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August 21 @ 8:30 am - 6:00 pm
Join us for Agritech Unleashed: Waikato, our second event in the series. We’re showcasing how our land and people are shaping Aotearoa’s agritech future.
Our exclusive, limited-capacity event brings together industry leaders, entrepreneurs, researchers and investors to explore the future of agritech in one of our most dynamic dairy farming regions.
Event Details:
- Date: Thursday 21 August
- Time: 8.30am – 6.00pm
- Location: 125 Mystery Creek Road, Gate 2, Gallagher Building, Hamilton, New Zealand (plenty of parking available on site)
- Cost: $99 Members ($249 non-members)
BUY YOUR TICKETS TODAY!
What you’ll experience:
Join us for a full day of insight, connection, and inspiration as we bring the Waikato agritech ecosystem together to explore how innovation is reshaping farming and food production – from paddock to plate and beyond.
- Gain expert insights
Engage with industry leaders and participate in panel discussions on agritech advancements - Create valuable connections
Build relationships with key decision-makers and innovators in our thriving agritech ecosystem - Explore regional perspectives
Hear how Waikato’s strengths in dairy and pasture-based systems are driving innovation and shaping the future of agritech. - Contribute to the conversation
Take part in our interactive workshop designed to spark collaboration and capture insights from across the sector.
With limited spots available, this event is designed for meaningful discussions and impactful connections. While this event has a dairy flavour, it’s relevant for anyone contributing to the evolution of agritech.
The Agenda:
Event Schedule
- 9:00 AM – Mihi Whakatau (Welcome Ceremony)
- 9:10 AM – Opening Remarks and Introductions
- 9:30 AM – Panel Discussions Commence
- 10:30 AM – Morning Tea
- 11:00 AM – Panel Discussions Resume
- 1:00 PM – Lunch Break
- 2:00 PM – Concurrent Workshops Begin
- 4:00 PM – Networking and Refreshments
- 6:00 PM – Event Concludes
Panel Sessions:
- Panel 1: Local to Global Perspectives on Innovation in Farming
- Panel 2: Adopting Innovation: The Farmer’s Perspective
- Panel 3: Supporting Innovation: The Enabler’s Perspective
- Panel 4: From Farm to Table: The Processor’s Perspective on Innovation
- Panel 5: Export Pathways: Taking Innovation to the World
Afternoon Workshops:
As part of the day’s programme, you’ll have the chance to dive deeper into the topics that matter most through one of three interactive afternoon workshops. Each session will run concurrently and is designed to spark collaboration, surface insights, and advance sector-wide conversations.
During registration, you’ll be asked to rank the three workshops in order of preference. While we’ll do our best to place you in your top choice, spaces are limited—so early registration is recommended.
Option 1. Exporters and Nextporters
This session brings together agritech businesses already exporting with other exporters and those preparing to enter international markets, creating a dynamic forum for sharing lessons, strategies, and support mechanisms. Participants will explore how others chose their first markets, navigated legal and operational risks, secured in-market partners or talent, and leveraged NZTE and other ecosystem supports. The workshop is designed to foster pre-competitive knowledge sharing and near-peer mentoring, helping participants accelerate their export readiness and avoid common pitfalls.
Ideal for business development leads, international sales teams, and C-level executives focused on global growth.
Option 2. Float All Boats: Mapping the agritech data tide
This collaborative mapping session will chart the high-level data domains within New Zealand’s agritech ecosystem, spotlighting who stewards what data, where integrations are occurring, and where aspirations for interoperability lie. Participants will contribute to a first-pass ecosystem view that can inform the development of a data discoverability platform and help shift the conversation from data silos to shared value. All contributions, including overlap and competition, are welcomed and celebrated in the service of sector-wide enablement.
Best suited for CIOs, CTOs, data architects, developers, and analysts working on interoperability and data infrastructure.
