I have a strong agricultural background having grown up on a family farm in the South Island, learning from an early age the benefits of hard work and Kiwi ingenuity to achieve results. After leaving school I went on to study at Lincoln University and completed an Honours degree in Agricultural Science, in 1983, specialising in management, dairy science and soil science.Starting initially as a farm consultant, I quickly moved into international sales and marketing and moved offshore to work in Asia, Middle East, South America, Russia and the UK. During this time I led many successful brand and product development initiatives. Through this hands on sales and marketing experience, I learnt that the secret to success was having a detailed understanding of customer needs and delivering products and services that satisfied those needs efficiently and cost effectively. I am a keen sportsman having played rugby into my 40’s but more recently, concentrating on scuba diving and snowboarding.