Succession Panel
Sarah How in conversation with Helen Blom, Jack O’Connor, Sarah Barr
Sarah How (Top left). Click the link to find out more about Sarah. Sarah will lead the panel in this session.
Sarah Barr (top right)
Sarah is a Partner and Coach at Rural Coach, with a strong connection to its purpose of helping Confident Farmers Achieve their Dreams. She works with individuals, families, and teams, providing practical tools, clear pathways, and the confidence needed to build strong leadership, self-awareness, and successful career and personal plans. With deep roots in farming and rural communities, Sarah understands the pressures facing the sector.
Helen Blom (bottom left)
Helen is a dairy farmer, mussel farmer and wholesaler who splits her time between Marlborough and Southland. She and her husband Art have four young-adult children, and family sits at the heart of everything they do. In 2014, the Bloms stepped away from the farm for a year to travel the world with their school-aged kids — an experience that shaped their values and how they live and work together. Today, three of their children and two partners are involved in the family businesses. Helen is proud to be attending the Impact Summit to support her daughter Maegen, New Zealand winner of the 2025 Award.
Jack O'Connor (bottom right). Click the link to find out more about Jack.
Summit Presentation:
Ready or Not? Leadership Succession in a New Era
In business, succession conversations often focus on capital and structures — but leadership transition is just as critical, and far less discussed. When and how should the next generation (family or otherwise) step into real authority in a business: managing people, leading key relationships, owning strategic decisions? And what does meaningful leadership look like for those stepping back, without stepping away?