Loshni Manikam

Loshni Manikam is originally from South Africa and now lives in Southland, milking 600 cows with her husband and three children. In 2007 they were named Southland Sharemilker of the Year, before progressing to their current equity partnership.

Manikam has a special interest in human behaviour and is dedicated to the development of the current and emerging leaders in the dairy industry, which, she says, stems from her belief that people are the most important part of the industry. A former lawyer, Manikam transitioned from dairy farming to leadership coaching after receiving her coach certification in 2012. She is the founding director of Iceberg Coaching and a strategic consultant for Farmstrong, working to support the wellbeing of farming communities.

She is currently a trustee of the Southern Dairy Development Trust, a coach and facilitator of the Agri-Women’s Development Trust’s Escalator Programme, and a Federated Farmers Southland executive member.

Manikam says being nominated for Dairy Woman of the Year demonstrates the value and success of ‘ordinary’ dairy farming women. “It shows that you can raise a family and still progress through the industry, reach the top, and have a say at industry level.”