Glass, who has been chief executive of Dairy Holdings Ltd. since 2001, was first elected to the DairyNZ board as a farmer director in 2017.

He is also director of several agribusiness companies and with his wife, Paula, and daughters Hannah and Olivia, owns and operates an integrated 670-cow dairy farm, a bull beef unit and a dairy support property near Methven.

DairyNZ chair Jim van der Poel says Colin has made an ‘outstanding contribution’ to DairyNZ and the dairy industry in his six years as a farmer-elected director.

“Colin has explained to the Board that, given the continuing exciting future opportunities in our sector, he wants to focus more of his time on his leadership role at Dairy Holdings and growing his family’s dairy operations,” says van der Poel.

“On behalf of farmers and the DairyNZ board, I want to thank Colin for his service to DairyNZ and the dairy sector over the past six years.”

Van der Poel says the board will miss Glass’s “relentless positivity, razor-like focus and thoughtful question that always got to the heart of the issue”.

“We wish Colin and his family the very best for their future endeavours.”

Glass’s departure from the board leaves a vacancy, with the next election set for October.

“The Board encourages all levy paying dairy farmers who have a passion for our sector, an interest in making a difference, leadership capability, and an understanding of governance to consider putting their hat in the ring to be a farmer-elected director,” says van der Poel.

“You’ll play a vital role in creating a better future for dairy farmers, by participating in your industry good organisation.”