Workshops 2026


Legends of Dairy – Breakfast

Speaker(s): Colin Glass, Leonie Guiney & one other TBC
Facilitator(s): To be announced
14 Apr 2026
7.30am – 8.30am
Colin Glass, Leonie Guiney & one other TBC

This complimentary breakfast session brings together Legends of Dairy at different stages of their wealth journey to share what’s worked, what’s changed, and what still holds true.

About This Workshop

Hear from those who built significant wealth from nothing 30–40 years ago, others who’ve grown wealth over the past 20 years, and farmers well underway in the last decade. The mix challenges the idea that “it was easier back then” and offers practical, relevant insights for every age and stage, with an additional lens on alternative thinking and principles of wealth creation.

Pathways to Wealth Creation in the Dairy Industry

Speaker(s): To be announced
14 Apr 2026
11:00am - 12:30pm
# All to Attend
To be announced

This workshop celebrates everyday people in dairy achieving extraordinary results - building wealth, creating opportunities, and making a lasting impact.

About This Workshop

This workshop celebrates everyday people in dairy achieving extraordinary results - building wealth, creating opportunities, and making a lasting impact. Hear from high-performing farmers, including new kiwis who have immigrated here, as they share their unique routes to success, revealing key ingredients like smart financial choices, perseverance, and the
power of the right partnerships. Expect fresh insights, honest discussion, and a high-energy Q&A that will leave you motivated and ready to chart your own path to success.

About the Speaker(s)

To follow.

Turning Milk into Profit: Smart Spending Strategies from the Top 10%

Speaker(s): To be announced
Facilitator(s): Paul Bird
14 Apr 2026
1:15 PM - 2:45 PM
# 1A
To be announced

What separates the top 10% of dairy operators from the rest?

About This Workshop

This practical, data-driven workshop reveals how leading farms manage costs, make smart spending decisions, and maximise profitability without compromising performance. Hear from experts and top farmers as they share real-world strategies for controlling costs, investing wisely, and turning small efficiencies into big results - offering actionable insights to help you boost your
bottom line.

About the Speaker(s)

To be announced

Rethinking the Future: Practical Tools for Using AI on Farm

Speaker(s): James Allen
Facilitator(s): To announced
14 Apr 2026
1:15 PM - 2:45 PM
# 1B
James Allen

Discover how artificial intelligence is shaping the future of dairy farming.

About This Workshop

Join our industry leaders as they share insights and explore how AI tools can be applied in everyday farm management. Through interactive activities and real-world examples, you’ll gain a clearer understanding of the opportunities ahead - and how to prepare for the changes coming to on-farm decision making and efficiency.

About the Speaker(s)

To be announced

Optimising Your System: Making the Most of a High Payout Year

Speaker(s): Peter Schouten, Pete Smit, & Jack Symes
Facilitator(s): To be announced
14 Apr 2026
3:00 PM - 4:30 PM
# 2A
Peter Schouten, Pete Smit, & Jack Symes

Every farm system can succeed - the key is understanding your own and knowing where to fine-tune it.

About This Workshop

In this practical workshop, topperforming
farmers from Systems 3 to 5 share real costings, performance data, and proven management techniques that drive results. With expert commentary and facilitated discussion, you’ll discover what’s working, why it works, and how small tweaks can make a big difference to profit and performance.

About the Speaker(s)

To be announced

Advancing Pasture and Animal Performance Through Technology

Speaker(s): John Caradus, Linda Johnson, & Corrigan Sowman
Facilitator(s): To be announced
14 Apr 2026
3:00 PM - 4:30 PM
# 2B
John Caradus, Linda Johnson, & Corrigan Sowman

Genetic technology is rapidly shaping the future of dairying, and this session breaks down what that means for your farm.

About This Workshop

Leading scientists translate complex research into practical insights for South Island systems, exploring how genetics can boost animal health, feed efficiency, and climate resilience.

Gain a clear view of where these technologies are heading, what’s realistic now, and how they could influence your farm’s profitability and decisions.

