FMG AGM 2027
FMG’s 122th Annual General Meeting will be held online in August 2027.
FMG AGM 2026
FMG’s 121st Annual General Meeting was held online on Friday, 21 August.
Sarah von Dadelszen | Board Chair
Sarah has a background in financial services and farm consultancy, followed by over 20 years of governance experience primarily in the agriculture and electricity sectors. Her other current director roles include Centralines Limited, and Assistance dogs NZ. Previous roles include Ballance Agri-Nutrients Chair of the NZ Beef Council, Fonterra Shareholder Councillor, and AGMARDT Trustee.
Sarah is involved in Sheep, Beef and Dairy farming with her husband in Central Hawke's Bay.
Sarah has completed several governance courses including the INSEAD international directors programme in France and Singapore, NZ leaders programme at Stanford University, the IOD directors programme and ongoing training in AI, Climate change, and other governance-related topics. Sarah is a member of the IOD and INFINZ.
Nick Astwick
Nick is privileged to serve as a Director of FMG, one of New Zealand's most enduring and successful mutual organisations.
His career has been built around organisations that place customers and members at the heart of their purpose. Most recently, as Chief Executive of Southern Cross Health Society, New Zealand's largest mutual health insurer, he saw first-hand the power of member ownership to create long-term value and strengthen trust.
He believes mutual organisations have an important role in New Zealand's future. Free from short-term shareholder pressures, they can take a longer view, investing in capability, resilience and service while remaining focused on the needs of their members.
FMG makes a significant contribution to the success of rural New Zealand and the communities that underpin the economy. As a Director, he is committed to supporting the organisation's long-term strength, ensuring it continues to deliver outstanding value to members and remains a trusted partner for generations to come.
Sarah Smith
Sarah is an accomplished Financial Services professional with more than 30 years of industry experience, including over two decades in senior leadership roles across Insurance, Banking, and Technology. She brings extensive expertise in governance, business development, digital transformation, strategic planning, and risk management, with a strong commitment to delivering exceptional customer outcomes.
She currently serves as a Director of Welcome Ltd and as the Independent Chair of the Audit and Risk Committee at Consilium Ltd. Sarah has a comprehensive understanding of regulatory frameworks and compliance obligations within the Financial Services sector.
Sarah is also a Chartered Member of the Institute of Directors.
Ross Bowmar
Ross brings more than a decade of experience in large scale multinational corporate leadership. Specifically in procurement, processing, sales, import / export, risk management & supply chain, across NZ, Australia, USA and Canada.
Ross along with his wife and 3 children currently farm Redcliffs Station located in the Rakaia Gorge, Canterbury. The business carries 11,000 stock units of sheep and beef alongside growing tourism.
The combination of corporate and farming experience gives Ross a unique perspective of understanding the realities of day-to-day farming, while also bringing strong governance, commercial, financial expertise, strategic thinking, and an extensive network across both agriculture and business. Ability to connect boardroom decisions to their practical consequences, helping ensure FMG remains commercially strong while supporting the growth and wellbeing of rural communities.
In addition to FMG, current other governance roles include EA Networks and Alliance Co-operative. Ross is also involved with the meat and wool section of Federated Farmers both locally and at the national executive level.
Simon Hopcroft
Simon runs a large scale dairy farming operation in Southland, is a former Fonterra Cooperative Councillor and was winner of the 2004 Young Farmer of the Year contest. Simon has completed various governance and leadership courses including Fonterra’s ‘Governance Development Programme’ and Farmlands ‘To the Core’ programme. He is Chair of the Southland Rural Support Trust which he has been on for the last seven years. Through Simon’s farming experience, he understands the current risks and challenges facing many businesses and rural communities.
Nicola Shadbolt
Nicola has a strong governance background in both agribusiness and science with a specific emphasis in cooperatives/mutuals. Other current roles include directorships of LIC, CoopBusinessNZ and the International Food & Agribusiness Management Association (IFAMA). Previously Chair of Plant & Food Crown Research Institute and was an elected member of the Fonterra Board for nine years and served as a Climate Change Commissioner for three years. Nicola is also a part time Professor of Farm & Agribusiness Management with a particular interest in strategy, business analysis and cooperatives. She is Shareholder/ Director/ Manager of three farming and forestry ventures – dairy, sheep, beef, deer & forestry that she and her husband developed from scratch. Nicola is a Fellow of the NZIPIM, IFAMA and the AIOD and was made an officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to agribusiness in 2018.
Bruce Wills
Bruce brings a deep knowledge and awareness of primary sector issues and strong linkages right across this sector.
Bruce was born and raised on a sheep and cattle farm near Napier. He completed a B. Com (Ag) at Lincoln University and then spent 20 years in banking, investment and financial services.
In 2004 Bruce returned to Napier and entered a farming business with family. He joined Federated Farmers in 2006, becoming Meat & Fibre Chairman in 2008 then National President from 2011 to 2014 and continues to be involved in a range of Governance roles, largely across the primary sector.
Previous roles include Chair of the QEII National Trust, Apiculture NZ, Primary ITO, Motu and the NZ Poplar & Willow Research Trust. Bruce has been a Director of Horticulture NZ, several National Science challenges, Todd Foundation and others. Bruce currently Chairs Ravensdown and MPI SFFF projects involving salmon farming, a biotech start up and Sheep of the Future.
Jim Lee
Jim has the experience of a 35-year career in agribusiness spanning farming, banking and for the last 20 years, leadership of a large-scale farming business.
He is comfortable at every level of the rural sector – from his Banks Peninsula farm to the farms, orchards and vineyards he manages at FarmRight, through to working with Executives and Directors of suppliers, processors, financiers and regulators across the rural sector.
Jim brings a strong strategic and commercial acumen gained through his time leading farming, investment and finance businesses. His rural finance experience, culminated in his appointment to the role of National Manager Agribusiness for Westpac.
Jim is Chief Executive of FarmRight and has led the growth of the business from three farms to the current 59 in New Zealand ($1.3 billion assets), and established a subsidiary Australian business ($250 million assets). Other directorships include a large scale Canterbury dairy farming business and a technology focused agribusiness start-up company.
Jim has B. Com Agriculture (Valuation and Farm Management) from Lincoln University and a Post Graduate Diploma of Banking from Massey University and he is a Chartered Member of the New Zealand Institute of Directors.
