5 – 6 May 2026, Christchurch
The DWN Conference 2026 supported by Bayleys is coming to the Garden City!
You’re invited to join us at Addington Raceway & Events Centre, Christchurch,
on Tuesday 5 May – Wednesday 6 May 2026.
The DWN Success Through Inspiration Conference 2026, supported by Bayleys, is set to be our biggest, boldest,
most empowering event yet — a two-day experience designed to ignite your ambition, fuel your confidence,
and inspire action that truly makes a difference.
Get ready for powerhouse speakers, hands-on workshops, unmissable networking moments, a glamorous Fonterra Gala Dinner, and an uplifting Fonterra & Global Women’s Breakfast that will leave you energised and motivated long after the conference ends.
This is your chance to step out of the everyday and into a space buzzing with passion, purpose, and possibility. Connect with people in the ag-sector, spark new ideas with industry leaders, build meaningful relationships — and yes, share plenty of laughs along the way.
Come be part of something extraordinary. Your next breakthrough starts here.
MEET THE
KEYNOTES
KAREN PENFOLD
A heartfelt, honest look at how one Australian family faced the challenge of succession and built a clear, collaborative plan with, and for the next generation.
Karen shares the lessons, roadblocks, and breakthroughs that helped transform difficult conversations into lasting outcomes – offering simple, practical tools to help you start your own.
Joining her will be her husband Dan, who brings the voice of a husband, father, and grazier – offering a grounded and honest perspective on what it takes to make these conversations work in real life.
Together, they share the male and female viewpoints – the balance between practicality and emotion, legacy and livelihood.
JEHAN CASINADER
Gen Z is here – and they’re asking big questions. What’s the purpose of work? Does loyalty count for anything? And will a full-time job really satisfy their desires?
A self-described “recovering millennial”, Jehan Casinader is ready to flip the script on Gen Z. He’ll explain how we can use powerful storytelling to attract and retain younger staff. How can we get beyond the stereotypes – “lazy”, “impatient”, “unmotivated” – and understand what younger employees really want? And how can we have honest conversations with the younger members of our own families, about the future of our farms?
Generational change is one of the hottest topics in our industry. Jehan will offer sharp, engaging insights that will change the way you communicate.
SACHA COBURN
As a keynote speaker Sacha works with organisations all across the globe imparting messages that matter with her trademark, energy, empathy, insight and inspiration.
Sacha Coburn is the C.O.O of her own family business Coffee Culture, a group of boutique coffee shops with 300 staff in 20 locations.
She has lived every inch of the cost of living crisis with her team of owners and has had to embrace change and challenge on a daily basis.
Sacha walks her talk every day leading her team with humanity and humour. A former lawyer with a first class honours Masters Degree in Education, Sacha is uniquely qualified to talk about what’s ahead.
TE RADAR
Multi award-winning comedian
Te Radar dishes up a smorgasbord of kiwi classics moulded into a deliciously hilarious and sentimental journey through the Cookbookery of our past.
A comedic celebration of food from the beloved and bizarre cookbooks of our past. Te Radar has sampled a 150 years of New Zealand cookbooks to find the tastiest morsels, with a side of sumptuous vintage food photography. Revealing New Zealand’s rich – and very weird – home cooking heritage we rediscover celebrity chefs such as Graham Kerr, Alison Holst, Aunt Daisy, and Hudson and Halls.
Savour the desperate lengths kiwi cookbooks went to encourage us to eat more dairy, offal, and kiwifruit: Cold Sour Kiwifruit Soup anyone?
THANKS TO OUR
CONFERENCE PARTNER
From the Far North to the Deep South, Bayleys Country is a team of industry experts dedicated to delivering quality rural and lifestyle opportunities. With over 100 highly skilled salespeople nationwide, we combine decades of local knowledge with a collaborative approach to connect your property with the right buyers.
We offer bespoke marketing solutions tailored to your needs, from all-inclusive campaigns to discreet off-market offerings. Backed by our award-winning auction team and global partner Knight Frank, we deliver exceptional results while upholding values of integrity, excellence, and innovation. At Bayleys, building lasting relationships with our clients and communities is at the heart of what we do.
THE
WORKSHOPS
Our workshops are where inspiration meets action. Here’s a glimpse of the themes we’ll be exploring at this year’s conference—
designed to spark fresh ideas, meaningful conversations, and practical takeaways.
Stay tuned for more information coming soon!
DAY ONE
DAY TWO
WHY SHOULD
YOU ATTEND?
✦ You’ll discover how to:
- Build a collaborative business plan— transform tough conversations into confident, lasting decisions.
- Unlock the power in your farm— turn real farm insights into high-impact, measurable results.
- Create value through a connected dairy-beef system— understand the opportunities, the strategy, and the future potential.
- Lead from self to team— strengthen your leadership foundations and lift the people around you.
- Communicate with confidence— discover simple, effective tools that help everyone work better together.
- Plus so much more… inspiring ideas, practical takeaways, and conversations that spark real change.
✦ You’ll leave:
- Feeling confident and empowered to seize new opportunities with clarity and purpose.
- Inspired and motivated by stories, insights, and the incredible energy of the people around you.
- With your passion and creativity reignited for the industry you love.
- Have fresh perspectives that challenge your thinking and expand what you believe is possible.
- Walking away with practical, actionable strategies you can implement immediately.
