The exciting announcement of the shortlist of 10 Trans-Tasman candidates for the prestigious 2025 Zanda McDonald Award has been welcomed by leading agricultural specialist real estate agency, and long time sponsor of the Award, LAWD.

Senior Director, Col Medway, said the calibre of this year’s finalists was a credit to the industry, and all 10 deserved congratulations for reaching this exciting part of the program.

“LAWD recognises the tremendous benefits the Award brings to agriculture, through encouraging, selecting and mentoring our next generation of industry leaders,” Mr Medway said.

Five candidates each from Australia and New Zealand were shortlisted for the Award for their leadership skills, passion for agriculture, and the contribution they’re making within the sector.

They will be interviewed in December to narrow the field to three finalists from each country before the Award winners are announced in March 2025.

“This is a fantastic program which provides access to the expertise and experience of prominent agribusiness leaders,” Mr Medway said.

“We’ve seen a number of previous award recipients take their career to great heights and they consistently say how invaluable the tailored mentoring and industry networking has been to their growth.

“Agriculture is one of the core foundations of our national real estate agency and advisory business, and we are committed to supporting young people who are driving change and making a real impact.”

The Australian Shortlist:

• Will Creek (35), General Manager – Properties and Livestock for vertically integrated beef and cattle company, Stanbroke, Queensland
• Matt Kelly (33), Farm Manager at thoroughbred breeding, and cattle breeding and finishing business, Coolmore Australia, Hunter Valley, NSW
• Jack O’Connor (32), Manager of Oxton Park, family mixed farm of cropping, wool and prime lamb, based in Harden, NSW
• Kate Power (30), Livestock Operations and Development Manager at Kilcoy Global Foods, Queensland
• Felicity Taylor (29), Area Manager at Rabobank, Moree, NSW

 The New Zealand Shortlist:

• Hamish Best (34), sheep and beef farmer and founder of red meat brand, Conscious Valley, Wellington
• Maegen Blom (24), Operations Manager of family business Mills Bay Mussels, Marlborough
• Sarah How (33), Co-founder and GM of Landify Ltd, South Canterbury
• Ben Purua (30), Farm Manager at Waimakariri Lands Ltd and winner of the Ahuwhenua Young Māori Farmer Award
• Claire Williamson (34), Founder of sustainable wool fashion brand, Velma & Beverley, and Managing Director of My Mortgage, Waikato

The Award was instigated in 2014 to commemorate the work of Zanda McDonald, a prominent identity in the Australian beef and livestock industry who died in a farm accident at the age of 41.

Applicants must be between the ages of 21 and 35, working in the agribusiness sector, and passionate about making a difference in agriculture.

Image from top left to right: Will Creek, Matt Kelly, Jack O’Connor, Kate Power, Felicity Taylor, Hamish Best, Maegen Blom, Sarah How, Ben Purua, Claire Williamson.
(Source Zanda McDonald Award).