Governance Group
The Governance Group ensures our work remains on track to deliver positive outcomes for the primary sector.
The role of the Governance Group is to ensure that the NZAGRC is accelerating research and development into new tools, technologies and practices to reduce on-farm emissions, including mātauranga-based approaches to support whenua Māori owners with climate change mitigation. Its responsibilities include oversight of:
- NZAGRC's strategy, goals and outcomes
- how the NZAGRC builds trusted partnerships with research organisations, broader stakeholder groups, and Māori landowners and agribusiness
- NZAGRC's relationships with AgriZero, the broader CCAAE, and its internal advisory groups and Toihau
- policies and procedures that help NZAGRC deliver on its strategy and goals
The Group meets up to six times a year and receives advice from Toihau and the Science Programme and Stakeholder Advisory Groups, as well as input from periodic science reviews undertaken by independent technical experts.
Membership
The Governance Group is made up of individuals with the knowledge, skills, experience and diversity needed to ensure NZAGRC is well-managed and performs effectively. Membership is jointly appointed by AgResearch, as host of the NZAGRC, and MPI.
Governance Members
David
Hughes (Chair)
David is a professional director of AgriFoodTech companies. He has 37 years of international experience with the food and primary industries, including assignments in Japan, the USA, the Middle East, Australia and New Zealand. He has also held several governance roles in the public, private, and not-for-profit sectors.
His current governance roles include Chair of Hill Laboratories, Chair of the Kiwifruit Breeding Centre, Chair of PSH, Chair of Zealafoam Holdings, Director of Miruku, and Chair of International Needs New Zealand.
From 2018 to 2023, David was the CEO of Plant & Food Research, the Crown Research Institute focused on horticulture, arable crops, seafood and wine. David has also worked extensively in the dairy industry. He joined the New Zealand Dairy Board in 1987 and worked for five years in technical functions at the head office in Wellington. In 1992, he transferred to the Middle East, working in sales, marketing and product development for five years. Over the next 18 years, he worked around the world in senior marketing, business development and innovation management.
He graduated with a Bachelor of Technology from Massey University in 1987 and holds a Diploma in Applied Statistics. He is a member of the Institute of Directors.
Tracy
Brown
Tracy Brown who began her career as an agricultural economist in the sheep and beef sector is now DairyNZ Chair, Chair of Te Rarawa Farming Ltd in Northland, and Shareholder/Director of Tiroroa Farms Ltd near Matamata. She was recently a Cabinet appointee to the National Animal Welfare Advisory Committee (NAWAC).
A multi environmental award winner, and recipient of the Sustainable Business Network ‘Sustainability Superstar’ award, she has been involved with leading environmental change for dairy for well over a decade.
Past Chair of the DairyNZ Dairy Environment Leaders (DEL) Forum and Ballance Farm Environment Awards (BFEA) Alumni, Tracy has also been a member of the Essential Freshwater Independent Advisory Panel appointed by Cabinet, the Dairy Environment Leadership Group (DELG) which oversaw the Water Accord, a Trustee for NZ Dairy Industry Awards (NZDIA) and the Dairy Women’s Network (DWN) Boards.
Tracy took part in the AWDT ‘Escalator’ Programme in 2015 and is both a Nuffield and Kellogg’s Scholar. Tracy is passionate about helping farmers find solutions for current and future challenges and sees herself as a kaitiaki of our land and environment for future generations. She has 4 adult children age 19 to 24 years and is a keen gardener, sailor, and walker!
Richard
Gordon
Richard is committed to the goals and urgency of the CCAAE, AgriZeroNZ and NZAGRC, and to New Zealand’s international role in climate change R&D. He has worked in this space for two decades as Chief Executive and Science General Manager within CRI Manaaki Whenua Landcare Research. He brings detailed knowledge of the wide research context of biophysical, socio-economic and Māori-led research. From his decade as a director of Toitū Envirocare in the greenhouse gas space he brings governance experience to developing R&D and collaboration strategy. He brings significant experience of the NZ science and policy environment, its pressures and opportunities. He previously worked in global agchem R&D in the UK and Japan. His recent role as interim Executive Director at NZAGRC gave him in-depth experience of the Centre’s strategy, operations, relationships and risks.
Collier
Isaacs
Governance Group Director,
Independent
Collier Isaacs is a highly experienced senior executive and governance professional with a career in the primary industries spanning more than 30 years.
Based in Wellington, New Zealand, he has a broad range of skills and sector knowledge in relation to the country’s ‘pasture to plate’ value chains. This includes experience developing and implementing integrated marketing, research, quality and production strategies both within a company and across a sector.
As a consultant Mr Isaacs draws on sound relationships across the country’s various meat, dairy and fibre sectors – from industry organisations and commercial participants through to government agencies.
His most recent roles include consulting on food security, integrated farm planning, productive and sustainable land use and value chain development for clients such as New Zealand’s Ministry for Primary Industries and Beef + Lamb New Zealand. In addition to consulting, he is currently Chair of the New Zealand Food Safety Science Research Centre and a Business Mentor with the Kiwi Innovation Network.
Prior to working as a consultant, Mr Isaacs was the CEO at farm management software company FarmIQ Systems. He has also held senior executive roles at several New Zealand industry organisations including Landcorp Farming – a state-owned enterprise with a nationwide portfolio of farms.
Mr Isaacs has a Bachelor of Agricultural Science, a Diploma in Business Studies (Agriculture, Marketing and Economics) and has completed a Senior Executive Programme at Columbia Business School.
Claire
Nicholson (Ngāti Ruanui, Ngāruahine, Ngāti Kahungnunu)
Claire has a Bachelor of Veterinary Science and after 12 years in clinical practice took on the role of General Manager at Intervet NZ, followed by a business development role at Agrifeeds. Claire is a recent director of the Taranaki-based Māori farming group Parininihi ki Waitōtara and is a director for Farmlands Co-operative and Pamu. Additionally, she has recently been on the NZAGRC Science, Stakeholders and Toihau advisory groups, CERF and an Otago University project developing new animal health products. She is a graduate of the Hillary Leadership Programme, the Agri-Women’s Development Trust’s Accelerator Programme, Fonterra’s Governance Development Programme and was a Fonterra Dairy Women of the Year finalist. Claire believes we are placed here to be the Kaitiaki (guardians) of our lands ensuring prosperity for future generations. Claire enjoys water-based activities that the beautiful Bay of Plenty offers, travel, cycling, sailing, and skiing with her husband and adult sons.
