Spotlight Shines On Unsung Southland Hero Of The Dairy Industry

Katrina Thomas from western Southland has won the Dairy Women’s Network’s Dairy Community Leadership Award.

The award was presented at the Dairy Women’s Network’s annual conference held in Queenstown.

Awarded to an unsung heroes of rural communities it recognises the voluntary role dairy farming women have in leading their communities and sharing their time and skills beyond the farm gate.

Katrina worked in the tourism industry for more than 20 years before returning to her farming roots in Southland. In 2012 she became DWN’s regional convenor for Invercargill and in 2016 took on a new role as the Southern Regional Hub leader.

She’s involved with several community groups including Takitimu School PTA, Western Southland Tennis, Takitimu District Board Pool and is editor of the Takitimu Community newsletter.

Fonterra Shareholders’ Councillor Jessie Chan-Dorman has been announced as the winner of the 2017 Dairy Woman of the Year award.

Jessie won the coveted title out of a group of three finalists which included CEO of Sirona Animal Health Claire Nicholson and agribusiness consultant Jolene Germann. The awards ceremony was held last night in Queenstown as part of a gala dinner at the Dairy Women’s Network’s annual conference.

It’s the sixth year in which the honour, sponsored by Fonterra, is awarded in recognition of the vital role women play in the dairy industry.

Jessie owns a dairy business with her husband, leasing 420ha near Rakaia, milking 950 cows. In addition to being a Fonterra Shareholders’ Councillor, she is director of the Ashburton Trading Society, serves on the Holstein Friesian New Zealand External Affairs Committee and is a member of the Institute of Directors and New Zealand Asian Leaders.