Southern Dairy Hub’s Andrea Dixon Steps Down After Impactful Tenure

Andrea Dixon, the general manager of the Southern Dairy Hub, has announced her departure from the research dairy farm located near Invercargill. After joining the hub in July 2023, Dixon is transitioning to focus on her career growth, family, and personal priorities.

During her time at the hub, Dixon expressed her pride in the achievements made, particularly in enhancing the farm’s demonstration focus. “The hub is an incredible farm, and our new demonstration focus means we can get meaningful insights to our farmers in real time,” she remarked. Her collaboration with organizations such as DairyNZ, the Southern Dairy Development Trust, and the Bioeconomy Science Institute has been a significant highlight of her role.

Dixon emphasized the importance of the southern farming community in her work. “It’s the southern farmers who make this job special. Knowing the work we do at the hub provides farmers with critical information, making a real contribution to their farm’s prosperity, has been a driving force for me,” she noted.

In recognition of her contributions, Simon Flood, chairman of the Southern Dairy Development Trust, praised Dixon for her leadership. “Andrea has been a wonderful general manager, keeping the ship steady as the board updated its strategy and pivoted to a demonstration mode. We will miss her passion and strategic thinking,” Flood stated. He added, “We are indebted to her commitment and dedication to the hub and I cannot speak highly enough about Andrea’s capability and can-do attitude.”

The search for Dixon’s successor will begin early next year. Flood outlined the significance of the role, describing it as unique with a clear mandate to support southern farmers in improving their sustainability, productivity, and profitability.

Prior to her tenure at the Southern Dairy Hub, Dixon served as the lower South Island territory manager at the Livestock Improvement Corporation for seven years. Her extensive experience in the agricultural sector has positioned her well for future endeavors.

As the Southern Dairy Hub prepares for this transition, the focus will remain on maintaining the vital support and resources necessary for the region’s farmers. Dixon’s leadership has laid a strong foundation, ensuring that the hub continues to serve as a critical resource in the southern dairy farming community.