People

Our HQ in Wellington is home to a team of staff and auditors who are passionate about contributing to the success of organics in NZ. 

CEO:

Dr Michelle Glogau leads and manages BioGro so that organic producers and consumers recognise it as the market leader ‰лв the organisation with the best reputation for setting the highest organic production standards, certifying producers and suppliers, branding and marketing of organics, transferring skills, building capability and extending the organic industry's knowledge.


Technical Team:

Our technical staff are experts when it comes to the details. Its their job to be on top of the latest developments in organics in New Zealand and around the world, and keep our certified-producers up to speed so they can maximise the opportunity of being organic.

Technical Manager:

Dr Heli Matilainen

 

Organics Advisor:

Seager Mason


Certification Team:

Our certification staff review and assess our organic producers’ management plans, finalise and issue organic certificates.

Programme Manager (Certification):

Marcus Coomer

 

Quality Manager

Alannah Goile

 

Certification Officer (Health & Body Care & Processing):

Kent Chamberlain

 

Senior Certification Officer (Viticulture & Winemaking):

Nicolas Leneveu

 

Certification Officer:

Grace Leung

 

Certification Co-ordinator:

Hannah Gutteridge


Events & Customer Service:

Eljay Maunder is our very own organic ambassador and evangelist. If you're new to the world of organics, Eljay will help you through the process of becoming certified and with her years of experience will happily answer any queries you have along the way. She also pulls up banners and pushes organics at food shows, trade shows, conferences and field days around NZ and the world.


Business Development Manager:

Based in Australia, Akiko Nicolls is responsible for investigating and establishing new markets and certification opportunities for BioGro and its certified producers. She also maintains our JAS, IFOAM and EU accreditations. Please let us know about any new opportunities you come across - she will be happy to help.


Administration & Finance:

Our administration and finance team keeps the office humming every day of the week.

Management Accountant:

Naomi Shephard

 

Data Information Officer:

Lakshmi Budaraju


Marketing & Communications:

Sarah Connor markets and communicates our services to organic producers and consumers. She helps promote our internationally recognised brand and the success of our certified-producers so please let us know if you have a good story worth telling or some good news worth sharing and we'll do our bit to tell the world.


Auditors:

We have a team of organic auditors (accredited by MPI for the Official Organic Assurance Programme) dotted throughout New Zealand. They are our very valuable ‘people on the ground’ – travelling around the country to visit our certified producers and verify their organic management plans, making sure that they are operating in the way they say they are. Each auditor is a specialist in one organic sector or another.

BioGro Bulletins

Attend our AGM

On the afternoon of Friday 28th June we’re holding our AGM at the ASB Showgrounds in Auckland, in good time for the Green Living Show/NZ Organic Natural Expo. If you’re a BioGro Society member, this is your chance to vote for the Society’s council and have a say in BioGro’s future. If you’re not already a member, join today 

 Celebrating 30 years 

We’re having a 30th anniversary party on the evening of Friday 28th June, after our AGM at the ASB Showground in Auckland. If you’re BioGro certified or have received our invitation to be a part of the celebrations, please RSVP before Friday 21st June.

Producer Profile

Millton Vineyards and Winery (BioGro No.99)

Organic winemaking pioneer James Millton sees BioGro as a profound and internationally recognized trademark. ‘Being certified as biodynamic is one thing, but getting into particular markets is more difficult, hence the need to be certified organic by BioGro’.

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