We are thrilled to announce that Katrina Roberts, Herd Health Veterinarian and valued member of the Anexa Veterinary Services team, was awarded the prestigious title of Fonterra Dairy Woman of the Year 2024 at the Dairy Women’s Network (DWN) Conference gala dinner in New Plymouth last week.

Katrina, a herd health veterinarian based in the Waikato, has been instrumental in driving positive change within the dairy sector. Her commitment to research and development has significantly influenced farm practices, benefiting the entire industry. Katrina’s involvement in the redevelopment of DairyNZ programmes, including InCalf, FeedRight, and body condition score accreditation, has exemplified her dedication to improving farm efficiency and animal welfare standards.

Donna Smit, a DWN Trustee, commended Katrina for her unwavering enthusiasm and advocacy for the dairy industry, stating that she has set a new standard for the sector. Katrina’s passion for helping farmers and advocating for her industry has been truly outstanding.

In response to receiving the award, Katrina expressed her gratitude to the Dairy Women’s Network and Fonterra for the opportunity to celebrate the achievements of women in the dairy industry. She also acknowledged the support of her colleagues at Anexa Veterinary Services, particularly Scott McDougall, who has always shown great faith in her ideas right back to her early days as a vet student in the Morrinsville clinic 22 years ago.

Katrina’s win highlights the vital role that women play in the dairy industry. Her strong relationships and compassionate approach with farming clients exemplify the invaluable contributions of female rural professionals to the success of farm teams and the wider industry.

“I am humbled to have been selected as the winner, as I feel I am no different from many others, including the three awesome ladies who are the other finalists. I want to acknowledge the supporters of Dairy Women’s Network and specifically Fonterra for supporting the Dairy Woman of the Year. And of course, the time given by the judges in this programme. For me, winning the Fonterra Dairy Women of the Year provides a platform to showcase how important women dairy vets are as a part of the farm team. More specifically, I believe that the empathy, compassion, and strong relationships that female rural professionals have with our farming clients contribute to the success of these teams and, therefore, the wider industry. I want to share my love for working for, and alongside, dairy farmers – they (you) are just the best! I’m excited about the opportunities ahead as Dairy Women of the Year and the journey the Kellogg’s Rural Leadership Programme takes me on.”

 

Fonterra CEO Miles Hurrell reiterated the importance of recognizing women who are making outstanding contributions to the dairy industry. He expressed Fonterra’s pride in sponsoring the award, which aims to shine a light on the remarkable achievements of women in agriculture and inspire the next generation of leaders.

We at Anexa Veterinary Services are incredibly proud of Katrina’s achievements and the positive impact she continues to have on the dairy industry. Her win is a testament to her hard work, dedication, and passion for improving the lives of farmers and animals alike. Congratulations, Katrina, on this well-deserved accolade!