Sarah Speight

Sarah Speight

Senior Operational & Strategic Leader

New Zealand
1K followers 500+ connections

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MJ and SJ Speight Ltd

About

I have a demonstrated history of working in the international agricultural development sector in South and South East Asia as well as in the dairy and primary industries in NZ and South America. Skilled in strategic planning, collaborating across stakeholders, people leadership and operational management. Ag extension and leadership are my areas of passion alongside sustainable dairy farm systems.
I am a member of the Institute of Directors, Australasian Evaluation Society, Australia Pacific Extension Network and NZ Institute of Primary Industries Management.

Contributions

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Activity

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Experience

  • Business Consultant/Director

    MJ and SJ Speight Ltd

    - Present 11 years 5 months

    Tauranga, New Zealand

    Agribusiness and International Development Consultancy and Director/Trustee.
    A varied role providing consultancy both in NZ and internationally, working with diverse stakeholders such as AgriServe, The Agribusiness Group (serving MFAT (NZAid)), Ballance, Calibre Partners and DairyNZ with on ground experience in New Zealand, Indonesia, Myanmar, Pakistan and Peru.

  • DairyNZ

    DairyNZ

    2 years 1 month

    • DairyNZ Graphic

      General Manager - Farm Performance

      DairyNZ

      - 1 year 9 months

      Hamilton, Waikato, New Zealand

      National role, 12 direct reports and team of 80 people, financial management of business unit, senior leadership team, involved in strategy and led engagement with farmers.

    • DairyNZ Graphic

      Regional Leader Bay of Plenty

      DairyNZ

      - 5 months

      Rotorua

      Contract role which was extended and provided on-farm solutions to support NZ dairy farmers.

  • Chief Technical Advisor

    Myanmar Industry Training Initiative

    - 2 years 6 months

    Mandalay, Myanmar

    MFAT funded project focused on working with tertiary sector and government to improve training in the primary sector.

  • Assistant Project Director

    Indonesian Dairy Excellence Activity

    - 3 years 2 months

    Central Java, Indonesia

  • Dairy Women's Network Graphic

    CEO

    Dairy Women's Network

    - 1 year 11 months

    Delivered a forum for dairy women to connect and grow their networks, skills and potential in leadership and business. More than doubled members in 2 years, and grew funding over 150%, and invited to shape the 2013-2015 national dairy industry strategy with DairyNZ.

  • KordaMentha Graphic

    Operations Manager (Crafarms)

    KordaMentha

    - 1 year 6 months

    Financial oversight (strategic and tactical) of 8 large scale dairy farms in the Cental North Island of NZ.

  • Production Manager

    Manuka SA

    - 1 year

    Oversight of the production of 40 dairy farms to implement a low coast 'kiwi style' production system.

  • GM Extension

    Pakistan Dairy Development Company

    - 1 year

    Developed industry strategy for extension and vocational training in dairy sector and developed 4 training/breeding farms.

  • Extension

    DairyNZ

    - 12 years

    Planning, running and evaluation of effective extension events. Kellogg Rural Leadership Programme.

  • LIC Graphic

    Consulting Officer

    LIC

    - 3 years

Education

  • Lincoln University (NZ) Graphic

    Lincoln University

    B Agr Sc Farm Management

    -

  • ISL New Zealand

    Strategic Leadership Programme

  • Post Graduate Certificates

    Project Management, Financial Management, Risk & Strategy, Evaluation

  • Institute of Directors in New Zealand Graphic

    Institute of Directors in New Zealand

    Fundamentals of Strategy, Governance & Finance

  • NZIM

    Train the Trainer

Languages

  • Spanish

    -

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