Our Team

Our Board

Greg Gent — Open Profile

Gregory (Greg) William Gent

Greg is a dairy farmer from Ruawai, Northland. Greg was a foundation director of Fonterra and retired from that Board in 2011. His current directorships include The Southern Cross Health Care Group, rural insurer FMG, and Crown Research Institute Plant & Food.

Chairman

Gregory (Greg) William Gent

INDEPENDENT DIRECTOR

Bob Major — Open Profile

Bob Major

Bob is the Shareholder Representative for the Armer Group.

Bob currently has several directorships, including Comvita and his previous roles included Chair of Mud House Wine Group and several senior management positions with Fonterra.

Director

Bob Major

SHAREHOLDER REPRESENTATIVE

Colin Armer — Open Profile

Colin Charles Armer

Colin is a leading North Island based dairy farmer and, together with his wife Dale, holds extensive agricultural interests. Mr Armer brings considerable dairy farming experience to the Board having been involved in the Industry for 30 years.

Director

Colin Charles Armer

SHAREHOLDER REPRESENTATIVE

David Goer — Open Profile

David Geor

David is an experienced director with governance experience across the construction, health, infrastructure, primary industry and animal health sectors. He has held numerous positions at senior executive level in the services, manufacturing, primary industry ( including pip fruit, dairy, red meat and fishing) and maintains an active hands on role within his own farming operations centred on a modest scale beef fattening operation in South Auckland. In addition, over the last 5 years in partnership with his son, has grown a successful medium to large scale Auckland based transport and recycle operation which spans a number of locations across Auckland and the Bay of Plenty.

Director

David Geor

INDEPENDENT DIRECTOR

Murray Turley Updated Photo — Open Profile

Murray Turley

Murray is involved in a large scale arable and vegetable operation with farms in South and Mid Canterbury, along with his wife, Margaret. They are involved in other value-add businesses associated with their farming enterprise.

Director

Murray Turley

SHAREHOLDER REPRESENTATIVE

Shane — Open Profile

Shane McManaway

Shane is the Shareholder Representative for the Canadian Public Sector Pension Fund.

Shane has expertise in board positions, general management, Merger and Acquisitions, customer relations, leadership, governance, and sales and marketing. He has over 45 years’ experience in the Rural Sector in New Zealand, Australia, North America, and Asia. Shane is a cattle and deer farmer with a passion for promoting the sector to encourage young people to enter and participate in agriculture.

Director

Shane McManaway

SHAREHOLDER REPRESENTATIVE

Our Management Team

Colin Glass Resized — Open Profile

Colin Glass

M: +6427 486 4064
E: colin@dairyholdings.co.nz

A qualified Chartered Accountant, Colin holds a Commerce Degree in Farm Management and a post-graduate Diploma in Accountancy and Corporate Finance from Lincoln University. In 1997 he took up the role of Chief Financial Officer for the Dunedin based corporate dairy farmer Tasman Agriculture Ltd. Immediately following the sell down of TasAg's New Zealand farms and the purchase of the major shareholding by Dairy Holdings Ltd in 2001, Colin was appointed General Manager and subsequently Chief Executive. He has been involved in the New Zealand dairy industry all his life and the Australian dairy industry for the period from 1997 to 2008.

Colin is married to Paula and they have two daughters. In addition to his involvement with Dairy Holdings Ltd, Colin is a Director of a number of irrigation and agribusiness companies and has his own farming interests in Mid-Canterbury.

Chief Executive

Colin Glass

Morgan Galbraith 4K Screen Res — Open Profile

Morgan Galbraith

M: +6421 942 005
E: morgan@dairyholdings.co.nz

Morgan was raised in South Canterbury before attending university studies in Canterbury and holds a BCom from Canterbury University and a Post Graduate Diploma in Finance from Lincoln University.

