Duncan Coull.

Ballance Agri-Nutrients’ shareholders have chosen Dacey Balle and Duncan Coull from an unprecedented field of 19 candidates to join the co-operative’s board, representing the North Island.

Murray Taggart, who retired by rotation this year, was unopposed in the South Island Ward and re-elected to the Board – while the decisions of Gray Baldwin to not seek re-election and Donna Smit to step down in the North Island Ward, opened a rare opportunity to secure a governance role within the rural business.

Chairman David Peacocke says the strength of the candidates reflects the “great pool of talent out in rural New Zealand, and Ballance is fortunate to have directors joining the board who have well-established governance credentials”.

Dacey Balle is a director of Open Country Dairy, Onions NZ and Potatoes NZ, while Duncan Coull has been chair of the Fonterra Shareholders’ Council since 2015. 

“It says a lot about our co-operative that we have been able to attract such an outstanding line-up,” says David.

“We have gained two directors who are very experienced at representing farmers, and governing farming and food production businesses. We look forward to them joining our board table, and we also congratulate Murray on his re-election.”

Dacey Balle is managing director of the food business Balle Bros Group, which supplies retail and foodservice businesses across New Zealand and export customers, and operates farms across the North Island and in Canterbury. A chartered accountant, Dacey is also a director of Open Country Dairy, Onions NZ and Potatoes NZ and assists in the management of a family dairy operation.

Duncan Coull is chairman of the Fonterra Shareholders’ Council and farms 240ha of dairy operations near Otorohanga, as well as dairy grazing operations in Piopio and a 250ha dairy farm in Milton. He’s a Global Dairy Ambassador and independent chair of Naki Construction and Westfield Farms. A former finance manager for Rabobank, he’s also a member of the Otorohanga Development Board.

David also acknowledged the unique contribution made by Gray Baldwin over a long period as a director and as part of Ballance’s Leadership Team. He also thanked Donna Smit for her contribution to the strength of discussion, and the board dynamic, during her time as a Ballance director.

Dacey Balle and Duncan Coull joined the board on the conclusion of the Ballance Annual Meeting on September 26.