16 SEPTEMBER 2017 FEATURE STORY HE’S BRINGING SEXY BACK Jack Keeys couldn’t decide whether he wanted to be a scientist or accountant – so he’s forging a unique career path in New Zealand’s primary industries which combines both...and in the process, making horticulture ‘sexy’ to generations of school-leavers. The former Paeroa College head boy, who is completing a Bachelor of Management Studies (Hons) in Agribusiness and a Bachelor of Science in Biological Sciences Conjoint at the University of Waikato whilst working at agricultural software company Farmax, is worried about the lack of young talent in New Zealand’s horticulture industry and wants to showcase his achievements to his peers in an attempt to lure them into a ‘sexy’ industry filled with promise. That’s why the 22-year-old takes his Rabobank Agri-Leadership Programme co-ordinator role so seriously – talking to secondary students across the country to tempt his contemporaries to tread the same path he has. Keeys has won more than $50,000 in scholarships, is a previous HortNZ and Zespri scholar, has undertaken volunteer work in the Amazon rainforest and Galapagos Islands, and says the opportunities on offer in the primary industries aren’t just limited to New Zealand shores. “The career opportunities are a brilliant incentive, but there is also a lot more to it,” he says. “The strong integration of business and science, the demand for young people entering the industry and the ability to utilise my passions for innovation and sustainability to make a positive impact in the world are what attracted me to this field.” Enticing more young talent into the horticulture industry is of immense importance, he says. “Global food production uses a significant amount of the world’s resources and is the earth’s biggest challenge. The industry doesn’t just ‘want’ more talented young people, it ‘needs’ the next generation of young achievers to focus on the challenges and opportunities of the sector. This includes introducing genetic biotechnology, increasing the efficiency of our resource use, innovating our engineering technology, improving international trade and perhaps most importantly, enabling the public to make informed and educated decisions – as that is what ultimately will dictate the future of our food.” Keeys is currently researching the modelling of dairy sheep systems in New Zealand to enable the opportunity for this expanding industry to have valuable tools as it continues to flourish. “The research is aimed at the animal agriculture industry, however may develop or highlight beneficial opportunities for a similar concept (software tool) to be developed for the horticulture industry,” he says. “At this early stage, I am focusing on creating a foundation for leadership in the primary industries.” Keeys began working at Farmax part-time as an assistant two years ago and now manages the company’s UK business, the Farmax accreditation programme, and flies around New Zealand training the country’s top farmers and consultants in the company’s agricultural computer software system. Internships and work placements have been a major focus whilst studying, with Keeys working at Hamilton Organic, AgFirst Waikato, the University of Waikato, Rabobank and as a research scholar funded by the New Zealand Agricultural Greenhouse Gas Research Centre. A major role he undertook during his studies has been co-ordinator of the Rabobank Agri-Leadership Programme, an initiative he co-created to attract more top quality students into the primary industries. Keeys is a member of the Executive Team for Social Innovation Waikato, the NZIPIM Waikato branch and founder of the Waikato University Science Students Association.
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