Programme Directors
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
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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.
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Our awesome team of facilitators are ready to hit the road, bringing #supportedgrowth to women in every corner of Aotearoa - starting this week in Southland, Marton and Woodville. Facilitator/farmer Kate Wyeth & organiser extroadinaire Keri with just some of the gear for the job! We'd love to see you in your region. Find our more about our programmes at www.awdt.org.nz #creatingpositivechange #keepingitreal
Fingers crossed I get a shiny new one to take with me to Rotorua (WMWW) Raetihi, Kurow and Timaru (UYFB) over month of February. Bring it on!
Great work ladies 👍🏾✊🏾
Can’t wait to meet the ladies in Wyndham and Drummond this week!! And to work with the amazing Wendy Coup
Hello Marton and Woodville. Erica and I are heading your way.....
Yay! Looking styley. 👍🏻
As farmers we're increasingly facing new challenges and adapting to change in our farming businesses. Here's a chance to for farming partners to take time out to step back and look at the big picture together, then break it down into achievable, measurable steps. Create confidence in your farming future together. Register for Future Focus now at www.awdt.org.nz/futurefocus or call us on 06 375 8566 - thanks to Red Meat NZ #creatingpositivechange
Our first location for It's all about YOU 2020 is Masterton on 24 & 25 Feb. Becks Tosswill, a Wairarapa local and YOU graduate has shared her story of how It's all about YOU put clarity around her purpose, vision and new skillset - setting a pathway for her future.
Take time for YOU in 2020 and register at buff.ly/30ZbLdZ
Special thanks to Becks and our programme & strategic partners CRSSoftware & DairyNZ #supportedgrowth
Fantastic interview Becks, articulate and inspiring. Well done!
What a fantastic interview Becks Tosswill I am sure many Wairarapa women will be inspired by your messages of what it's meant for YOU by doing YOU, and what it could mean for them too!
Thank you Becks Tosswill. You remains a favorite of mine and its encouraged, supported and inspired 100s of women reconnect with themselves and the value they bring to all those around them
Love it, well done. And what a stunning farm you have to be inspired by
Well done Becks, fantastic interview xxx
Well spoken Becks. Congratulations
So inspiring Becks !! Nice job !
Well done Becks & AWDT team.
Outstanding ambassador Becks Tosswill 👍🏻😍
Nice work Becks!
Brilliant video Becks x
Nice one Becky Pykett! Go you! <3
Awesome Becks Tosswill!!
Awesome Becks Tosswill. Nailed it x
Well done Becks Tosswill
Love it Becks Tosswill!
Sian O'Mahony
Leanne Turner Maegan Legg
Jade Gilling
#EscalatorAlumni Lee-Ann Marsh - leadership in adapting, positioning, responding to change. Check out her profile below #creatingpositivechangeLee-Ann Marsh
Global Market Innovation Manager, Beef + Lamb New Zealand
Lee-Ann is an experienced global marketer specialising in innovation and consumer insights. She’s passionate about New Zealand’s primary industries and the transformational opportunities available. As the Global Market Innovation Manager for Beef + Lamb New Zealand, Lee-Ann’s role is to create value for the red meat sector by understanding and turning disruptive shifts into competitive advantage.
In 2018, Lee-Ann led a review of alternative proteins for the red meat sector which explored new food technologies, business models and the trends that are driving them. This work alongside a major project working with processing companies to identify potential new pathways to market is helping to position the sector to respond to forces of disruption and to ensure a sustainable future for the sheep and beef sector.
Lee-Ann graduated from the Agri Women’s Development Trust Escalator programme in 2019 and is committed to positioning NZ’s food and fibre sector as world leading by contributing through governance and other leadership activities in future.
We are excited to announce 𝗜𝘁'𝘀 𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗬𝗢𝗨 registrations are LIVE for 2020!
Coming to 𝗠𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘁𝗼𝗻 - 𝗛𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀 - 𝗖𝗿𝗼𝗺𝘄𝗲𝗹𝗹 - 𝗠𝗶𝗹𝘁𝗼𝗻 - 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗶 - 𝗠𝗮𝘁𝗮𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗮.
✔️Discover the true value of your skills, strengths
✔️Refocus, re-prioritize - no matter what stage of life you're at
✔️Build your confidence
✔️Belong to new, inclusive networks.
Register and check out the dates at www.awdt.org.nz/its-all-about-you
Thank you to our programme & strategic partners CRS Software - Cash Manager & DairyNZ
