
“Success is different for everybody. Enjoy the journey to get where you want to go”

We heard from attendees that they left feeling inspired and ready to take practical steps towards building the farm business, lifestyle and future they want.

Resources to support you

DairyNZ and Dairy Women’s Network have a wide range of resources to support you and your business. You can also check out high-performance coach James Laughlin’s podcast.

James Laughlin’s Habits of High Performers podcast

James Laughlin speaks with people operating at the highest levels to uncover what truly moves the needle. Available on all major streaming platforms and James’ website. Listen now using the link below.

Listen now

Business goals and actions

Understand the power of setting clear, meaningful goals for your dairy farm business and personal life. Access the planning wheel used in the workshop session using the link below.

Learn more

Dairy Women’s Network webinars

Well known for delivering quality workshops and webinars to encourage leadership and capability in the dairy sector. Click the link below to watch webinars that align with People Expo 2026.

Learn more