Our People
FAR has a skills-based Board of eight directors. There are currently five growers and three independent members. The Board meets five times a year at the FAR main office in Templeton, Christchurch or regional sites.
Steven Bierema
Chairman
Paul Mackintosh
Grower Representative (Vice Chair)
Val McMillan
Grower Representative
Ed White
Grower Representative
Michael Tayler
Grower Representative
Hamish Irwin
Grower Representative
Liam Martin
Associate Board Director
Robyn Dynes
Appointed Member
John Caradus
Appointed Member
Mike Hedley
Appointed Member
To get in touch with a member of the FAR team, please phone 03 3455 783.
Scott Champion
CEO
Andrew Pitman
General Manager - Research, Development & Extension
Ivan Lawrie
General Manager - Business Operations
Melanie Bond
Executive Assistant to CEO
Anna Heslop
Communications Manager
Niki Francis
Finance Manager
Abie Horrocks
Senior Researcher - Environment
Andrei Costan
Senior Field Officer - Cereals
Ashley Mills
Arable Biosecurity & Industry Relationships Officer
Ben Harvey
Senior Field Officer - Vegetable & Herbage
Catherine Harper
Graduate
Charlotte Hawkins
Digital Media & Events Coordinator
Chris Smith
Technology Manager
Cindy Lowe
Regional Facilitator - Mid Cantebury
Dirk Wallace
Senior Researcher - Environment
Donna Lill
Regional Facilitator - Northern South Island
Eddie Harris
Graduate
Emmanuel Chakwizira
Senior Researcher - Environment
Heather Chalmers
Journalist
Jacqueline Straathof
Researcher - Cereals
Jo Drummond
Senior Researcher - Cereals
Matilda Gunnarsson
Senior Field Research Officer
Megan Cushnahan
Regional Facilitator - Lower North Island
Nicole Foote
Regional Facilitator - Otago/Southland
Owen Gibson
Researcher
Philippa Rawlinson
Regional Facilitator - South Canterbury; National Coordinator
Rachel Mudge
Regional Facilitator - Northern North Island
Rene van Tilburg
Senior Researcher - Maize
Robyn Butters
Field Officer
Sam McDougall
Senior Field Research Officer
Sean Weith
Researcher - Herbage & Vegetable Seed
Steven Payne
Senior Field Research Officer
Wendy Lingard
Receptionist