News

The finalists for one of the year’s most anticipated events — the Fonterra Dairy Woman of the Year award — have been released.

The finalists are LeAnne Blakelock, Rachel Short and Hinehou Timutimu.

The Fonterra Dairy Woman of the Year award recognises an outstanding woman who has contributed to the dairy sector with passion, drive, innovation and leadership.

The recipient of the Fonterra Dairy Woman of the Year award will receive a scholarship to be part of the Kellogg Rural Leadership Programme. The scholarship covers the programme fee, travel and accommodation, mentoring and access to DWN and Fonterra’s platforms to share research.

Jenna Smith, DWN Trustee and Head Judge, says the calibre of this year’s finalists reflects the depth of leadership emerging across the sector.

“Each finalist brings a distinct perspective and a clear commitment to shaping the future of dairying in Aotearoa.

What stood out this year wasn’t just capability, it was clarity. These women are clear on what matters, clear on the role they can play, and they’re already getting on with leading,” she says.

The award’s five judges include representatives from Dairy Women’s Network, Fonterra, Rural Leaders, Ballance Agri-Nutrients and a previous Fonterra Dairy Woman of the Year recipient.

Finalists will be assessed on a range of factors including commitment, drive and passion for the dairy sector. They will need to be a positive role model for women in dairying and a strong performer, who is recognised by her peers as a potential leader, demonstrating leadership within her community, and with a wider circle of influence than her local community, holding or having previously held leadership positions on regional or national dairy organisations.

The Fonterra Dairy Woman of the Year award will be announced on 5 May at the Gala Dinner of the DWN Conference 2026 in Christchurch, where the theme is ‘Success through Inspiration’.

-ENDS-

Photo Supplied by DWN; (Left to right) LeAnne Blakelock, Rachel Short, and Hinehou Timutimu

Media contact:
Sarah van Munster
Partner Relationship Manager
07 974 4852
Media@dwn.org.nz

For more information about the award, click here.

About the Finalists

LeAnne Blakelock
LeAnne Blakelock is a dairy farmer, sharemilker and chartered accountant based in Inglewood, Taranaki. Not your typical accountant, she shrugs off the usual stereotype and brings a deeply human lens to her work combining practical farming experience with financial expertise to see the whole dairy industry from the paddock to the boardroom.

LeAnne is the founder of Calf Chronicles, a farmer-to-farmer platform with over 5,800 followers across New Zealand and internationally. What began as a space to share practical, evidence-based insights on calf welfare, nutrition and performance has grown into a wider conversation about the future of the industry. Through honest storytelling, on-farm data and science, she brings people on the journey connecting animal welfare, human wellbeing and system performance in a way that resonates both on-farm and beyond it.

She is also the creator of the Rose Gold Veal brand, championing ethical veal production and elevating conversations around calf utilisation, welfare and whole-of-system sustainability.
LeAnne has completed the Fonterra Governance Development Programme, the AgriWomen’s Development Trust Escalator programme, and is a Chartered Member of the Institute of Directors. She is an active member of the DWN Taranaki Business Group and regularly speaks at conferences and industry events across New Zealand and internationally.

Deeply committed to community wellbeing, she has spent over a decade volunteering in suicide prevention and community wellbeing projects and holds governance roles across multiple community trusts. She believes the future of the industry lies not just in better systems, but in better connection, between people, animals and the decisions that shape both.

“LeAnne brings an entrepreneurial mindset and a real ability to connect people. Calf Chronicles and Rose Gold Veal show how she’s creating value and bringing others with her,” says Jenna Smith.

Rachel Short
Rachel Short is a born-and-bred Coastal Taranaki dairy farmer who, alongside her husband and parents, owns two certified organic dairy farms near Opunake. Rachel led the conversion of both farms to organic certification from 2015 and has since become one of New Zealand’s leading voices in organic and regenerative dairy farming.

Rachel is a member of the Fonterra Organic Farmer Advisory Group, chairs the Taranaki Dairy Environment Leaders, and sits on the DairyNZ Dairy Environment Leaders National Advisory Committee. Her farm has been a DairyNZ budget case study for over a decade. She has also held roles with the NZ Dairy Industry Awards National Executive, Organic Dairy & Pastoral Group, Organics Aotearoa NZ and Quorum Sense, and judged the 2026 Taranaki Share Farmer of the Year.

Rachel is an increasingly sought-after speaker and farmer representative, having participated in webinars and panel discussions for DWN, AsureQuality and Fonterra on the growth of organic dairy, most recently speaking at the Underground Festival in Canterbury on the financial case for regenerative agriculture. She is passionate about healthy ecosystems as the foundation for human nutrition, animal welfare and farm profitability.

“Rachel brings a thoughtful, grounded approach. There’s a humility in how she shows up, but it’s backed by strong thinking and real on-farm application,” says Jenna Smith.

Hinehou Timutimu
Hinehou Timutimu (Tuhoe, Whakatohea, Te Atiawa) is the General Manager of Te Tawa Kaiti Lands Trust in the Bay of Plenty, where she leads a dual-enterprise model combining dairy farming and maize. Her leadership philosophy — guided by the whakataukī ‘Ka ora ai te whenua, Ka ora ai te tangata’ (When the Land thrives, the People thrive) — is woven through every initiative she leads.

Hinehou brings together mātauranga Māori and western science to deliver climate resilience, biodiversity restoration, and dairy performance improvements. Her work includes Project Te Aroha, which accelerates dairy productivity and emissions reduction through herd genomics and regenerative farming; He Whāriki mō Paekoau, a catchment restoration programme engaging schools and hapū; and Kua Āmio ki Tōna Tīmatanga, which creates bilingual resources embedding cultural knowledge into environmental action.

In 2025, Hinehou represented New Zealand as an expert speaker at the APEC Technical Cooperation Workshop in Bangkok, contributing to international discussions on women’s economic empowerment and sustainable agriculture. She holds governance credentials spanning the IoD Company Directors’ Course, Fonterra Governance Development Programme, LIC leadership programmes, MPI Governance Essentials, and has been selected for the Kellogg Rural Leadership Programme 2026. She is also Deputy Chair for Bay of Plenty Ballance Farm Environment Awards Management Committee.

“Hinehou brings a deeply grounded perspective, with a strong connection between people, whenua and long-term outcomes. Her leadership is authentic and anchored in purpose,” says Jenna Smith.