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.
“My defining word about what Escalator gave me - would be confidence”
In this video, 2018 #escalatoralumni Mihirangi Hollings shares the stages of her Escalator journey. How exploring her purpose and leadership style led to tangible steps on her road to impact leadership.
Applications are now open for Escalator 2022 - our impact leadership accelerator empowering purpose-driven women with the mindsets, skills and connections to create systemic change.
Learn more and apply (before Monday 11 October) at www.awdt.org.nz/programmes/escalator/
Julianne Nightingale Bettina Reid Melanie Sweet 🌿
Nau mai haere mai to Anne-Marie Broughton, Keri Johnston and Poto Davies - three new trustees appointed to the AWDT board.
These women bring valuable skills and connections that will support us to empower women to accelerate progress and change - especially in our work with Māori women, environment and natural resource management, entrepreneurship and community development.
In welcoming Anne-Marie, Keri and Poto, we also say a heartfelt thanks to several long-serving trustees, stepping down as part of our governance succession plan.
Thank you for your support and dedication to the Board - Lindy Nelson, Damian Buckley, Jessica Smith and Dr Scott Champion.
Photo (from left to right) Anne-Marie Broughton, Keri Johnston and Poto Davies.
Congratulations Anne-Marie, Keri & Poto
Well done ladies. Loving your work Anne-Marie.
Congrats on your appointments Anne-Marie, Keri and Poto👏
Outstanding Keri Johnston
Congratulations Keri Johnston . That's fantastic. Ka pai e hoa.
Congratulations all. Keri Johnston exciting journey ahead!
Well done Keri Johnston!
Well done ladies and Keri Johnston you're amazing 👏 ❤
Good job Keri Johnston.
With applications now open Escalator 2022 - our impact leadership accelerator - we asked 2017 Alumni Kathryn de Bruin to share her leadership lightbulb moment.
“For me, it was the board observation. I had chosen to observe the HortNZ board, it was only one meeting but it gave me a glimpse into what they did - and made me realise this was something that I could do.
After this meeting, the board members encouraged me to stand in the next election and I did. I was not successful the first time, so I stood again the following year and was voted in.
Escalator gave me the confidence I did not have. It gave me the belief that I could do it, that things were worth a try.”
Escalator 2022 empowers purpose-driven women with the mindsets, skills and connections to create systemic change. Are you one of them?
Learn more and apply (before Monday 11 October) at www.awdt.org.nz/programmes/escalator/
Angela Holdem
Emma Bermingham Jonker
Meat The Need NZ the need just goes from strength to strength!
Founded by Next Level 2021 graduate Siobhan O’Malley and Wayne Langford, the charity has now provided over 408,783 meals to vulnerable New Zealanders, from 883 donations by farmers.
In this Beef + Lamb New Zealand article, Siobhan discusses how the charity works and where to from here for this farmer-led mission.
Congratulations as well to #escalatoralumni Julia Jones and Next Level alumni Cheyenne Wilson, Meat the Need board members who help to lead this great initiative.
beeflambnz.com/news-views/farmers-feeding-thousands-kiwis-through-meat-need
Awesome Siobhan 👏 👏
Deeply connecting with your leadership why, is the engine that drives the Escalator journey.
In this video, members of the #EscalatorAlumni reflect on their leadership whys - unique pathways to creating positive impact in our food and fibre sector and rural communities.
Applications are now open for Escalator 2022 - our impact leadership accelerator empowering purpose-driven women with the mindsets, skills and connections to create systemic change.
Learn more and apply (before Monday 11 October) at www.awdt.org.nz/programmes/escalator/