Option 3. Beyond the Baseline: Scaling what works in on-farm technology uptake
You already know the challenges – you live them every day. This session is about what’s actually working to drive on-farm tech uptake; and how we can do more of it, faster. Building on insights from AgriTechNZ’s 2022 Digital Adoption Report, this workshop invites farmers, innovators, and technology enablers to explore how the realities of deploying new tools on-farm have evolved. The session will surface what’s changed in user experience, trust, value delivery, and support since the baseline was established, and how new initiatives like the Investment Boost are (or aren’t) influencing decisions. Attendees will share candid stories, identify barriers that still need to be addressed, and help shape a more grounded, farmer-aligned innovation pipeline. This brings farmers and builders into the same room to share honest wins, battle scars, and the untapped opportunities we might be missing.
Designed for farmers, technology builders, and product managers working to bridge real-world farm needs with agritech solutions.
Why Waikato?
- known for its fertile land and strong dairy heritage
- a powerhouse in dairy production and pasture-based farming systems
- home to leading agritech innovation in animal health, sustainability and precision agriculture
DON’T MISS OUT. GET YOUR TICKETS TODAY!
Speaker Details:
Amber Carpenter, Farmer & Advocate, Amorangi Farms
Amber Carpenter knows firsthand the challenges and opportunities of running a modern farming business – balancing life on the land with leadership, advocacy, and innovation.
From dairying and beef farming in South Auckland to chairing DairyNZ’s Dairy Environment Leaders, Amber brings a practical, future-focused voice to the table. She’s a FarmStrong Ambassador, former NZDIA National Chair, digital strategist behind Grass Roots Media, and a driving force behind catchment work in her local community.
At Agritech Unleashed, Amber will share real-world insights on adopting technology on-farm – what’s working, what’s not, and how farmers can harness innovation to support productivity, sustainability, and wellbeing.
Andrew Kempson, General Manager, Global Climate Policy, Fonterra
We’re excited to welcome Andrew Kempson, Fonterra’s Global Climate Strategy Lead, to the Agritech Unleashed stage!
Andrew is leading the charge on reducing agricultural emissions – from AgriZero investments and methane-reducing tools, to the commercialisation of low-carbon dairy ingredients that have delivered over $100 million in new value for farmers.
He’ll explore what it takes to move from pilot to practice, how to align innovation with real-world farm priorities, and what’s next in building a thriving, farmer-centred innovation system.
Christy Mead, AgTech Growth Specialist, Agnition
We’re excited to welcome Christy Mead, AgTech Growth Specialist at Agnition, to the panel at Agritech Unleashed: Waikato!
Christy started her career in agri-sales with Ravensdown and now plays a key role at Agnition, where she leads the Farm Innovation Network – helping agri innovators test and scale smart solutions that actually work on-farm. Based on an 1800ha property in Gisborne, she brings grounded, real-world insight into what tech needs to deliver: time savings, productivity gains, and real farmer value.
Agnition is a venture catalyst supporting the launch and growth of agrifood tech startups across Aotearoa – connecting innovation with investment and commercial know-how.
Desley Haas, CEO, MADCAP
Meet Desley Haas, CEO of MADCAP, a global dairy software company trusted by processors like Nestlé. Desley brings nearly three decades of experience and now leads MADCAP’s international growth – connecting the milk supply chain from farm to factory.
She’ll join our Export Pathways panel to explore what it takes to scale from local pilot to global success. What’s holding us back – and how do we go further, faster?
Hillary Sharp, CEO, ESP Medical
We’re thrilled to welcome Hillary Sharp, CEO of ESP Medical, to the Agritech Unleashed stage!
Hillary leads ESP Medical, a New Zealand-based contract development and manufacturing organisation (CDMO) specialising in the design and scalable production of innovative animal health products. From pharmaceutical formulations to medical devices, she’s helping turn ideas into practical tools for farmers and vets alike.
With a background spanning engineering, manufacturing and lab services, Hillary brings hands-on experience working with both global corporates and local startups.
Jeff Hill, Country Manager, smaXtec NZ
We’re excited to welcome Jeff Hill, Country Manager for smaXtec NZ, to the Agritech Unleashed stage!
