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Notice of Annual Meeting Fonterra Co-operative Group Ltd

AGM12 October 2020FSFConsumer Staples

Fonterra Annual
Meeting 2020

Notice of Annual Meeting

of Shareholders and Explanatory Notes

10.30am on Thursday, 5 November 2020

Copthorne Hotel & Resort Solway Park Wairarapa

High Street

Masterton

Contents
FONTERRA CO-OPERATIVE GROUP LIMITED ANNUAL MEETING FOR 2020 1

COVID-19 Implications 1

Annual Meeting Documents 1

Votes Required and Quorum 2

Results of Voting 2

Meeting Attendees 2

2020 FONTERRA ELECTIONS AND ANNUAL MEETING 3

FONTERRA CO-OPERATIVE GROUP LIMITED

ANNUAL MEETING AGENDA 4

PART ONE

NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS OF FONTERRA

CO-OPERATIVE GROUP LIMITED 5

Business 5

Annual Meeting Proceedings 5

Remuneration of Directors, Shareholders’ Councillors and

Directors’ Remuneration Committee Members 5

Appointment of Auditor 5

Ratification of Appointment of Directors 5

Approval of Amendments to the Constitution 5

Shareholders’ Council Report 6

Approval of Shareholders’ Council Programme and Budget 6

Shareholder Proposal 6

PART TWO

EXPLANATORY NOTES TO NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING 7

Welcome 7

Annual Meeting Proceedings 7

Remuneration of Directors, Shareholders’ Councillors and

Directors’ Remuneration Committee Members 7

Appointment of Auditor 9

Ratification of Appointment of Directors 9

Approval of Amendments to the Constitution 10

Approval of Shareholders’ Council Programme and Budget 11

Shareholder Proposal 13

FONTERRA ELECTIONS 2020 NOTICE OF MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS AND EXPLANATORY NOTES
1

Fonterra Co-operative Group Limited

Annual Meeting for 2020

Fonterra’s Annual Meeting will be held at the Copthorne Hotel & Resort Solway Park Wairarapa, High Street, Masterton, at

10.30am on Thursday, 5 November 2020.

COVID-19 Implications

Fonterra intends to hold this Annual Meeting in person at the

Copthorne Hotel & Resort Solway Park Wairarapa, High Street,

Masterton. However, due to the current uncertainty relating to

the COVID-19 pandemic, Fonterra may elect to hold this Annual

Meeting as a hybrid meeting (being both in person and online),

or as an online only meeting, depending on the COVID-19 Alert

Level restrictions that are in place for Thursday, 5 November

2020.

Fonterra will provide Shareholders with as much notice as is

reasonably practicable, by way of an announcement to the NZX

and an email to Shareholders, if the meeting is to be held as a

hybrid or online only meeting.

This Notice of Meeting has been prepared on the basis of an

in person meeting. If Fonterra elects to change the Annual

Meeting to a hybrid or online only meeting, detail as to virtual

participation and voting will be provided at the time of advising

of the change.

Annual Meeting Documents

Each Shareholder has been sent:

• This Notice of Meeting booklet, which includes:

- Letter from the Chairman

- Notice of Meeting (including the text of the matters to

be voted on by Shareholders) (Part One)

- Explanatory Notes regarding each of the matters to be

voted on by Shareholders (Part Two)

• A Fonterra Board of Directors Election Voting Paper

• A Shareholders’ Council Voting Paper (for Shareholders in

Wards 4 and 6 only)

• A combined Annual Meeting Voting Paper/Proxy Form. Use

this Voting Paper:

- If you are attending the Annual Meeting to vote in

person.

- If you are unable to attend the Annual Meeting, and you

do not wish to vote online or by post, you can appoint a

proxy to attend and vote on your behalf by completing

the Proxy Form and returning it to the address specified

on the freepost envelope included in the Voting Pack

or otherwise set out on the form, so that the Returning

Officer receives it no later than 10.30am on Tuesday, 3

November 2020.

- If you are a company or other body corporate, you can

appoint a representative to attend and vote on your

behalf by completing the Proxy Form.

Further instructions are on the back of the Proxy form.

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FONTERRA ELECTIONS 2020 NOTICE OF MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS AND EXPLANATORY NOTES

You can vote on the matters to be considered at the Annual

Meeting online or by post. The instructions on how to vote in

this manner can be found on the Voting Papers.

electionz.com Limited has been authorised by the Board to

receive, at the address specified on the freepost envelope

included in the Voting Pack or otherwise set out on the Voting

Paper, and count, all online and postal votes.

For the Annual Meeting you can also vote by proxy, or by

attending the meeting in person.

All online, postal and proxy votes must be received by the

Returning Officer by 10.30am on Tuesday, 3 November 2020.

A Shareholder’s voting entitlement is based on their milksolids

production. Shareholders will receive one vote for every 1,000

kilograms of milksolids supplied to Fonterra during the season

ended 31 May 2020.

If a Shareholder did not supply last season but now owns an

existing farm that supplied last season, the voting entitlement

will be based on that farm’s supply last season or on the Board’s

estimate of milksolids production for this season. In the case

of a dry farm conversion and farm amalgamations/ divisions,

voting entitlement is based on one vote for every estimated

1,000 kilograms of milksolids to be supplied during the season

ended 31 May 2021. Milk supplied on Contract Supply and

milk which is not backed by shares or counting vouchers is

excluded from milksolids production when calculating voting

entitlements.

In accordance with the Companies Act, the Board has fixed

5.00pm on 8 October 2020 as the date for determining voting

entitlements of Shareholders for this meeting.

Accordingly, those persons who are, at 5.00pm on 8 October

2020, registered as Shareholders will be entitled to vote at

the Annual Meeting in respect of the shares registered in their

name on that date backed by production.