A Chartered Accountant, Morgan began his accounting career at PwC. In 2005 he departed New Zealand to work in the UK. After 6 years in London, working in the finance sector, he returned to Christchurch and took up a role within the Corporate Finance division of PwC.

In 2012 he was appointed to the role of Chief Financial Officer.

Morgan is married to Kylee and they have two young children. In his spare time he enjoys a range of outdoor activities including skiing, cycling, fishing and travelling

Chief Financial Officer

Morgan Galbraith

Blair Robinson Resized — Open Profile

Blair Robinson

M: +6427 200 5921
E: blair@dairyholdings.co.nz

Blair was bought up on a 400 cow dairy farm in South Taranaki. He holds a Bachelor of Applied Science(Hons) and a Masters of Soil Science from Massey University. His professional career has covered roles in the fertiliser industry, Fonterra and 10+ years in various positions within rural banking. Blair is married to Elizabeth and they have three young children. They have both dairy and poultry farming interests in the north island and mid-Canterbury.

Chief Operating Officer

Blair Robinson

Jane Fowles 4K Screen Res — Open Profile

Jane Fowles

BCA(HONS) GDPP(OHS) GRADNZISM

M: +6427 942 1500
E: jane@dairyholdings.co.nz

Jane has lived in Ashburton for the past 7 years managing, and working, in a mainly agriculturally based Health & Safety/HR advisory business. She has over 15 years’ experience in H&S and HR across Canterbury, Marlborough, and Wellington areas in private, public and tertiary environments. Jane holds a Bachelor of Commerce & Administration, with First Class Honours, in Human Resources and a Graduate Diploma Professional Practice in Occupational Health & Safety. She holds Graduate status with NZISM and is listed on the HASANZ Register.

Jane currently sits on the Board for the Ashburton Community Alcohol & Drug Service and holds the position of Risk & Assurance Manager for the New Zealand Institute of Safety Management.

Away from work, Jane enjoys spending time with her husband and young children. When they can, they enjoy being nomadic in their caravan.

Health and Safety Manager

Jane Fowles

Our Farm Supervisory Team

Gary Mcgregor Resized — Open Profile

Gary McGregor

M: +6427 434 6558
E: gary@dairyholdings.co.nz

Gary was raised in the Waikato and Eastern Bay of Plenty regions. Gary started his dairy farming career in 1988 before moving to the South Island.

Gary commenced with Dairy Brands Ltd in 1992, sharemilking at South River Dairy. In 1995 Gary was appointed Regional Manager for Dairy Brands Ltd and supervised 20 farms in Canterbury and North Otago (8 of which are still with Dairy Holdings Ltd today). When Dairy Brands Ltd was sold, Gary transferred to Dairy Holdings Ltd.

Besides his role as a Farm Operations Manager, Gary also sharemilks 1200 cows on a Dairy Holdings Ltd property (One Arrow).

Gary is married to Angela and they have two adult sons.

Gary's other passions are rugby and enjoying many outdoor pursuits.

Farm Operations Manager - Central Canterbury

Gary McGregor

Graeme Blair Resized — Open Profile

Graeme Blair

M: +6427 478 5675
E: graeme@dairyholdings.co.nz

Graeme started in the Dairy Industry in the mid eighties after farming in Australia. By the early nineties Graeme was 50:50 Sharemilking for Tasman Agriculture Ltd in the Rakaia District. Graeme then shifted to north west Tasmania to a sharemilking position with Tasman Agriculture Ltd. While sharemilking Graeme then took up an appointment as Dairy Operations Manager for Tasman Agriculture Ltd and was responsible for the continuing conversion of VDL land in the Tasmanian north-west to dairy farms. In total 11 dairy farms milking 11,000 cows were successfully developed.

Graeme returned to New Zealand in 2003 where he took up his role as a Dairy Operations Manager for Dairy Holdings Ltd.

Graeme is married to Mary-Anne and they have three adult children.

