James Parsons

James Parsons farms sheep and beef in Dargaville, Northland and has extensive agri-business and rural sector leadership experience. James is a 2008 Nuffield Farming Scholar. His family sheep and beef farming business, Ashgrove Ltd, breeds and provides sheep and Angus beef genetics to clients across New Zealand.

James is an experienced director, and former chair of Beef+Lamb New Zealand and the New Zealand Meat Board. He is a board member of AgFirst Northland and chair of Wools of NZ. He has held directorships in economic development, the veterinary sector and electricity sector. His governance capacity is complemented by particular skills in strategy, stakeholder management, media and government relations, but he brings practical farmer perspectives to OSPRI’s governance decisions.