ExportNZ Canterbury Breakfast: Agri-tech

Rachel Lynch CircleRachel is the Senior Communications Advisor at Zespri, and also covers External Relations and Trade. She is experienced in stakeholder engagement, strategy and project management in the food production industry, public sector and media. She specialises in trade strategy, crisis response, internal and external communications and media relations.

Zespri International Limited is the world’s largest marketer of kiwifruit, selling kiwifruit into more than 59 countries and managing 30 percent of the global volume. Zespri sets the global benchmark for guaranteed excellence and delicious, nutritious kiwifruit with the Zespri Brand. 
They work with growers and post-harvest operators to source top-quality Zespri Kiwifruit and supply this kiwifruit 12 months of the year through our distribution partners to wholesale markets and retail customers. Zespri’s has offices in 21 countries around the world and accounts for around a third of the global trade in kiwifruit and has built a strong reputation through a focus on a number of aspects, including health marketing, innovation, brand awareness, taste, consistency, and supply chain development.

Dean grew up on a high country sheep and beef farm in West Otago and spent his career working in primary and manufacturing industries, including the forestry, seafood and packaging markets.

He has over 25 years of experience in international sales and marketing. His previous roles include being the General Manager for a large Christchurch-based manufacturing facility that exported 85% of its products worldwide; and independently establishing two successful import/export businesses in the engineering and healthcare sectors. Having since sold one of his businesses, Dean returned to his primary sector roots to concentrate on business development and consulting.

Lincoln Agritech delivers leading-edge science and engineering knowledge and technologies into environmental, primary, processing and new materials applications.

At Lincoln Agritech, Dean is involved in client management, strategic planning and growth of IRRICAD’s international markets, for more information on this, see here.