After more than four decades in farming and public sector leadership, Jenni Vernon remains passionate about the industry - a passion first sparked by her grandparents when she spent time on their Manawatu farm in her youth.

Our featured club speaker, addressing "Challenges facing New Zealand's primary sector", Jenni is concerned for the future of the family farm - and its central contribution to rural communities - and about the world's geopolitical stability which is important for the nation's continuing prosperity. But she is optimistic about innovations and new technologies that are helping people adapt to new challenges, and looks forward to a rising new generation of leaders passionate about rural communities and businesses and willing to take up leadership beyond the farm gate.

Jenni is the immediate past chair of the NZ National Fieldays Society and is a principal advisor for the Ministry of Primary Industries. She was the first woman to receive a Nuffield Scholarship and to chair the Waikato Regional Council.  She is a member of the NZ Order of Merit and was awarded the NZ Suffrage Centennial Medal 1993 and 1990 NZ Commemorative Medal. She has held governance roles with the Agri-Women's Development Trust, Rural Leaders Trust, Waikato Medical Research Foundtion, National Lottery Youth Committee, University of Waikato Council, Waikato River Authority and the NZ Geographic Board. She has chaired Resource Management Act hearings for more than 30 years and lives on a family-operated Waikato dairy grazing and beef unit.