Dan Pronk

Sponsored by 

Inspirational Speaker

After failing dismally in his first career dream of being a professional triathlete, Dan studied medicine on an army scholarship.  After passing the punishing Special Air Service Regiment (SASR) selection course, Dan then served on over 100 combat missions in Afghanistan as a frontline special operations doctor. His casualties included fellow SAS soldiers, commandos, local civilians, and even the enemy.  
The thrill of adventure and the challenges of battlefield medicine gave him a sense of purpose in testing his skills to the limits, but the despair of being helpless to save his friends in their final moments haunted him. 
His journey back to a fulfilling life began when he moved into medical leadership roles, using the medical skills honed in Afghanistan to save civilian lives.
Dan is just a small average guy who pushed himself to perform in complex environments, and will share with you his tales of adventure, resilience, and give you the tools to thrive. 

Jeremy Hill

Sponsored by 

Chief Science and Technology Officer - Fonterra Cooperative Group & Adjunct Professor, Sustainable Nutrition, Riddet Institue, Massey University

Jeremy has worked for Fonterra and its predecessor companies for over 30 years, the last 17 as Fonterra’s Chief Science & Technology Officer and has held executive leadership roles in science, technology, regulatory and food assurance across the entire farm to consumer value chain. Jeremy is an inventor of 20+ patent families covering different aspects of dairy science, technology, health, nutrition, and sustainability, and has published over 100 scientific papers. He has invented or co-invented IP used to create four start-up companies, all still operating. Jeremy is a graduate of the New Zealand Institute of Directors Company Directors’ course and has held numerous governance positions in the boards of NZ and global organisations including President and Chairman of theBoard of the International Dairy Federation. In 2018 Jeremy co-established the Sustainable Nutrition Initiative www.sustainablenutritioninitiative.com based at the Riddet Institute, Massey University, where he was a director on the Riddet Board 2009-2012.
Jeremy was made a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to science and the dairy industry in the 2020 Queens Birthday Honours.

Siobhan O'Malley

Sponsored by 

Jamie Mackay

A former accountancy student at Otago University and a Lincoln College graduate in agriculture, Jamie farmed at Riversdale in Southland for ten years before a brief and undistinguished career as a house-husband.
In 1994, he negotiated the purchase of 4ZG from Radio New Zealand, the first and only sale of a state-owned radio station to private enterprise, which went on to become Hokonui Gold. From there, the Farming Show took root before going nationwide on Radio Sport and Newstalk ZB, rebranded in 2016 as The Country.
Jamie is an equity partner in a Southland dairy farm and is involved in a wetland restoration project on his home farm, where he also enjoys duck hunting with a few old schoolmates. In a past life a keen rugby player and marathon runner, these days he relaxes by getting wound up on the golf course.