Chairman of Dairy Insight Board not to stand

Chairman of Dairy Insight Board not to stand

Dr Alan Frampton has announced he will not be seeking election to the first member-elected Board of Dairy InSight in May. Dr Frampton has been the Chairman of the Board since its inaugural meeting in April 2001 and has played an integral part in the establishment of the organisation from its inception.

“Dairy InSight was established as the need for an independent organisation for funding industry good activities became apparent as the dairy industry was deregulated. With the first farmer-nominated Board elections coming up in May, I’ve decided that it’s the appropriate time to step-down”, says Dr Frampton.

The Minister of Agriculture, Hon Jim Sutton, has confirmed that he will be recommending to Cabinet that the milksolids levy for dairy industry good activities proceed from 1 June 2003.

“It is now time for other dairy farmers to share their experience and knowledge and take this organisation into the future,” says Dr Frampton.

“Dairy InSight would like to acknowledge and thank Dr Frampton for his outstanding contribution to the establishment of Dairy InSight,” says Dairy InSight’s Chief Executive, Peter Bodeker.

“Dairy InSight has achieved an awful lot over a relatively short space of time, replacing the Dairy Board in the role as the funder of industry good activities,” says Mr Bodeker. “We have moved quickly from inception to understanding and delivering to dairy farmers, which exemplifies the leadership we have had from the top.”

Dr Frampton warns that farmers need to be involved with Dairy InSight, as it is their organisation.

“This is the first opportunity dairy farmers will have to elect the leadership of their organisation,” he says. “I encourage all dairy farmers to get involved in this election, and to think carefully about who they want to carry it into the future. Farmers should be looking for a leader, with an ability to impartially represent all levy paying members interests, who is open-minded to a range of ideas, is a good communicator, understands financial issues and has a good understanding of on-farm matters, especially where they impact on the funding and strategic direction of industry good activities.”

“It’s very important for the future of Dairy InSight to see strong candidates nominated as well as strong voter participation in the Board elections,” Dr Frampton says.

Dairy InSight Board member, Earl Rattray will also not be seeking election to the Board. Mr Rattray has also been with Dairy InSight since its inception. Earl Rattray has previously been a director of the New Zealand Dairy Group, the New Zealand Dairy Board and the New Zealand Dairy Institute. He is currently a director of the Fonterra Co-operative Group.

Dr Frampton will continue as Chairman of Tatua Co-operative Dairy Company Chairman, a position he has held since 1990.

(ends)

Background on Board Elections Dairy InSight is running its first election for five member-elected Directors. The nominations for the Dairy InSight Board Elections open on Friday, 21 February 2003 (close 5.00pm Friday, 21 March 2003).

Voting papers will be mailed out to on Friday, 9 May 2003 and voting closes 5.00pm Friday, 30 May 2003. Any dairy farmer who provides milksolids to a dairy company will be eligible to nominate a candidate and vote in the election.

Nomination packs and all information regarding both organisation’s board elections are available by calling the Election Hotline on 0508 666 336 or contacting Warwick Lampp, Returning Officer wlampp@election.com.

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