Tranzfutura Board and Management
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Laila Jansone - Managing Director
As Founder of Tranzfutura, Laila has ability to combine her international business experience with clear vision for economic development and sustainable needs of emerging markets. With more than 15 years of experience in public and private sector business development in Eastern Europe, Russia and New Zealand, Laila Is well positioned to drive New Zealand Agri Technology and Education service delivery to emerging agricultural markets internationally. During her professional career Laila has successfully managed EBRD, EIB, the European Union and privately funded capital investment projects in the region.
Bill McLeod - Chairman
Bill has owned and operated a dairy, beef and sheep farming operations in New Zealand and is the former Chairman of Ravensdown, a farmers' cooperative which had over $1 billion turnover in farm input sales across New Zealand and Australia. Prior to this, he was a Director of a dairy company, which subsequently merged into Fonterra.
Bill is a Chartered Fellow of the NZ Institute of Directors and is recognised as a strategic and innovative thinker with many years of governance experience.
Twenty five years he ago established a successful transport Company that still services the rural and livestock sector. He has travelled extensively including third world countries and has studied Agri business marketing in North America.
THE TEAM
Mandi McLeod - General Manager Operations
Mandi has been involved in the design and facilitation of farm systems extension programs in China, strategic planning in rural Russia and succession planning and business continuance in New Zealand, Australia, North America and the UK. In addition she has provided on-farm management and strategic advice to New Zealand clients. She has developed HR Tool kits and SOP’s for corporate farms in New Zealand and her models have been utilized in Australia.
Mandi is a 2005 Kellogg’s Rural Leadership Scholar and was awarded the prestigious Nuffield Scholarship in 2009. In 2011 Mandi was a finalist in the inaugural Dairy Woman of the Year award.
Mandi is a passionate and accomplished family business facilitator and is registered with the International Farms Transition Network. She spends much of her time working with farming families, taking them through the process of business management and strategic planning.
Rex Gibson - Manager Education and Training
Rex brings more than 30 years of experience in local and international education program development to Tranzfutura. His background includes several managerial and curriculum writer roles for Agriculture, Horticulture, Biology and Science subjects. Rex has been awarded the Queens Service medal for his work on Migrant and Maori education services and has led many education recruitment missions to Asia, Russia, CIS and Germany.
Bruce Wills - Director
Bruce has been farming sheep and cattle on the hills of north Napier for 10 year, following a 20 year career in Banking and Investment. After six years as Federated Farmers National President, Bruce recently stepped down to Chair NZ Poplar & Willow Research Trust and the East Cost region Ballance Farm Environmental Awards as well sit on QEII National Trust. Bruce is a strong advocate for sustainable farming and in 2008 he won the Hawkes Bay Environmental award. Bruce is proud father of four children, together with two of them he climbed up Mt Everest to enjoy the view at 20,000 ft.
