Page 6 - AGM 2021 Booklet_Flipbook

CHAIR REPORT

Karen Forlong

Dairy Women’s Network Chair
“Step Up Together” was Conference 2021 and
these three words embody the nature of the
year past. We have pulled together, drawn
on the strength of the Network. We are a
tribe, there for each other, and others, and
we have held this at the heart of navigating
the challenges of the times we live in.
Being part of a connected community, an
‘essential’ food producer and rurally based has
again of recent weeks highlighted the relative
freedom we experience in our day to day lives and
the good fortune we have to reside and work in some of
of the most picturesque and unrestricted parts of New Zealand. We are humble in
our choice of occupation and again and again we see the women of Dairy simply
getting on with it stepping up doing what needs doing with all the heart and
passion that we are so very proud to be a representative of.

Conference titled “Step Up Together” resonated with the heart of DWN, the
dairy industry and quite possibly the state of our present challenges as a
country. We did things differently as we are so good at and often do. It went
to the provinces so as to connect with more of our tribe. It was as simple as ‘a
day’ for more commitment to a time and a place in these uncertain times can
become ‘undoable’. We took the tradestands from the foyer to the table and
everyone embraced it. Our Network Partners loved it, saw real value in the level of
connection they had with those at their tables and for many of our members the
comments were “it was not long enough – we were only just getting into really
great conversation and discussion”. What we stand out at we delivered, ‘content’
each of the three days was the same and yet just so slightly different tailored to
the region and somewhat personalised.

Leadership Forum was full-on and fun. Showcasing the acumen of one of the
biggest ‘hearts’ within this network - that of the regional leader; the volunteer;
the committed community member who wants nothing more than to bring
knowledge, opportunity and understanding to the women within their regions.
This year we looked bravely to the future through undertaking a ‘design thinking’
approach. We opened our collective thoughts to the possibilities and the potential
of tomorrow. It was exciting and confronting as today’s environment of change
highlights just how quickly that might come upon us. As always it was a time to

6 Annual General Meeting 2021