Animal and Plant Health appoints new president
Reading Time:2minutesAnimal and Plant Health New Zealand has appointed Nicola Smith president and made several board changes at its 2026 Annual General Meeting. “Smith brings more than 25 years of experience. . .
Reading Time:2minutesAnimal and Plant Health New Zealand has appointed Nicola Smith president and made several board changes at its 2026 Annual General Meeting. “Smith brings more than 25 years of experience across New Zealand’s agricultural sector, spanning crop protection, animal health, commercial management, manufacturing, portfolio strategy, and senior leadership,” APHANZ said. She is a member of the New Zealand Institute of Directors and is country manager for Syngenta New Zealand. Smith follows in the footsteps of outgoing president Gavin Kerr. Animal and Plant Health New Zealand has appointed Nicola Smith president and made several board changes at its 2026 Annual General Meeting. Photo: Elias RodriguezKerr’s tenure included oversight of the merger of the Agricultural Chemical and Animal Remedy Manufacturers and the Animal Remedies and Plant Protectant Association into APHANZ in 2022 and the establishment of the Emerging Leaders Forum. Additional board changes include Milton Munro’s reappointment to a distributor director role. As national technical manager at PGG Wrightson, Munro brings scientific credibility and practical commercial insight to governance. Milton Munro was reappointed to a distributor director role. Photo: Elias RodriguezHe has worked with industry, researchers, regulators and commercial partners to bridge the gap between research, product development and practical adoption. Nigel Johnston has been appointed to the associate director role. Johnston is managing director of Pasture First Research, and brings more than 25 years of experience in crop protection, with first-hand knowledge of the critical role of new technologies for New Zealand agricultural and horticultural industries.