News

Eastern Bay of Plenty dairy farmer Rebecca O’Brien has been named the 2024 Dairy Women’s Network (DWN) Regional Leader of the Year.

The award was announced at tonight’s gala dinner at the DWN 2024 “Enhance, Elevate, Evolve” Conference, held in New Plymouth.

This award showcases inspirational women who demonstrate excellence at grass roots, leadership in their local community, and who encompass the DWN values.

“Rebecca illustrated all of these values, passionate for communities, and true leadership,” says Jules Benton, DWN CEO and one of the judges of the awards.

“This year’s finalists were a particularly inspiring group – Rebecca, Leilani Lobb and Laura West are all incredible leaders in their regions. Choosing a single winner for the award was a difficult task but Rebecca absolutely blew us away with her tenacity and resilience, and her embracing, collaborative approach to everything she does.”

Rebecca started her career in tourism before moving into sharemilking, now managing a 1000-herd on two dairy farms in Galatea. It was the move to this remote area that led Rebecca to “push herself out of her comfort zone” and connect with her community, ultimately taking up leadership opportunities and breaking down barriers.

In addition to dairy farming, she mentors staff who are training with Primary ITO, volunteers in her local community, and is involved in the Dairy NZ Awards.

“Rebecca has been an instrumental part of the growth of the Eastern Bay of Plenty chapter of DWN, creating a sense of inclusivity among its members, community clubs, supporting businesses, and the DWN team. She embodies DWN’s value of seizing opportunities and has improved the lives of those in the network and her community. She has an innate ability to influence people, encourage them to take opportunities, and make a difference. She is so well deserving of the Regional Leader of the Year award,” says Jules.

-Ends-

Photo: Supplied by DWN; Rebecca O’Brien.

For more information contact: 
Sarah van Munster
Insights and Media Manager
Phone: 07 974 4852
media@dwn.org.nz