Isabella Dare, Environmental Manager at Bega Cheese’s Koroit facility in southwest Victoria, was among 12 participants selected for the Gardiner Foundation’s 2025 New Zealand Study Tour.
With over a decade of experience in the dairy industry’s environmental sector, Isabella brought her passion for sustainability, the circular economy and community impact to the tour—and returned with fresh perspectives and strengthened industry connections.
“We landed and went jet boating straight away—it was just spectacular,” Isabella recalls. “The water was so clear, and you could instantly see why it’s so important to protect the environment in New Zealand. It really set the tone for the week.”
As part of the tour, Isabella and her fellow participants—drawn from across the Australian dairy industry—visited leading-edge dairy operations and sustainability projects, including a powerful visit to Ngāi Tahu Farming. The Māori-owned farming organisation, managing over 100,000 hectares across New Zealand’s South Island, integrates traditional knowledge with regenerative agriculture principles.
“Learning about Ngāi Tahu’s vision for farming and how they incorporate the feedback of local elders was eye-opening,” she said. “It felt like that’s the direction we need to head—farming in a way that honours the land, reduces impact, and is truly sustainable.”
For Isabella, who manages wastewater treatment and irrigation land at Bega, the insights around nutrient management and data collection were especially relevant.
“We’ve got tighter restrictions than general farmers when it comes to managing land because we irrigate with wastewater. So seeing how New Zealand farmers are capturing data—using lysimeters, monitoring soil moisture, stocking rates—it was inspiring. They’re making sure they’re improving their footprint, and I brought a lot of those ideas home with me.”
Isabella also found immense value in the connections formed during the trip—not just with her peers from processing roles, but also with dairy farmers and their partners.
“There’s often tension between farmers and processors, but it didn’t feel like that on tour,” she said. “We had such open conversations—just listening to what’s important to different people. It was good to bounce ideas around with others from processing backgrounds, but also to hear from the partners, the people who are running these farms day in and day out. That was a highlight.”
The group didn’t just talk shop. From morning walks to catch the sunrise over Queenstown, to one memorable night riding a mechanical bull, the tour built camaraderie as well as knowledge.
“Everyone just had a go, got involved, and supported each other—it really showed the spirit of the group,” Isabella said.
She also credited the group’s facilitator, Andrew Tyler, for creating a grounded and informative environment. “He was a wealth of knowledge—so calm, so generous with his insights. It made the whole experience richer.”
Reflecting on the experience, Isabella feels both grateful and motivated.
“I feel so lucky and privileged to have been selected. It was honestly a once-in-a-lifetime experience. New Zealand is so progressive in their environmental thinking, and Australia is moving in that direction. Seeing what’s coming, what’s possible, was amazing.”