The Robin Davidson Memorial Award recognises individuals who have made an outstanding contribution to advancing agritech in Aotearoa New Zealand — through leadership, collaboration, and a commitment to turning innovation into real-world impact. Named in memory of Robin Davidson, the award celebrates the people who strengthen our ecosystem by connecting others, lifting capability, and helping agritech deliver enduring value for farmers, growers, primary industries and the wider economy.
Congratulations to Sarah Adams for receiving the 2024 award!
Sarah Adams (Gallagher Animal Management) was named the 2024 Robin Davidson Memorial Award recipient in recognition of her collaborative leadership and “pay it forward” commitment to New Zealand’s agritech community. At Gallagher, she serves as General Manager – Global Strategy & New Ventures, leading the company’s global innovation roadmap and helping drive future-focused initiatives that support farmers with better decision-making tools. She’s also recognised for mentoring emerging leaders and contributing to sector capability through wider industry roles, including serving as a Non-Executive Director (e.g., DairySmart, Headwaters, StrongBó Agritech) and as a mentor in the Sprout start-up accelerator programme.
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.
2023 award winner Clare Bradley.
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