Farm Operations Manager - Mid Canterbury

Graeme Blair

Mick O’Connor 4K Screen Res — Open Profile

Mick O'Connor

M: +6427 474 0608
E: mick@dairyholdings.co.nz

Mick was raised in South Canterbury and started his dairy farming career in 1997 working for a neighbour in Fairlie as a general farm hand. From there Mick moved north to Mid-Canterbury working in various farm positions as he progressed toward farm management over an eight year period.

In 2005, Mick moved to Rakaia and worked for Gary & Angela McGregor (sharemilkers on South River - DHL Farm) as the farm manager for the next four years.

Mick took a six months break from farming at the end of the 2008/09 season to undertake an overseas trip.

Returning in early 2010, Mick took up a management position on Terrace Farm (DHL Farm). Mick has progressed from contract milking in the 2010/11 season onto lower order sharemilker (all sharemilker owned cows) for the 2014/15 season and is milking 1050 cows on Terrace.

In April 2012 Mick won the New Zealand Dairy Industry Awards top prize as the New Zealand Farm Manager of the Year.

Mick is married to Kirsten and they have a young son Flynn. In his spare time he enjoys hunting, fishing and relaxing with family.

Farm Operations Manager

Mick O'Connor

Aidan O Leary Resized — Open Profile

Aidan O'Leary

M: +6421 0352749
E: aidan.oleary@dairyholdings.co.nz

Originally from Cork, Ireland, Aidan first came to New Zealand as a student to gain some work experience in the New Zealand dairy industry. After returning to Ireland Aidan gained a BSc in Agriculture. Aidan returned to New Zealand in 2014 and held a number of roles in mid Canterbury including multi farm management and supervising.

Aidan joined Dairy Holdings in June 2017, contract milking 1350 cows on Cedric Holdings in Pendarves.

FARM SUPERVISOR - CANTERBURY DAIRY FARMS

Aidan O'Leary

Bryden Rufford 4K Screen Res — Open Profile

Bryden Rufford

M: +6427 657 9900
E: bryden@dairyholdings.co.nz

Farm Supervisor - West Otago & Southland

Bryden Rufford

Garth Campbell — Open Profile

Garth Campbell

M: +6427 459 5455
E: garth@dairyholdings.co.nz

Farm Supervisor – West Coast

Garth Campbell

Jeremy Dyson 4K Screen Res — Open Profile

Jeremy Dyson

M: +6427 229 9115
E: jeremy@dairyholdings.co.nz

Jeremy has been involved in the agricultural industry all his life, starting in the sheep and beef industry at an early age doing lambing beats, mustering, and crutching his way to, and through University. After a six-month stint mustering in Australia, Jeremy was given the opportunity to help out on a dairy farm, and from there he spent the next 23 years working up through the industry enjoying the opportunities it presented.

Jeremy is married to Louise, and together they have three teenage children. They own a dairy farm together in the foothills of Waimate.

Jeremy is a farm supervisor for Dairy Holdings Limited in the Waitaki area. In his spare time he enjoys fishing, hunting, coaching rugby, and chasing my children around all their chosen sports.

Farm Supervisor – Waitaki

Jeremy Dyson

Adam Mielnik Resized — Open Profile

Adam Mielnik

M: +6427 316 7951
E: adam.mielnik@dairyholdings.co.nz

Adam has done many things in his short but eventful life. He was a fisherman and a DJ. He ran his own small finance company before taking on a role as supervisor with Goodman Fielder.

He has worked for Dairy Holdings for 10 years. He began as a grazing block assistant and progressed to Assistant Supervisor. He currently runs the Mr Gingerbread grazing block for Dairy Holdings, along with his Assistant Supervisor role. He is involved in training new staff and assists with a lot of the technical side of the operation.

He trained and then participated in the 2020 Wholesale seeds fight night.

Adam is married to Tara and they have two daughters aged 13 and 6.

