Southern Demonstration and Research Farm board chairman Simon Flood said Ms Dixon was well known in Southland as the lower South Island territory manager at the Livestock Improvement Corporation for the past seven years.
"We’re excited to have her join our team at such a pivotal point in its history.
"She brings strategic thinking, a great knowledge of dairy farming and a focus on continuous improvement."
The hub and its partners were delivering cutting-edge science and research for southern farmers, all while maintaining a commercially viable dairy farm, he said.
"We’re thrilled to have Andrea on board."
Ms Dixon said she was excited by the new role.
"Not only is it an industry-good role, it also allows me to work with a great team, passionate key stakeholders and help find solutions for farmers for the future through the hub’s research arm.
"We have challenges in the dairy sector but also so many opportunities.
"I believe the hub is perfectly positioned to be ahead of the game so farmers can move more quickly with great information and data."
She starts in her new role on July 17.
"I need to get my feet under the table, understand how things are looking, engage with key stakeholders and put in place a clear strategy to meet the vision of the hub.
"It’s going to be crucial to build the visibility of the hub to our farmers so they understand the value they can get from the research."
The Southern Dairy Hub’s nearly 350ha facility near Invercargill is jointly invested in by southern dairy farmers, AgResearch and DairyNZ.
— Staff reporter
