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.
Our 2018 annual report is hot off the press with highlights from a year that saw AWDT deliver more programmes to more people in more locations than ever before. Over the coming week we’ll share more details about these milestones and achievements. You can read a copy of the report here: buff.ly/2Ti4Ice #SupportedGrowth
Our annual meeting last night was a chance to celebrate the achievements of 2018 and to formally recognise AWDT Founder and Trustee Lindy Nelson, who moved out of her Executive Director role at the end of last year. AWDT, our programmes and the changes in the lives and communities of our almost 3000 graduates are all a result of Lindy’s vision of women fulfilling their potential as vital partners in a thriving primary sector. Following the many tributes, Lindy and husband David were presented with two totara trees: “Like you, these are the mighty giants of the forest.” – Fi Dalgety, AWDT Trustee. Thanks to our partners ANZ New Zealand, AGMARDT, Beef + Lamb New Zealand, DairyNZ, FMG, Ravensdown, Red Meat NZ, CRS Software - Cash Manager, Ministry for Primary Industries. #CreatingPositiveChange
Congratulations Lindy, what an amazing legacy xx
Lindy, you are an inspiration. Thank you for your contribution to our industry at large and especially in the appreciation of the role women can play in that. I’m sure you’re not done yet mind you!
Congratulations on a job extremely well done Lindy!! Congratulations to AWDT to accomplishments and vision!!
Thank you Lindy Nelson for your vision, your determination and your perseverance. Our lives, our businesses, our sectors and NZ Inc are stronger, more resilient and poised for the future thanks to you. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts
Congratulations Lindy Nelson. Was great to celebrate with you last night. Thank you again for taking action, lighting the candle and blazing the trail for us to courageously follow your lead. You have made such an incredible difference in the lives of so many women across New Zealand. X
Congratulations and well done. X
Beautiful congratulations Lindy
Congratulations Lindy, what a difference you have made and will continue to make for rural women across NZ ❤️
Congratulations Lindy a wonderful achievement!
Congratulations Lindy! Has been an absolute privilege to be part of AWDT. Thank you so much for your contribution in all our lives. Nx
Congratulations Lindy, What an amazing journey from the beginning of 2008. Really proud to be in your Kellogg cohort, an inspiring contribution.
What a night for #CriticalFarmingPartners! Congratulations to four of our graduates and their farming partners for their care and stewardship of the land at the Horizons Region Ballance Farm Environment Awards last night. Supreme Award winners Trudy & Simon Hales, and award winners Mike & #EscalatorAlumni Tracey Collis, Kylie & Ian Brown, and Philippa & Sam Trotter. #creatingpositivechange
Rachel Taulelei (Ngāti Raukawa, Ngāti Rarua, Ngāti Koata) is among the fantastic line up of speakers at this year’s Grow 2019 – the Boma NZ Agri Summit in Christchurch from 10-11 April. Rachel is the CE of Kono NZ, a Māori-owned top 100 New Zealand food and beverage company that exports to over 25 countries. A fierce advocate of our primary industry, Rachel has spent 20 years promoting Aotearoa as a world-class food producer. To hear Rachel and others speak about future trends and issues for our sector, register today at: www.grow.nz.boma.global #creatingpositivechange #BomaGrow2019
A reminder to register for the Beef + Lamb New Zealand Annual Meeting on Thursday March 21 in Timaru. The meeting is part of a full day of events to update farmers and others in the sector on key industry initiatives and current issues. Register today at: beeflambnz.com/events/blnz-annual-meetingDon't forget to register for the B+LNZ Annual Meeting on 21 March in Timaru. Hear about the roll out of Taste Pure Nature in California this month. Also hear from Agriculture Minister Damien O'Connor MP and Todd Muller MP (National's Spokesperson for Climate Change) about some of the areas of major regulatory change facing our sector this year – climate, water, and biodiversity. Numbers are limited, so register now at: https://beeflambnz.com/events/blnz-annual-meeting