About the Speaker(s)

To follow

Governance on Farm: Building Better Businesses Through Smarter Decision-Making

Speaker(s): To be announced
Facilitator(s): To be announced
15 Apr 2026
11:00 AM - 12:30 PM
# 3A
To be announced

Good governance isn’t just for big businesses - it’s for any farmer wanting to make smarter decisions, build stronger relationships, and achieve long-term success.

About This Workshop

In this session, industry leaders and farmers share how governance has improved clarity, accountability, and business performance, with insights from both boardroom and on-farm perspectives. Gain practical tools, ideas for mentorship and advisory networks, and a clear sense of how good governance can help you run a better business today and build a stronger one for the future.

About the Speaker(s)

to be announced

Sharing the Real Story: Building Your Brand and Promoting Dairy Positively Online

Speaker(s): Allie King
Facilitator(s): Amber Carpenter
15 Apr 2026
11:00 AM - 12:30 PM
# 3B
Allie King

Social media is a powerful tool used to shape how people see dairy farming, but using it well takes skill and confidence.

About This Workshop

In this practical workshop, Grassroots Media shares how to tell authentic, positive stories that promote both your business and the wider dairy sector. Learn to build your brand, attract great people, and create smart, honest content that balances the good with the real. Walk away inspired and equipped to share your story confidently and strengthen the dairy community online.own simple web pages and understand the core concepts that power the modern web.

About the Speaker(s)

Alongside my husband Ben King, we 50:50 sharemilk 650 cross bred and jersey cows, in North Canterbury.

We have two children, Lincoln and Isabelle and a fluffy Samoyed dog called Ted who regularly features on our instagram and Facebook.

We have been in the industry for 11 years when Ben started as a farm assistant and I worked in a farm store. I wasn’t bought up in farming and had no exposure to it til Ben went farming. We went contract milking in 2018 and worked our way up to 50:50 in 2022.

Our social media was borne out of the fact that my family and friends from town didn’t have much understanding of what a farming lifestyle was like, and the misconception around farm policies and procedures. We would often be at events and hear people bad-mouthing farmers. We wanted to showcase and promote dairy whilst educating our friends and family of our truth to farming in NZ. Allie is also the Dairy Women’s Network hub leader for Canterbury & North Otago

What They Wish They Knew: Lessons From The Dairy Journey

Speaker(s): Andy Macfarlane, Carlos Cuadrado, Kiri Roberts, Louise Gibson & Will Grayling
Facilitator(s): To be announced
15 Apr 2026
1:15 PM - 2:45 PM
# 4A
Andy Macfarlane, Carlos Cuadrado, Kiri Roberts, Louise Gibson & Will Grayling

What They Wish They Knew: Lessons From the Dairy Journey

About This Workshop

What They Wish They Knew is a café-style, rotating workshop where Kiwis and new Kiwis from across the dairy sector - farm owners, share milkers, and professionals - share the lessons they wish they’d known earlier. Five speakers host small-table discussions, each running for 20 minutes, with participants moving between tables. Expect honest conversations about career progression, money decisions, contracts, people management, and work–life balance. No slides, no filters - just practical advice, real stories, and insights you can apply immediately.

About the Speaker(s)

To follow

Building Great Teams: Leadership, Culture, and Retention on Farm

Speaker(s): To be annouced
Facilitator(s): To be annouced
15 Apr 2026
1:15 PM - 2:45 PM
# 4b
To be annouced

Strong teams are built through great leadership, clear communication, and trust.

About This Workshop

In this practical workshop, leadership experts and farmers share real-life lessons on creating and sustaining high-performing teams - covering delegation, staff development, and maintaining smooth operations. Walk away with practical strategies to grow and retain great people, strengthen team culture, and lead with confidence, because keeping good staff is the smartest investment you can make.

About the Speaker(s)

To be announced

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BrightSIDE aims to inspire and attract young and new people to the dairy industry, provide them with skills, tools and knowledge to succeed and thrive in a dynamic industry.

BrightSIDE
Scholarship

The BrightSIDE Scholarship is here to support your journey

Career

Path

Network, Connect and Explore career paths within New Zealand's diary industry