Ms Manikam, originally from South Africa, milks 600 cows with her husband and three children in Winton
A former lawyer, she is also the founding director of Iceberg Coaching, a strategic consultant for Farmstrong, a trustee ofthe Southern Dairy Development Trust, and a Federated Farmers Southland executive member.
Ms Manikam said she had a special interest in human behaviour and was dedicated to the development of the current and emerging leaders in the dairy industry.