Fonterra announces 2025 election results, new directors appointed

Fonterra has announced the final results for its 2025 elections for the Board of Directors, Directors' Remuneration Committee, Fonterra Farmer Custodian Trust, and Co-operative Council. Incumbent director Alison Watters was re-elected to the Fonterra Board, joined by new director Michelle Pye. Conall Buchanan and Ellen Bartlett were elected unopposed to the Directors' Remuneration Committee, while James Barron was elected unopposed to the Fonterra Farmer Custodian Trust.

In the Co-operative Council elections, David Beuth (Ward 10 - Northern Bay of Plenty) and Tom Houston (Ward 11 - Eastern Bay of Plenty) were elected as new Co-operative Councillors. Several other councillors were elected unopposed, including Ryan Burton (Ward 5 - Hauraki), Wynn Brown (Ward 8 - South Waikato), Paulette Johns (Ward 9 - King Country), Anne Bridges (Ward 14 - Coastal Taranaki), Shirley Kissick (Ward 15 - Southern Taranaki), Patrick Whittle (Ward 20 – North Canterbury), and Larry Frost (Ward 23 - Otago). Shirley Kissick and Patrick Whittle are new Co-operative Councillors, with the remainder of the unopposed group being re-elected incumbents.

All successful candidates are set to assume their new roles following the close of Fonterra's Annual Meeting on Thursday, December 11, 2025. The results were declared by returning officer Warwick Lampp of electionz.com Ltd.