Our friendly and professional management team is based at our office in Northern Wairarapa. We also have a large group of expert advisors and programme facilitators based throughout New Zealand.
AWDT graduates feature strongly in our management and facilitation teams. Not only do they bring their own expertise, but having completed one or more AWDT programmes, they understand, first-hand, the power of standing shoulder-to-shoulder with like-minded women to provide a rich learning experience for all.
Meet our Programme Directors
We’re here to help – read about each of our roles here. Because we all help each other out in our busy office, when you phone us (06 377 4560) any one of us may answer.
Loshni Manikam
Sara Heard
Loshni Manikam - Escalator
Loshni is our Escalator Programme Director and also facilitates part of the Understanding Your Farming Business programme.
Loshni’s fascination with human behaviour has seen her career progress from law to dairy farming to leadership coaching and training when she obtained her coach certification from the NeuroLeadership Group in 2012.
A graduate of the Escalator programme, Loshni is also a director of a dairy-farming operation in Southland where she farms with her husband and 3 sometimes-lovely children.
She specialises in working in the agri-sector as she firmly believes that people are the key component of the sector’s continued success – unlocking their potential has benefits for the individuals, their communities and the sector. loshni@awdt.org.nz
Sara Heard - First Steps
Sara has been working with First Steps since graduating from the programme herself in 2012. She is an accredited International Coach Federation (ICF) coach.
Sara combines coaching and communication skills with her natural empathy and warmth to bring out the best in others, to support their growth and development.
A born and bred farmer, Sara experiences first-hand the multiple roles of a farming woman. She combines her AWDT role with working alongside her husband as an equity partner in a sheep, beef and cropping business.
Generation Change is back! Our one-day programme preparing young women for a life of meaningful work with impact in our food & fibre sector.
Your generation will be change-makers in a sector that delivers for New Zealand & the world. There’s a long way to go, but let’s start with your values, strengths & purpose.
Take your place alongside 100 young women in tertiary study or training & learn how to bring your true self to the food & fibre sector.
Through guided self-reflection, you’ll answer the questions that matter. What do you stand for? What does positive impact mean to you? What’s step one?
Through the real-life stories of food & fibre leaders, you’ll map potential pathways & explore what meaningful work feels like. You’ll walk forward with the first draft of your career roadmap - supported by your peers, inspiring role-models & one progressive food & fibre leader as a mentor.
Generation Change by Rachel Morgan | Aug 9, 2021 | Programmes Generation Change Young women. Bringing purpose to food and fibre. A one-day workshop and support community preparing young women for a li...
Hi Fi this looks great and a really good thing to do .Sadly Sarah will be back down south by then !!if there are others latter in the year keep me posted thanks 😀😀
With less than a week to go until E Tipu 2022: The Boma Agri Summit, you can still secure your spot with a Just in Time ticket ⏰
Don't miss out on Aotearoa's premier food and fibre sector summit of the year. E Tipu have a lineup of remarkable speakers, plus interactive workshops, innovative exhibitors, cross-sector networking, and much more. Special rates are available for not-for-profits, startups, farmers, groups, students and youth. Send us a message to get your code.
If you missed our first 'Know your Mindset. Do what Matters' programme last night, there's still time to register for Programme #2, starting tomorrow (Thurs 9 June) at 7pm.
Shout out to everyone who joined us last night to press pause, connect & focus on what matters most. Great to receive this feedback today.
"I would like to say 'well done' on last night’s session. There were some very good take away messages and exercises in the workshop. I particularly enjoyed the two presenters, their relaxed style and the real life examples. I am already practising noticing my stressors more and how I am dealing with them.
He whakamihi tēnei ki a koe Hinerangi - today named Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to Māori, governance and education. A fitting honour for years of selfless service and leadership. #EscalatorAlumni... See MoreSee Less
Wahoo, well done Hinerangi, if there's suped up way of saying Ka Pai, I'd be saying it! Such a well deserved accolade and honour. Warmest congrats x
Oh yes my dear Hinerangi, so deserved and you are right to accept. Your question is valid but it is continued contribution to governance by those who understand Te Tiriti o Waitangi, and moreso, that is a work in progress that is 100% valuable to all of us.
Congratulations - so thrilled for you - you’ve had such a positive influence on so many lives xx
Well done e hoa.
Congratulations!
Woohoo Hinerangi R Edwards. That is so cool 👏🏼. Congratulations.
Ngā mihi nui me te aroha 💐💖🌟
Ka rawe Hinerangi!
this makes my heart sing. And i know the mahi you do on the behalf of so many will always continue
Absolutely brilliant! Congratulations Hinerangi - very well deserved.