Sally Rae

Rita Webster is a bit of a trick.

Since joining AbacusBio on an internship at the end of her university studies, Grace Johnstone admits she ''hasn't really looked back''.

Cordula Ihring is one determined woman.

Paula Hellyer is unashamedly passionate about promoting Dunedin.

Synlait Milk Ltd's initial public offering has opened, the Mid Canterbury milk processor having set a final share price of $2.20.

Oritain Global chief executive Dr Helen Darling has been appointed to the board of the Institute of Environmental Science and Research (ESR).

Nicola Simpson is a firm believer in taking opportunities as they come.

When Shoe Clinic owner Sorrelle Pearson lined up at the start of a half-marathon in Dunedin last year, she did not care ''how ugly'' her race was - all that mattered was getting to the finish line.

Robotic technology being used at Fonterra's Edendale site to identify any issues in the large milk silos has been described as a ''godsend'' for the annual winter inspection and maintenance programme.

Mid-Canterbury farmer Jeremy Casey describes a trial between conventional farming and biological farming under way on his two dairy farms as ''breaking the ice''.

The state of the red-meat industry was, not surprisingly, a major topic of conversation at Federated Farmers national conference in Ashburton last week.

Failure to reform the red meat sector now will be seen as an ''opportunity lost for New Zealand'', Meat Industry Excellence (MIE) chairman Richard Young says.

Mosgiel-based company TracMap has been recognised for its innovation in the aviation industry.

When Taieri dairy farmers Nathan and Amanda Bayne entered pedigree Holstein-Friesian cow Busybrook AP Rana in the Southern Gold Medal Sale in Gore, they thought she would ''go all right''.

Various functions and seminars are being planned throughout Otago to help rural communities affected by the recent adverse weather and also serve as social ''get-togethers''.