Jo is passionate about the future prosperity and resilience of rural communities.
With a strong foundation in scientific research and a career that has evolved into project leadership, business management and governance, she brings a rare combination of technical breadth and strategic oversight to her work.
Her expertise spans animal, environmental and farm system research, covering topics such as animal production (nutrition and health), welfare and behaviour, product quality, and economic and environmental modelling (nitrogen leaching and GHG emissions). This breadth has given her a deep understanding of the trade-offs that occur on-farm between productivity, profitability and sustainability.
With a practical and commercial understanding of how research can deliver value, Jo is experienced in managing and delivering complex projects and programmes. Whether facilitating cross-sector collaboration or leading delivery from concept to implementation, she excels where innovation meets application.
She has successfully worked with farmers, agri-tech start-ups, not-for-profits, agribusinesses, universities, research organisations, and government agencies – making her a natural connector and effective facilitator across the food and fibre sector.
Jo is also a strong advocate for capability development and has designed and delivered a range of personal and business development programmes that build confidence and support growth and resilience across the rural sector.
Her leadership style is grounded in curiosity, analysis, and collaboration. She thrives on understanding opportunities and challenges at hand, drawing on diverse perspectives, and bringing the right people together to deliver results. She’s known for being supportive, organised, and a team player—someone who listens deeply, contributes thoughtfully, and gets things done to a high standard.
Outside of work, Jo and her partner farm sheep and beef in the mighty Manawatū. She enjoys spending time with family and friends, walking her much-loved dog, tending to her vegetable garden, and trying to capture the beauty of life through the lens of her camera.
