Olivia Weatherburn

2022 NZ Finalist

Olivia grew up on sheep and beef properties across Southland and together with husband Willy and son Jaxon reside in the Greenvale Valley in Waikaka.

Olivia is the National Extension Programme Manager for Beef + Lamb New Zealand where she manages the effective delivery of B+LNZ’s extension programmes and leads the organisations people and capability portfolio with a vision to support retention on farm from year one to beyond year three. In 2016 she founded B+LNZ’s Generation Next programme which is now offered across 6 locations in New Zealand.

Outside of B+LNZ, Olivia’s passion for growing people and community engagement continues. She is an active fire fighter and in 2025 was recognised for her contribution to FireWise training in local schools with a community engagement award. As a passionate horse rider she also leads the South Island buckle series supporting the next generation of New Zealand rodeo riders and hosts her own podcast The Equine Life.

A current NZ Director for the Australian Pacific Extension Network (APEN) and the food and fibre CoVE her leadership can be found weaved throughout the sheep and beef and wider primary sector.

Being part of the Zanda McDonald award family has been both inspiring and motivating and a network of amazing humans that is a privilege to be amoungst.

“ The Zanda McDonald Award is more than a prize. It's a network of wonderful people who you get the privilege to make your crazy ideas & dreams closer to real life! A family like no other”