ASSISTANT FARM SUPERVISOR - GRAZING BLOCKS

Adam Mielnik

Eugene Cronin Resized — Open Profile

Eugene Cronin

M: +6421 855258
E: eugene@dairyholdings.co.nz

I grew up on a 30 hectare dairy farm in the west of Ireland. Came to New Zealand in 2005 on a working holiday visa as a farm assistant. Met my Kiwi wife Sarah in 2006 and now married with 3 kids and recently became a New Zealand citizen. Started our sharemiking career with DHL on Mountview 2011-2013. After leaving Mountview, continued to grow our business 50/50 sharemilking.

Currently dairy farming in Methven and enjoying the skiing, hunting, hiking at our doorstep with our kids

ASSISTANT FARM SUPERVISOR - CANTERBURY DAIRY FARMS

Eugene Cronin

Johan Geerts Resized — Open Profile

Johan Geerts

M: +6427 663 2744
E: johan@dairyholdings.co.nz

Johan has been dairy farming for close to 20 years, he started his career in the north island as a farm hand working his way up to farm manager. Johan spent 6 years travelling throughout Europe, Asia and Africa before returning to NZ and settling in Canterbury.

His Canterbury roles have included large scale farm management, sharemilking, supervising and farm development.
Johan currently is a sharemilker for DHL of 1000 cows in Rakaia.
Johan and his partner Julie have 6 teenage children between them and reside in Southbridge.

Assistant Farm Supervisor

Johan Geerts

Our Technical Support Team

Brian Gallagher Resized — Open Profile

Brian Gallagher

M: +6427 450 2470
E: brian@dairyholdings.co.nz

Brian commenced his role with Dairy holdings in February 2015. He has qualifications for NZCE (Civil) and a Diploma for Environmental Management. Raised in Timaru Brian has worked in a number of locations primarily in the South Island.

His early working career encompassed surveying, hydrology, irrigation and numerous civil engineering projects. The introduction of the RMA saw a change of working focus for him into waste and environmental management. He has been actively involved in developing, local, regional and national strategies and projects. The development of large scale composting operations and trials has led Brian to the agricultural/horticulture sectors with a special interest in soil microbiology.

Brian is married to Carol and they have two adult children.

Brian enjoys watching sport, outdoor activities and time-out with a good cook up.

Sustainability Manager

Brian Gallagher

Clint Jordan Resized — Open Profile

Clint Jordan

M: +6427 658 5254
E: clint@dairyholdings.co.nz

Clint was raised in Tapawhera – Nelson Region, then moved to Kaikoura where he grew up on a farm. From an early age Clint operated farm machinery and undertook many agricultural cultivating and machinery operating tasks.

After completing high school, Clint trained as a mechanic. Moving from the workshop, Clint undertook further roles within agricultural businesses and agricultural machinery management in North Canterbury.

In June 2013 Clint took on the position of contracting operations manager with Dairy Holdings Ltd. These contracting operations provide cultivation and sowing of approximately 2,000 hectares of winter crop, plus regrassing of a similar area annually.

Clint is married to Maria and they have four young children. Clint’s interests include all motor sports activities and an array of outdoors pursuits.

Contracting Operations Manager

Clint Jordan

Brent Davidson Resized — Open Profile

Brent Davidson

M: +6427 280 7624
E: brent@dairyholdings.co.nz

Brent grew up on a dairy farm in the Wairarapa, he is passionate about farming and the outdoors. After completing an Agricultural Science degree he went farming before accepting a management position with a rural supplies company. Brent’s work history includes; Branch, Operations, Category and Key Accounts Management as well as Technical Sales roles. Brent founded his own crop management business focussed on growing winter feed crops for dairy cows before joining Dairy Holdings Limited in 2016.

Brent is married to Julie with three children, outside work he enjoys fishing, hunting and following his children’s sporting activities.

