Charmaine O'Shea
Fonterra Dairy Woman of the Year 2014
Charmaine is a Chartered Accountant specialising in farm accounting, and an equity partner in a dairy farm with her brother Shayne.
She is best described as a woman with a passion for improving the profitability of the New Zealand dairy sector through strong financial, environmental, and people performance.
She is recognised as a leading Northland chartered accountant, developing her practice over 17 years with clients throughout New Zealand.
Her spare time sees her improve financial performance of the sector by involvement in projects like the development and design of the DairyBase database and a member of the inaugural Board.
In 2013, Charmaine was awarded and recognised for her outstanding achievements by becoming a Fellow of the New Zealand Institute of Chartered Accountants.
Demonstrating both environmental, business and people leadership for the New Zealand dairy sector drives Charmaine.
Her robust environmental stewardship and her aim to demonstrate best farming practices was recognised in 2013 alongside Shayne as the Northland Supreme Ballance Farm Environment Award winners.
This added to Charmaine’s previous success as 1993 Northland Sharemilker of the Year and the 1993 North Island AC Cameron Award.
Charmaine is has always been supportive of the industry when it comes to training and education on the business aspects of dairy farming at a national, regional and local level.
She has presented at numerous local field-days and national conferences.
Charmaine was also a member of the NZICA Primary Sector Committee for seven years. This committee represented and submitted to IRD around rural issues affecting the primary sector.
A graduate of the Agri-Women’s Developmental Trust Escalator Programme, she was so inspired by the work this organisation is doing to improve the business leadership and governance skills of our agri sector women, she joined the Board as a Trustee in 2013.
She has fostered and encouraged other dairy women to further develop their skills and provides mentoring for dairy women in this space.
“Charmaine’s passion for improving the profitability of the NZ dairy sector through strong financial, environmental, and people performance is clearly demonstrated . Demonstrating both environmental, business and people leadership for the NZ dairy sector drives Charmaine.” – Judges Panel.
