The Hill Country Futures programme was governed by a steering committee of co-funders and hill country farmers, and led by an independent Chair.
Independent Chair
- Jenni Vernon – Waikato sheep and beef farmer, Nuffield Scholar, AWDT trustee, and senior policy analyst
Co-funder representatives
- Dr Derek Woodfield - General Manager Research & Development, PGG Wrightson Seeds
- James White - Commercial Extension Manager, RAGT New Zealand (formerly Seed Force New Zealand)
- Dr Suzi Keeling - Sector Science Strategy Manager, Beef + Lamb New Zealand
- Dr Delia Tamsen - Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE)
Federation of Māori Authorities (FoMA)
- Rawson Wright - FoMA Innovation Team member, East Coast sheep and beef farmer, retired Northland dairy farmer, Taitokerau Forests Ltd - Chair, and Economic Analyst
Independents
- Sam Lang - Quorum Sense Manager, farm systems researcher
- Rita Batley - Moawhango (Taihape) sheep and beef farmer and community advocate
- Jacqui Cottrell - Taihape sheep and beef farmer, co-founder of Kiwi Quinoa