Thriving Southland Presents

Everything
to gain

What Really Matters: Paddock to Markets

If there is one farming event you need to attend in 2026…this is it!

When? Wednesday 6 May 2026, from 9am to 3pm

Where? Ascot Park Hotel, corner Tay & Racecourse Rd, Invercargill

Join facilitator Kate Scott and leading voices from across the agri, trade, and policy sectors for a day that connects the dots between global markets and your paddock.

It’s a free event. Lunch will be provided. Details on how to RSVP coming soon!

This isn’t just a policy talk. It’s your chance to hear from the people who shape New Zealand’s agricultural future, and to ask the tough questions.

Save the date: 6 May 2026

Key topics include:

International trade negotiations – how they really shape on-farm policy
Access to global markets – beyond China
Greenhouse gases, tariffs & the Paris Agreement – where trade meets environment
Shifting consumer and market demands
Farm system resilience & viability – what sustainable systems look like

Everything to Gain Speakers

Vangelis Vitalis

Vangelis Vitalis is Deputy Secretary, Trade and Economic at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade. He is New Zealand’s Chief Negotiator who concluded the New Zealand-India Free Trade Agreement, the New Zealand European Union Free Trade Agreement (EUNZFTA), the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for the Trans Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), the ASEAN-Australia-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement (AANZFTA) and the Malaysia-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement (MNZFTA). In 2021, Vangelis was the APEC Senior Officials’ Meeting (SOM) Chair for New Zealand’s host year which established the APEC Aotearoa Plan of Action – APEC’s programme of work for the coming two decades. Vangelis was also the CPTPP SOM Chair for New Zealand’s host year in 2023 which oversaw the accession to CPTPP of the United Kingdom and the establishment of the Auckland Principles which guide CPTPP members’ consideration of accession requests.

Prior to taking up his role in Wellington in 2017, Vangelis was New Zealand’s Ambassador to the World Trade Organisation (WTO) in Geneva where he chaired the agriculture negotiations and helped draft the text of the Nairobi WTO Ministerial Decision to eliminate agricultural export subsidies. Vangelis has also been New Zealand’s Ambassador to the EU in Brussels and has had postings to Canberra and Moscow. He has previously worked as an economist at the OECD.

A keen saltwater land-based fisherman, Vangelis speaks Greek, German and Russian and is a longstanding (and suffering) supporter of the Wellington Phoenix Football Club. Follow Vangelis on X @VangelisVNZ

Professor Jacqueline Rowarth CNZM, FNZIAHS

Jacqueline Rowarth has a Bachelors degree in Agricultural Science with honours in Environmental Agriculture, and a PhD in Soil Science from Massey University. She has worked in research, education and management with Agresearch, Lincoln University, Unitec in Auckland, The University of Melbourne, Massey University, University of Waikato, and the Environmental Protection Authority. In addition, she has held Government-appointed governance roles on the boards of Crop and Food Research, AGMARDT and New Zealand Fast Forward. She is currently a farmer-elected member of the Board of Directors for DairyNZ and Ravensdown Co-operative Ltd. She chairs the NZ Grassland Trust, is a member of the Scientific Council of the World Farmers’ Organisation and holds the role of Adjunct Professor at Lincoln University.

Jacqueline is a Past President of the New Zealand Institute of Agricultural and Horticultural Science, and of the New Zealand Grassland Association. In 2008 she was awarded Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to Agricultural Science, in 2009 she was given the inaugural award of Agricultural Personality of the Year by Federated Farmers and in 2010 she was selected as the Agricultural Communicator of the Year by the Guild of Agricultural Communicators and Journalists. In 2024 she received the Waikato Federated Farmers’ Outstanding Communicator of the Year Award and the NZ Institute of Agricultural and Horticultural Science Jubilee Medal for ‘an outstanding contribution to primary industry science’.

Jacqueline is a frequent contributor to public debate in the media and remains committed to dispelling the myths that surround food production.

Hamish Marr

Hamish Marr is a 5th generation mixed arable farmer from Methven in the South Island of New Zealand. The 500 hectare family farming operation has a focus on herbage and cereal seeds as well as traditional grain crops, some vegetable seeds and a mix of sheep and dairy support.

In 2019 Hamish was awarded a Nuffield Scholarship and spent the majority of the year travelling the world studying agriculture, farming systems, the food system and how people fit in amongst it all.

Hamish previously held the role of Special Agricultural Trade Envoy which was a conduit role as the voice of the New Zealand farmer to the New Zealand government, overseas governments and international trade partners. The role was very much international facing and involved explaining our agricultural situation, our systems and where we sit in the global food system. A critical part of the role was feeding back to our industry at home the issues and opportunities.

Outside of farming Hamish has been involved in Federated Farmers, named small seed grower of the year for 2022 and received a Syngenta Growth Award in the category of people and communities in 2023.

Lee Matheson

After a six-year career in the financial markets, Lee has been working in agribusiness advisory for almost 20 years, specialising in Māori agribusiness, corporate farm management systems, and the economic impact of environmental policy. Based out of Rotorua, Lee is currently the Managing Director of Perrin Ag, where he leads a team of 26, and is a Registered Fellow of the Institute of Rural Professionals. A father to three “almost-adult” children, outside of his professional distractions Lee can be found working in his wife’s flower field, chasing stags on the tops, or tragically watching test cricket.