Order of Merit recipient Jessie Chan says agriculture industry has an accepting culture

A Canterbury dairying chief with Hong Kong heritage believes agriculture is one of probably the most accepting industries within the nation.

Rakaia’s Jessie Chan made the New Year Honours checklist as a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit for providers to dairy and agriculture.

Chan mentioned the character of farming meant that farmers have been used to innovation and tailored nicely to alter.

The RuralCo chairwoman leads a board of 50 per cent ladies.

“It exhibits how future-thinking farmers actually are. We are all individuals within the farming enterprise and I discover it one of probably the most forward-thinking companies round in embracing change.”

Chan mentioned she was shocked to be singled out.

“I’m undecided why they’re giving me this award as a result of there are such a lot of individuals who put in a long time and a long time of work and go unrecognised. I simply want extra individuals could possibly be recognised as a result of there’s lots of individuals within the rural group doing nice issues and making issues occur on behalf of farmers.”

Chan is not any stranger to awards or governance roles contained in the dairy and agricultural group.

She was the primary president of the Wellington Young Farmers’ Club in 2008 and progressed to affix the Federated Farmers Dairy nationwide govt crew, turning into its dairy chairwoman for the Mid Canterbury department.

The former councillor on the Fonterra Shareholders Council was an affiliate director of Dairy New Zealand and on the Land Use Futures board.

She’s a member of New Zealand Asian Leaders and the Super Diverse Women group, and in 2017 was awarded Fonterra’s Dairy Woman of the Year.

She turned chairwoman of the RuralCo Board, final 12 months and is a director of Ngāi Tahu Farming, Alpine Energy and Bioprotection Aotearoa.

Listen to Jamie Mackay interview Jessie Chan on The Country beneath:

Chan grew up as one of 4 kids in Palmerston North to a sawmilling father and a mom born in Hong Kong.

She devoted the honour to the reminiscence of her father, Victor Sorenson, who died final 12 months.

“That’s the bittersweet factor with this award as a result of he was at all times there for me and laid the foundations for every part I’ve learnt thus far.

“He at all times mentioned to me, ‘If you do not know greater than me by the point you permit dwelling then I have never finished my job correctly’.”