FORMER chairman of dairy giant Fonterra, Sir Henry van der Heyden, has won this year's Rabobank Leadership Award recognising an exceptional contribution to the food, beverage and agribusiness sectors.
Sir Henry, a dairy farmer from New Zealand's central North Island collected the prestigious trans-Tasman award at the annual Rabobank Leadership Dinner in Melbourne, last night in front more than 230 agribusiness leaders and industry professionals.
He shared the awards presentation with South Australian winner of the Rabobank Emerging Leader title, viticulturist Zachary Caudo (pictured below).
Mr Caudo is brand and vineyard development director of the family business Caudo Vineyards.
Presenting the peer-nominated and judged leadership award, Rabobank`s Australia and NZ managing director Thos Gieskes said Henry van der Heyden’s impact on – and contribution to – NZ dairy has been “so significant and profound, it is impossible to imagine the modern dairy industry without him”.
“Truly, as much as NZ is recognised as a powerhouse in global dairy, I would say he has been as equally an important force in the modern NZ dairy industry,” he said.
“His role in guiding and driving the evolution of the NZ dairy sector over the past two decades has been absolutely pivotal.
"But more than that, in playing a central role in forging NZ's ascendency on the global dairy stage, Henry has also been very much a champion of ‘New Zealand Inc’.
"Promoting the interests of NZ, its people and its industries is very much a motivating factor in all his activities and business interests.”
A career-long dairy farmer, beginning in share-milking and purchasing his first dairy farm in 1985, Sir Henry emerged to become the most influential architect in the evolution the dairy industry over a critical 20 year-period for that sector.
As chair of NZ Dairy Group (NZDG), he was a key player in the creation, in 2001, of global dairy industry powerhouse Fonterra, which was formed from the merger and integration of the three major dairy players - NZDG, Kiwi Dairies and the NZ Dairy Board.
He was chairman of Fonterra for a decade until retiring in 2012.
Accepting the award, Sir Henry described his leadership style as essentially “very simple”, with engagement being the key component.
“I try to paint a very simple picture of what the future can look like, and, through painting that picture, hope that my passion and commitment to the outcome actually comes through, so that other people can feel the same excitement that I do,” he said.
Sir Henry acknowledged the importance of leadership in creating change and conceded this path could be challenging.
“To set up a global cooperative and to get all the stakeholders – 10,500 farmers – on-side and heading in the same direction is easier said than done,” he said
The Rabobank Leadership Award is presented annually to individuals who create sustainable growth and prosperity at both a corporate and industry level in agribusiness, while demonstrating a wider commitment to society.
Presenting Mr Caudo’s emerging leader award, Mr Gieskes said the young wine industry identity been instrumental in the transformation of his family business, and helped cement South Australia's Riverland region as a premier tourism destination.
“Since returning to the family business five years ago, Zac has taken the operation from a bulk supplier of wine grapes to producer of its own Caudo brand of award-winning wines,” he said.
The award category was introduced in 2013 recognising up-and-coming young leaders in agriculture.
