Congratulations to Sarah Adams for receiving the 2024 award!
The Robin Davidson Memorial Award celebrates the work of individuals in the agritech industry who represent good citizenship with behaviour that encourages collaborative approaches, collective action for the sector and indirect social exchanges (such as the behaviour of paying it forward and supporting the development of others in the community).
NOMINATIONS for 2024 have now closed.
Photo left centre : 2024 winner Sarah Adams (Gallagher Animal Management presented the award by Minister Todd McClay)
The Original Champion of Agritech
The award celebrates the career and impact of Robin Davidson, who was an early advocate and champion of New Zealand’s agritech sector. She was a driving force behind New Zealand Agritech Inc. (NZA) which was established in the early 1990’s as a representative body for the agricultural technology sector. It represented companies selling agricultural enabling technologies — including dairy and milking equipment, seeds, electric fences, milking machines, weigh scales, animal health products and genetics — around the world. Companies such as Gallagher, Tru-Test, Ancare Scientific, Donaghys and PGG Wrightson Seeds were involved.
Many of the companies involved in NZA, for example Gallagher and Tru-Test, were competitors but Robin had a reputation for bringing people and companies together.
The good work in setting up the original New Zealand Agritech Inc. (NZA) organisation was carried on by other industry figures including Jim Grennell of PGG Wrightson, the late Colin Harvey of Ancare Scientific, Geoff Nathan of Tru-Test and Colin May of the Gallagher Group.
The current AgriTech New Zealand organisation established in 2018 is motivated by many of the same principles that inspired Davidson, namely that when a sector thinks and acts as a collective as opposed to individual businesses each trying to make their own way, you can do things differently.
Previous Award Recipients
Historically this award has celebrated fantastic recipients including:
- 2004 McCulloch Products Ltd, T/A McCulloch Medical
- 2005 Prattley Industries Ltd
- 2006 FIL New Zealand Limited
- 2007 Jim Grennell, Business Without Borders Ltd.
- 2009 Colin Harvey, Ancare Scientific, (RIP)
- 2012 Philip Locke, Milfos International Ltd, (RIP)
- 2013 Geoffrey L. Nathan, Tru-Test Limited
- 2014 Murray Willocks, New Zealand Agriseeds
- 2018 Sir William Gallagher, Gallagher Group Limited
- 2022 Andrew Cooke, Rezare Systems – Map of Ag
- 2023 Clare Bradley, Agrisea
- 2024 Sarah Adams – Gallagher Animal Management
Photo right: 2023 award winner Clare Bradley.
NOMINATIONS HAVE NOW CLOSED.
We are looking for someone who:
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Is passionate about agritech
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Consistently contributes to the sector’s growth
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Demonstrates support for others, either people or businesses, in the sector
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An advocate and champion for the sector
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A great person (just as Robin was)
Nominations were open to any person in the sector who meets the above criteria.
NOTE: You must be an AgriTechNZ Member to submit a nomination.