Agronomy Manager

Brent Davidson

Natalia Benquet Resized — Open Profile

Natalia Benquet

M: +6427 309 4999
E: natalia.benquet@dairyholdings.co.nz

Natalia graduated with a Bachelor in Veterinary Science in Uruguay in 2001. She fell in love with New Zealand and after spending two years gaining her Master of Applied Science at Massey University (2003-2005), decided New Zealand was home in 2006.

Since then, Natalia has accumulated a wide range of experiences and knowledge, from dairy farm work, dairy cow nutrition, education, and cross-cultural communication and back to the Dairy Sector as an extensionist.

In 2012, Natalia moved to the South Island with her partner Callum, to be close to his children (Connor – now 21, and Charis now 17). She took a role as Consulting Officer for DairyNZ which she held for 6.5 years, growing her knowledge and experience as an extensionist. In this time, Natalia ran the Mid Canterbury and Central Canterbury regions (discussion groups and events, Biz start, Biz Grow), was part of the Lincoln University Dairy Demonstration farm (LUDF) Management team for four years, achieved the role of Senior Consulting Officer and complete a Diploma in Professional Coaching.

In November 2019, Natalia joined the DHL team as the Farm Systems Coach.

Outside work, Natalia likes a wide variety of activities, such as clay target shooting, yoga, reiki, coaching, card game nights with friends and family, trips in general (short, long distance, campervan, motorbike road trips and plane rides to Uruguay and anywhere else in the world). She is now slowly dipping her toes into hunting.

On a more personal note, Natalia is enjoying seeing her stepchildren grow and develop into young independent adults.

Farm Systems Coach

Natalia Benquet

Our Administration Team

Alison Peattie Resized — Open Profile

Alison Peattie

Accounts Administrator

Alison Peattie

Bex Welsh 4K Screen Res — Open Profile

Bex Welsh

Administrator

Bex Welsh

Charlotte Nelson Sized — Open Profile

Charlotte Nelson

Management Accountant

Charlotte Nelson

Gayle Davidson Resized — Open Profile

Gayle Davidson

Gayle has worked at Dairy Holdings for 12 months as executive assistant to the Board and Management team. This involves varied work including board papers, travel booking, and assisting with contract tracking.

Before DHL she was employed at Audit NZ in Christchurch for six years and has also worked at two DHB’s and in Hotel management.

Gayle lives at the Rakaia river mouth where she enjoys her garden. The area has a microclimate so she has a great variety of plants, including avocado, passionfruit and loquats.

Executive Assistant

Gayle Davidson

Sandra Macdonald Resized — Open Profile

Sandra MacDonald

Accounts Administrator

Sandra MacDonald

Sian Bingham Resized — Open Profile

Sian Bingham

Accounts Administrator

Sian Bingham

Steve Coe Resized — Open Profile

Steve Coe

Steve was raised in the small rural township of Leeston. After spending 10 years working in Christchurch (as an auditor with EY and then Financial Controller / CFO with Solid Energy), Steve moved to Ashburton in 2018. In 2019 he was appointed to the role of Group Financial Controller with Dairy Holdings. Outside of Dairy Holdings, Steve is also on a number of Boards for Charitable Trusts (churches / youth trusts).

Steve is married to Melissa and in September 2020 they welcomed the birth of their daughter.

Group Financial Controller

Steve Coe

Leonie Sprigings Resized — Open Profile

Leonie Sprigings

Accounts Administrator

Leonie Sprigings

Paula Glass 4K Screen Res — Open Profile

Paula Glass

Company Accountant

Paula Glass

Kristine Asuncion 4K Screen Res — Open Profile

Kristine Asuncion

HR Coordinator

Kristine Asuncion

Margot Encina 4K Screen Res — Open Profile

Margot Encina

Business Analyst

Margot Encina

About Us

Useful Links

Our Contacts

Head Office
243 Tancred Street,
Ashburton 7700

PO Box 224
Ashburton 7740

P: (03) 687-9258
F: (03) 684-7965

info@dairyholdings.co.nz
www.dairyholdings.co.nz