A tech-savvy business leader with a passion for the primary industries has been appointed to the top job at NZ Young Farmers. Lynda Coppersmith, 48, was one of a strong lineup of candidates vying for the sought-after chief executive’s position.

“I’m really excited that I’m going to be working in the primary industries again,” she said.

Lynda is currently a Christchurch-based senior account manager with accounting software company MYOB. She will be NZ Young Farmers’ first female chief executive.

“The more CEOs we have who are women the better. Diversity is extremely important,” said Lynda.

“If the primary industry is to meet its growth targets, it needs to do everything it can to connect with young women.”

“I’m hoping my appointment and having Ash-Leigh chairing our board will send a positive signal to women about our sector,” she said.

Lynda has spent the past six years in management positions at MYOB.

Prior to that she worked for DairyNZ, was a business development manager for the Livestock Improvement Corporation (LIC) and an area manager for Fonterra in Timaru.

Lynda has great relationship building skills, excellent business acumen and experience dealing with grassroots farmer issues,” said NZ Young Farmers Board chair Ash-Leigh Campbell.

“That will stand her in good stead working with our membership base and the organisation’s other key stakeholders.”

Lynda is married with two teenage children. Her daughter Sophie is excited about the new job.

“She goes to Christchurch Girls’ High School and has friends who are in the school’s TeenAg club which is run by NZ Young Farmers,” she said.

Outside of work, Lynda loves to travel and study.

“We’ve spent a bit of time travelling through Southeast Asia and we’ve lived in Australia,” she said.

Lynda is completing a Master of Business Administration through the University of Canterbury.

Her first day at NZ Young Farmers will be October 1^st.

NZ Young Farmers has a network of almost 80 clubs, runs the iconic FMG Young Farmer of the Year contest and works in schools to get students excited about career opportunities in the primary industries.