MEET THE
SPEAKERS
KAREN PENFOLD
CFO of the Penfold Family Group of Entities
Co-founder of Four Daughters Beef.
Karen Penfold is the CFO of the Penfold Family Group of Entities and co-founder of Four Daughters Beef.
She’s passionate about family, leadership, and the future of Australian agriculture. Through her own family’s journey with succession, she now empowers others to take that first brave step — to start the conversation.
JEHAN CASINADER
Journalist, keynote speaker
and mental health advocate.
Jehan Casinader is a journalist, keynote speaker and mental health advocate. His was named “Reporter of the Year” at the New Zealand Television Awards, and “Best Political Columnist” at the Voyager Media Awards.
In the aftermath of natural disasters, terror attacks, sporting triumphs and everything in between, Jehan has helped hundreds of Kiwis to share their deeply personal stories with the rest of the country.
One of the country’s most-booked speakers and MCs, Jehan is a respected voice in the areas of wellbeing, leadership and workplace culture.
A survivor of depression and suicidality, he is the author of This Is Not How It Ends: How rewriting your story can save your life (HarperCollins). He is also an official ambassador for Men’s Health Week.
SACHA COBURN
CFO of the Penfold Family Group of Entities
Co-founder of Four Daughters Beef.
Karen Penfold is the CFO of the Penfold Family Group of Entities and co-founder of Four Daughters Beef.
She’s passionate about family, leadership, and the future of Australian agriculture. Through her own family’s journey with succession, she now empowers others to take that first brave step — to start the conversation.
KAREN PENFOLD
CFO of the Penfold Family Group of Entities
Co-founder of Four Daughters Beef.
Karen Penfold is the CFO of the Penfold Family Group of Entities and co-founder of Four Daughters Beef.
She’s passionate about family, leadership, and the future of Australian agriculture. Through her own family’s journey with succession, she now empowers others to take that first brave step — to start the conversation.
KAREN PENFOLD
CFO of the Penfold Family Group of Entities
Co-founder of Four Daughters Beef.
Karen Penfold is the CFO of the Penfold Family Group of Entities and co-founder of Four Daughters Beef.
She’s passionate about family, leadership, and the future of Australian agriculture. Through her own family’s journey with succession, she now empowers others to take that first brave step — to start the conversation.
KAREN PENFOLD
CFO of the Penfold Family Group of Entities
Co-founder of Four Daughters Beef.
Karen Penfold is the CFO of the Penfold Family Group of Entities and co-founder of Four Daughters Beef.
She’s passionate about family, leadership, and the future of Australian agriculture. Through her own family’s journey with succession, she now empowers others to take that first brave step — to start the conversation.
KAREN PENFOLD
CFO of the Penfold Family Group of Entities
Co-founder of Four Daughters Beef.
Karen Penfold is the CFO of the Penfold Family Group of Entities and co-founder of Four Daughters Beef.
She’s passionate about family, leadership, and the future of Australian agriculture. Through her own family’s journey with succession, she now empowers others to take that first brave step — to start the conversation.
WHAT YOU HAD TO SAY ABOUT
PAST DWN CONFERENCES…
JOIN US FOR THE
FONTERRA GALA DINNER
Set against the backdrop of sophistication, this unforgettable evening will be filled with gourmet delights, live entertainment, and the announcement of the 2026 Fonterra Dairy Woman of the Year.
WHEN: Tuesday, 5 May 2025
NETWORKING: 6:00pm
GALA DINNER DOORS OPEN: 6:30pm
GALA DINNER START: 7:00pm
WHERE: Christian Cullen Lounge, Addington Raceway & Events Centre
This event is optional to attend and not included in the conference registration. An additional ticket purchase is required.
Brought to you by:
KICK OFF THE DAY WITH
FONTERRA & GLOBAL WOMEN BREAKFAST
Kicking off this year’s conference, we are excited to share that Fonterra and the Global Women Foundation are partnering to provide a memorable learning experience during a welcome breakfast.
Global Women’s mission is to create opportunities for networking and conversation in a safe environment, with the goal of advancing women in leadership. They aim to connect New Zealand’s leading women locally and globally.
During the breakfast, attendees will have the opportunity to engage with a few members of Global Women, who will share their unique insights, personal journeys, and valuable perspectives.
WHEN: Tuesday, 5 May 2025
DOORS OPEN: 9:00am
FINISH AT: 10:30am
WHERE: Terror to Love Room, Addington Raceway & Events Centre
Brought to you by:
WANT TO BECOME A
PARTNER OF THE DWN CONFERENCE 2026?
Becoming a conference partner provides you with an opportunity to showcase your products and services that support and enhance the skills and knowledge of our people in the dairy sector.
Opportunities include table hosting (our most popular option), MC Partner, Keynote Partner, and more — each designed to provide meaningful visibility and brand recognition while supporting the people in our sector. We’ve also introduced new opportunities to suit different levels of involvement.
Get in touch today to explore how you can be part of the DWN Success Through Inspiration Conference 2026 supported by Bayleys Canterbury, and make a lasting impact.
PLAN YOUR
CHRISTCHURCH TRIP
Situated just minutes from the CBD, Addington Racecourse and Events Centre is set in the heart of Christchurch!
FREE onsite parking is available.
Christchurch Airport is a 20 minute drive from Addington Racecourse & Events Centre. Discover a range of options for getting to and from the airport HERE.
Please note, Dairy Women’s Network has not reserved any accommodation for the DWN2026 Conference.