Based in Mid Canterbury with his wife and three boys, Jeff grew up on his family’s sheep and deer farm in Eastern Southland, sparking a lifelong passion for agriculture. For the past eight years, he’s been deeply involved in the dairy monitoring industry, helping drive the shift toward smarter, data-driven decision-making on Kiwi farms.
At smaXtec, Jeff is introducing farmers to groundbreaking internal sensor technology that delivers unique animal health and performance insights – opening new opportunities for efficiency, productivity, and sustainability across the industry.
Dr Jeremy Bryant, Founder & Chief Technology Officer, Aimer Farming
We’re excited to welcome Dr. Jeremy Bryant, Founder & CTO of Aimer Farming, to the Agritech Unleashed stage!
With a PhD in genetics and farm systems from Massey University, Jeremy has spent over 15 years in agritech as a farm system modeller and data scientist. He’s been behind key tools for DairyNZ, Farmax, and AgResearch – innovations that have transformed dairy farming and pasture management through AI-powered solutions.
In 2021, Jeremy founded Aimer Farming to bring farmers an easy-to-use, AI-driven pasture management platform, helping them make smarter, faster decisions for better productivity and sustainability.
Joan Barendsen, General Manager On Farm Excellence, Miraka
We’re looking forward to hearing from Joan Barendsen, who leads on-farm innovation and sustainability at Miraka, one of Aotearoa’s most values-led dairy processors.
With over 20 years in agribusiness, Joan brings deep experience in supply chain operations, farmer engagement, and strategy. At Miraka, she’s embedding climate-positive practices and supporting the adoption of agritech that enhances efficiency, traceability, and resilience.
Joan will share how processors like Miraka are scaling innovation, working alongside farmers, and building future-fit systems that reflect the values of people, whenua, and long-term productivity.
Olivia Smith, Commercial Manager Operations, Spring Sheep Milk Co.
We’re thrilled to have Olivia Smith from Spring Sheep Milk Co. joining the Processor Panel at Agritech Unleashed.
With experience across on-farm operations, strategy, and commercial leadership, Olivia brings a sharp focus to scaling New Zealand’s sheep dairy sector – from genetics and farm systems through to processing and global markets.
At Spring Sheep, she’s helping turn customer and market insights into real-world action, using data and innovation to drive shared value across the supply chain. Olivia will share how the company is building a future-ready dairy model that blends sustainability, agility, and global opportunity.
Pamela Storey, Agribusiness Owner / Governance Professional
Joining the lineup at Agritech Unleashed is Pamela Storey, a proud food producer, agribusiness owner, and governance leader deeply embedded in the future of farming in Aotearoa.
Originally from Washington State, Pamela has lived and farmed in the Waikato for over two decades, where she and her husband run a dairy operation in Te Hoe. She brings a powerful mix of technical expertise, business leadership, and regional governance – currently serving as Chair of the Waikato Regional Council.
Pamela will share her perspective on how rural communities, agribusiness, and innovation can work together to create thriving, future-focused systems that protect both productivity and the environment.
Paul Johnson, General Manager Milk Sourcing & Sustainability, ofi (Olam Food Ingredients)
We’re pleased to have Paul Johnson from ofi joining the panel at Agritech Unleashed to share his perspective on innovation in the dairy supply chain.
Paul leads milk sourcing and sustainability efforts across ofi’s New Zealand operations, working closely with farmers to drive continuous improvement through data, technology, and strong partnerships.
He’ll speak to the importance of tech in delivering traceability, quality, and efficiency at scale – and how global processors are adapting to shifting market expectations while staying grounded in on-farm reality.
Will Burrett, Chief Operating Officer, Pāmu
Joining us on stage is Will Burrett, Chief Operating Officer at Pāmu – bringing a unique mix of grassroots farming, agritech, finance, and leadership experience to the conversation.
Will has held executive roles with Ngāi Tahu Farming & Forestry, Map of Agriculture, and worked across ASB Rural, Fonterra, and on-farm in Te Awamutu and Canterbury. He also has skin in the game – with investments in dairy equity partnerships and agritech.
He’s a leader who understands both the boardroom and the back paddock – and he’s all about driving results through innovation, collaboration, and real-world practicality.
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