Graeme Milne

Graeme Milne is a professional director based on a small sheep and beef farm on the outskirts of Cambridge.

After graduating from Massey University in 1975 with an honours degree in Biotechnology, Graeme spent most of his working career in the dairy industry after an initial period in pharmaceuticals and brewing.

During the 1980s and again in the 1990s Graeme spent several years based in Europe developing and managing the operations of the New Zealand dairy industry in Russia, Africa, the Middle East and the European continent.

Graeme's first role as a CEO was for Bay Milk Products in 1992. That was followed up as CEO of the New Zealand Dairy Group prior to the formation of Fonterra and various interim roles as CEO of Richmond Ltd, during the hostile takeover by PPCS (now Silver Fern Farms), Bonlac Ltd in Australia, during a period of significant financial stress and more recently LIC Ltd (The Livestock Improvement Corporation).

Graeme has held a number of directorships and chair roles in New Zealand and overseas. Currently he is the chair of five New Zealand based companies, (including Synlait Ltd, New Zealand Pharmaceuticals, Waikato DHB) and holds directorships in four others.

Julie, Graeme's wife, operates a small public relations company from their rural home. They have two children, a daughter  at Canterbury University and a recently graduated son working in Auckland.

Graeme's other interests include aviation, operating a light plane out of their Cambridge farm, and martial arts.

Please find below an updated declaration of interests:
                 

• Director, Farmers Mutual Group
• Director, Satara Co-operative Group Ltd
• Director, New Zealand Institute for Rare Disease Research Ltd
• Director, Genesis Power Ltd
• Chairman, New Zealand Pharmaceuticals Ltd
• Chairman, Synlait Ltd
• Chairman, Terracare Ltd
• Chairman, Encoate Holdings Ltd
• Chairman, Waikato District Health Board
• Trustee, Rockhaven Trust
• Partner, G. R. & J. A. Milne
• Shareholder, Media Profile Ltd.