The new South Island director replaces six-year veteran Nicky Hyslop, a South Canterbury farmer who co-runs The Levels, a 227ha property halfway between Timaru and Pleasant Point.
Another candidate, Rebecca Keoghan, from the West Coast, was unsuccessful in the election after voting closed at midday on Tuesday.
Chairman Bruce Wills said the election had generated strong interest, more than 25% of the co-op’s South Island shareholders voting, representing nearly 39% of shares held by that group.
“With her passion for Ravensdown and knowledge of the wider primary sector, voting shareholders have recognised Jane’s alignment to the co-operative ethos, a core governance attribute”, Mr Wills said.”
Mrs Smith is a “hands-on” farmer at Newhaven Farms, a 9500-stock unit sheep and beef farm, including sheep and beef studs supplying genetics domestically and overseas.
Her governance experience includes six years as an independent director on the Red Meat Profit Partnership, a $64 million programme between agribusiness and government partners to drive long-term profits for the red meat sector.
A term was also spent as a Crown-appointed member on the Veterinary Council of New Zealand.
During the election she stood for secure and transparent fertiliser supply, quality and pricing at a time when new competitors were cherry-picking the fertiliser sector with a low-cost, product-only offering.
“I believe shareholders need strong, diverse voices around the table that will challenge management, not cloned corporate compliance.”
Mr Wills said the co-op was grateful for Mrs Hyslop’s work and service on the board over the past six years.
As Jacqueline Rowarth was the only candidate nominated for the North Island director area there was no election and she remains a director for a further three-year term.
This election could be the last one to be held under separate director election areas.
A resolution at the annual meeting at Ravensdown’s headquarters is to amend the constitution to remove them so the election of all shareholder-elected directors from next year will be voted on by shareholders nationwide.
The board sees this approach providing stronger governance as directors are expected to consider issues facing the co-op and the agricultural sector on a national scale.
Ravensdown reported a loss of $5.4m after tax and one-off costs — including the costly closing of Dunedin fertiliser manufacturing — for the year ending May, compared with a profit after tax of $2.8m a year ago.
