16 | A chance to soak up valuable insights Expansion Manager Lisa Portas has been named as one of the four recipients of the 2025 Nuffield New Zealand Scholarship. Sue Russell RURAL PEOPLE » Palliser Ridge Station It’s been a bit of a whirlwind past year for Lisa Portas, director, shareholder equity partner and diversification manager at iconic Palliser Ridge, near Featherston, Southern Wairarapa. The bubbly, passionate mother of two boys has, with husband Kurt, called Palliser home for the past 16 years. Carrying a background in merchandising and retail management, Lisa is in the perfect position to spearhead value-added trade and activity for the business, a responsibility she loves and takes very seriously. Lisa’s drive, enthusiasm, and keen interest in advancing New Zealand’s strong wool industry have opened doors to incredible opportunities, including being awarded a Nuffield NZ Farming Scholarship. In November 2024, she was formally presented with the scholarship at an awards ceremony in Parliament, joining three other recipients. Over the next twelve months, Lisa will travel to various countries alongside her fellow scholars. She describes this experience as a chance to soak up valuable insights and inspiration, all aimed at building a brighter future for New Zealand’s wool industry. “I’m incredibly humbled and proud to receive this scholarship. It will offer many wonderful opportunities to see just how agri-businesses in other countries brings value and enterprise to their industry,” says Lisa. When Lisa undertook and completed the Kellogg Rural Leadership Programme in 2019, designed to encourage and instil new horizons, knowledge and opportunities for this country’s farmer and grower leaders, the thought of applying for a Nuffield Scholarship, was spurred. Lisa’s business within the Palliser Ridge enterprise is in the development of uses of their wool clip. So far much has been achieved, including an on-line shop, a retail shop in the woolshed, various corporate offerings, and a burgeoning group of keen knitters who call the woolshed home once a month. It’s not surprising therefore that Lisa’s research thesis, part of the Nuffield Scholarship programme, will focus on how better to grow the value and uses for the country’s strong wool. However, Lisa stresses that one of the great aspects of being a Nuffield Scholar is that the organisation encourages those awarded to remain open to opportunities and to not narrow down the thinking too quickly about what to focus their research topics on. “They want us to just get out and discover all we can, so it’s super exciting to think we have this freedom to just grow as people and to seize future opportunities as they present. This is very much the mind-set I have as I begin to prepare for a busy year ahead.” The next few months will take Lisa and her three fellow Nuffield Scholarship recipients into countries and spaces with other Nuffield scholars from around the world. “So, I’ll be going to Singapore, Indonesia, Mexico, the USA, Germany and the United Arab Emirates with a group of Nuffield scholars from overseas. It’s going to be a wonderful experience and then once home, I’ll still have the opportunity to travel overseas again, this time in a more focused way to support my research paper.” Lisa says that one of the best things about being a scholarship recipient is that you soon discover all these connections with people around the world who have this scholarship experience in common. “It’s like a large family, Nuffield alumni support new scholars to find experiences and opportunities that might help their research. There’s a wonderful sense of collegiality and belonging.” Palliser Ridge is, at its heart, a working sheep and beef property. “Kurt came on as a 2IC in late 2008, and soon after he became the manager. Then 12 years ago Palliser Ridge owners Jim and Marilyn, suggested we become involved in an equity partnership. They sat down with us and their own family, and we brainstormed ideas around what else this business could be capable of. This is how our diversification journey began.” So, with a fabulous year ahead, full of adventure and chances to open new horizons, Lisa says she and Kurt and the children are all looking forward see where this adventure takes them. 75 -79 Hovding, Street, Lower Norsewood 4943 And online at www.nznaturalclothing.co.nz 06 306 9476 office@trueca.co.nz Proudly Supporting Palliser Ridge Station Commision weaver and designer of throws for the farming community info@inter-weave.co.nz www.inter-weave.com www.twillthrows.com 35 Jellicoe Street, Martinborough P: 06 3069 491 | E: office@cans.co.nz COTTER& STEVENS • Electricians • Water pumps • Water treatment • Milking equipment • 24/7 call out service PROUD TO SUPPORT PALLISER RIDGE STATION
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy NDc2Mzg=