The Dairy Women’s Network hosted more than 300 delegates, network partners, rural professionals and sponsors at its annual conference, held in Queenstown last week.
DWN Southland and Otago hub leader Katrina Thomas said people attended from right throughout the country, and not only women.
Several men attended, including representatives of sponsors and network partners.
‘‘It is interesting the male representatives seem to like to come to our events and it is always good to have input from their point of view,’’ she said.
She also enjoyed the delegates’ trip to the bungy jump site and the tour and wine tasting at Peregrine Wines, she said.
There they heard Crowe Horwath’s Alistair King talk about challenges facing the Central Otago viticulture industry and Duncan Faulkner, co-founder of Safely, a company that has developed an app to make health and safety management and compliance easier.
Delegates who remained in Queenstown attended workshops and heard speakers including the Hon Louise Upston, who is Minister of Corrections, Associate Minister of Education, Associate Minister for Tertiary Education, Skills and Employment and Associate Minister for Primary Industries.
Entrepreneur Helen Robinson and the All Blacks’ mental skills coach, Gilbert Enoka, also spoke.
Feedback received so far had been enthusiastic and many people had been particularly interested in hearing what Mr Enoka had to say.
‘‘He had some people in tears as he was such a powerful speaker.
‘‘Someone said they will look at the All Blacks differently now when they run out of the tunnel on to the field.’’
Other people said they were pleased with the theme of ‘‘connect’’, which was carried through by the speakers and workshops.
‘‘There were also lots of opportunities for networking, which is an important part of the conference.
‘‘I think the delegates left feeling rejuvenated, energised and reinvigorated on many different levels,’’ Ms Thomas said.