Jamie Mackay

A former accountancy student at Otago University and a Lincoln College graduate in agriculture, Jamie farmed at Riversdale in Southland for ten years before a brief and undistinguished career as a house-husband.

In 1994, he negotiated the purchase of 4ZG from Radio New Zealand, the first and only sale of a state-owned radio station to private enterprise, which went on to become Hokonui Gold. From there, the Farming Show took root before going nationwide on Radio Sport and Newstalk ZB, rebranded in 2016 as The Country.

Jamie is an equity partner in a Southland dairy farm and is involved in a wetland restoration project on his home farm, where he also enjoys duck hunting with a few old schoolmates. In a past life a keen rugby player and marathon runner, these days he relaxes by getting wound up on the golf course. 

Independent Economist

Guest Speaker
SIDE Breakfast

Cam is New Zealand’s leading independent economist, with extensive experience in business and agriculture and brings a local and international flavour to his  conversations. Cam’s ability to take complicated and complex information and data and make it accessible and meaningful for his audience sets him apart. Cam also runs two other businesses besides Bagrie Economics and sits on a couple of boards so is a business honed economist, not a theory or ivory tower based one.

Join Cam as he takes us through the issues and opportunities for the dairy sector, provides commentary and analysis on what the present and future holds and how the sector can thrive in these uncertain times. A not to be missed intimate breakfast where you’ll get to be informed, ask questions and engage with fellow business owners. 

Emma Twigg

Sponsored by

Emma Twigg is a renowned single sculler who has established herself as one of the world's top athletes in her sport.

A five-time Olympian, Emma has consistently demonstrated her prowess on the global stage, most notably with a silver medal in the women's singles sculls at the 2024 Paris Olympics and a gold medal at the Tokyo Olympics, where she set an Olympic Best Time. Her Tokyo victory made her New Zealand's 48th Olympic gold medallist and the first New Zealand woman to win the Olympic Single Scull event.

With an international rowing career spanning over 16 years, Emma has achieved a rare trifecta of Senior, U23, and Junior World titles in the single scull, along with nine national titles and a World Championship in 2014. She has maintained her position among the world's best, never placing outside the top four since 2009.

Emma's journey is fueled by her passion for the sport and her commitment to inspiring others. Her remarkable career continues to serve as a powerful example for aspiring athletes and a source of pride for New Zealand.

Dr Ellen Ford

As a leader, researcher, military veteran, international speaker, TEDx speaker, facilitator, consultant and parent, Ellen draws on her research and practical experiences to drive organisational outcomes such as improved retention, productivity, engagement, well-being and ultimately, profit, by enhancing inclusive leadership capabilities and workplace culture. Her keynotes and workshops are full of practical takeaways.

Ellen was awarded the Kiwi Bank New Zealander of the Year - Local Hero, Person of the Year - Manawatu Standard and the prestigious Sir Peter Blake Leadership Award. She is the author of #WorkSchoolHours (endorsed by CEOs of KiwiBank, FMG, DevryBV and Cliftons, and dubbed a “must-read for any leader building a modern workplace”) and her leadership model is Belonging, Autonomy and Purpose.

Sam Owen

Sam Owen is an equity partner in a grazing property north of Matamata. He is married to Jacqui, and together they have two teenage children, Abbie (17) and Rhys (16). Since 2019, Sam has served as a Rural Support Trust Facilitator, playing a key role in coordinating clean-up efforts in the Waikato region following Cyclone Gabrielle. His background is deeply rooted in the dairy industry, where he progressed through various levels of farm management and sharemilking before achieving farm ownership in 2021.

Sam has been on a mental health journey since 2005, experiencing bouts of depression and anxiety due to various challenges. Since 2019, he has been openly sharing his story through public speaking, hoping to help others facing similar struggles. He has also contributed to fundraising initiatives such as Run1000 and Movember to raise awareness for mental health. In 2023, he co-launched the podcast Bullshit and Bravery with Carla Muller, which highlights stories from rural communities about overcoming adversity and dealing with mental health challenges.

In 2024, Sam took on the role of an agriculture teacher at Matamata College following the sudden passing of the previous teacher. Embracing the challenge, he has found a passion for teaching and is now pursuing a teaching degree to further his career in education.