Today’s exciting announcement of the six 2025 Zanda McDonald Award finalists has been welcomed by LAWD, Australia’s leading agricultural specialist real estate agency, and long time sponsor of the Award.
Recognised as one of the most prestigious awards programs in the agribusiness sector, the applicants are recognised for their leadership skills, passion for agriculture, and the contribution they’re making within the sector.
With a long-established and successful career in agribusiness, both as a producer and in real estate, LAWD Senior Director, Col Medway, is a regular panel judge for the Award and is always impressed by the calibre of applicants during the interviews.
“Every year I find the judging process a humbling experience as the quality of applicants is always impressive, especially as I reflect on how far in front they are compared to my own achievements at a similar age,” Mr Medway said.
“The future of agriculture in Australia is bright – I look forward to seeing these outstanding future leaders progress their careers and make their mark on the industry.
“LAWD and I are proud to play a small role in the Zanda McDonald Award each year as it supports the best young talent in Australian agriculture.”
Australian finalists:
- Nicholas van den Berg (34), Livestock Agent, Platinum Livestock, Keith, South East South Australia
- Cailin Crowe (27), Head of Department Agriculture, Technologies & Arts, St George State High School, St George, Queensland
- Bryce Neyland (35), Engineering & Development Manager, Rural Funds Management, Gol Gol, New South Wales
New Zealand finalists:
- Chloe Butcher-Herries (32), Farm Manager, Mathews Station sheep and beef farm, Central Hawkes Bay
- Karn Dhaliwal (32), Founder/Owner of greenfield development cropping business Ohinewai Harvest Ltd & Dhaliwal Ag Ltd, Te Hoe, Waikato
- Lana Marshall (31), Lana Marshall (31), Client Director at NZAB, financial guidance and strategic planning for farmers, and 50:50 sharemilker, Invercargill
All six finalists will attend the Award’s Impact Summit in Christchurch, NZ, in March 2026, where a winner will be announced from each country, each receiving a tailored mentoring trip and $10,000 towards further education or training, media coaching, and ongoing networking opportunities.
The prestigous Award was instigated in 2014 to commemorate the work of Zanda McDonald, a prominent identity in the Australian beef and livestock industry who sadly died in a farm accident at the age of 41.
Applicants must be between the ages of 21 and 35, working in the agribusiness sector, and passionate about making a difference in agriculture.
Image caption: Col Medway with the 2025 Award winners Jack O’Connor (Australia) and Maegen Blom (New Zealand), and LAWD CEO, Enda Foley.
