Brought up on a sheep and beef farm in Otago, Mr Holgate studied law at the University of Otago and then worked as an environmental lawyer in Dunedin for four years.
But then he decided he did not want to be ''stuck in an office'' and he also did not want to be ''pigeonholed'' when it came to his career, so he completed an MBA at Otago.
As part of those studies, he had to do a three-month consultancy. Keen to get into agribusiness, he wrote a paper and was subsequently offered a job with Rabobank New Zealand as rural manager sustainable farm systems.
It was a matter of great timing, with the new position utilising the skill set that he had, coupled with a passion for the agricultural industry. His legal background was also proving valuable.
With the development of increasingly complex and diverse water quality regulations under the National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management, Mr Holgate's brief was to help clients and the bank's rural managers understand nutrient and water management strategies that would maximise long-term on-farm efficiencies and competitiveness.
For the past year, the focus had been on building up the bank's internal knowledge around sustainability and environmental issues, particularly focusing on water plan changes, and potential impacts on farmers.
Workshops had been held throughout the country and now that the bank's rural managers had a good understanding, there was more of an external focus, he said.
Rabobank wanted to work with clients to help them understand the changes and support them with knowledge and information.
The issues for farmers in response to the NPS were challenging and complex and it was a long-term issue, he said.
There were also different issues and different timings in the various regions. Regional councils have until 2025 to implement the NPS.
When talking to farmers, the biggest issue was uncertainty. Most were not opposed to the regulations, but felt it was a ''changing game''.
''The best way we can help them is provide as much certainty, clarity, information and knowledge to get through these changes,'' he said.
Attitude changes in the past five years from industry and farmers had been ''phenomenal''.
He enjoyed working for Rabobank, particularly its attitude of being very pro-active around the challenges the industry faced.
''It genuinely wants the industry to adjust and get ahead,'' he said.
Based in Dunedin, Mr Holgate worked across Rabobank's New Zealand network. Technology meant it did not matter where he was based and it was ''much handier'' being in the provinces, rather than being based in Wellington, he said.