A Shareholder’s voting entitlement for a farm is shown on

the Voting Paper enclosed for that farm with this pack. If a

Shareholder appoints a proxy, the proxy will exercise that

Shareholder’s voting entitlement as described above.

Votes Required and Quorum

The ordinary resolutions will be passed if they are approved by

a simple majority of the votes of those Shareholders entitled to

vote and voting on the resolutions.

The special resolution will be passed if approved by a majority of

75% or more of the votes of those Shareholders entitled to vote

and voting on the resolution.

The quorum for the meeting is present if not fewer than 50

Shareholders have cast postal votes (including by electronic

means) or are present in person or by a representative, who

between them hold or represent the holder or holders of

not less than two per cent of the voting rights entitled to be

exercised on the resolutions to be considered at the meeting.

There are no voting restrictions on the resolutions to be

considered at the meeting.

Results of Voting

The results of voting at the Annual Meeting will be posted on

Farm Source at www.nzfarmsource.co.nz and our My Co-op

app as soon as vote counting is complete and the Chairman has

declared the results.

Meeting Attendees

The Annual Meeting is held for the benefit of Shareholders

and their authorised proxies and representatives. Fonterra

management will also be in attendance, as well as invited

members of the media.

FONTERRA ELECTIONS 2020 NOTICE OF MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS AND EXPLANATORY NOTES
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2020 Fonterra Elections and Annual Meeting

Dear farmers,

Our 2020 Annual Meeting will be held at the Copthorne Hotel & Resort Solway Park Wairarapa in Masterton on Thursday

5 November.

We have moved away from holding the Annual Meeting at our manufacturing facilities, to minimise the disruption to our operations

team and to reduce costs.

At this year’s meeting Miles and I will review the Co-operative’s financial performance and the outlook for 2021 and beyond.

Shareholders are also being asked to vote on seven ordinary business resolutions to:

1. approve the remuneration of Directors;

2. approve the remuneration of Councillors;

3. approve the remuneration of the Directors’ Remuneration Committee Members;

4. approve the appointment of the Auditor;

5. approve the Shareholders’ Council programme and budget;

6. ratify the appointment of an Independent Director, Ms Holly Kramer; and

7. ratify the appointment of an Independent Director, Mr Bruce Hassall.

Each of these ordinary resolutions require more than 50 per cent support from voting farmers to be passed.

There is also a special resolution to approve amendments to the Constitution related to the legislative changes to the Dairy Industry

Restructuring Act (DIRA):

1. Approval of open entry related amendments to the Constitution.

The special resolution requires at least 75 per cent support from voting farmers to be passed.

There is also a Shareholder proposal for consideration by Shareholders. Further detail on the proposal and the resolutions are included

within this booklet.

If you can’t attend the meeting in person, you can cast your vote online, by post, or by way of proxy. Further instructions on how to

vote by all of these methods can be found on the voting papers in your voting pack.

I look forward to seeing as many of you as possible in Masterton.

John Monaghan

Chairman

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FONTERRA ELECTIONS 2020 NOTICE OF MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS AND EXPLANATORY NOTES

Fonterra Co-operative Group Limited

Annual Meeting Agenda

Below is the proposed programme for the Annual Meeting. Shareholders should note that the order may change at the discretion of

the Chairman. Shareholders should allow sufficient time to register their attendance upon arrival prior to the start of the meeting.

10.00am - Registration / Morning Tea

10.30am - Welcome

Welcome / Introduction – John Monaghan, Chairman of the Board

10.45am – Annual Meeting Proceedings

Chairman’s Review

Chief Executive Officer’s Presentation

Approval of Remuneration of Directors, Shareholders’ Councillors and Directors’ Remuneration Committee Members

Directors’ Remuneration Committee Review – Glenn Holmes, Member of the Directors’ Remuneration Committee

Resolution 1: That no increase of remuneration of Directors be approved

Resolution 2: That no increase of remuneration of Shareholders’ Councillors be approved

Resolution 3: That no increase of remuneration of Members of Directors’ Remuneration Committee be approved

Appointment of Auditor

Resolution 4: Appointment of KPMG as auditor and authorisation of the Directors to fix the auditor’s remuneration

Ratification of Appointment of Directors

Resolution 5: Ratification of appointment of Holly Kramer

Resolution 6: Ratification of appointment of Bruce Hassall

Approval of Amendments to the Constitution

Resolution 7: Approval of open entry related amendments to the Constitution

Shareholders’ Council Report

Chairman’s Review – James Barron

Approval of Shareholders’ Council Programme and Budget

Resolution 8: Approval of the Shareholders’ Council programme and budget

Shareholder Proposal

Resolutions 9, 10 and 11: Mr Paterson’s Proposal

Voting Paper Collection

Announcement of Resolution Results

General Business

1.00 / 1.30pm - Closing / Lunch (approximately)

FONTERRA ELECTIONS 2020 NOTICE OF MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS AND EXPLANATORY NOTES
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Notice of Annual Meeting of Shareholders of

Fonterra Co-operative Group Limited

PART ONE

Business

Welcome/Introduction

Annual Meeting Proceedings

Chairman’s Review

Chief Executive Officer’s Presentation

Remuneration of Directors, Shareholders’

Councillors and Directors’ Remuneration

Committee Members

Directors’ Remuneration Committee Review

Resolution 1: That no increase of remuneration of Directors

be approved

To consider the remuneration of Directors recommended by

the Directors’ Remuneration Committee and, if thought fit, to

resolve:

“That no increase of remuneration of Directors be approved, as

recommended by the Directors’ Remuneration Committee.”

Resolution 2: That no increase of remuneration of

Shareholders’ Councillors be approved

To consider the remuneration of Shareholders’ Councillors

recommended by the Directors’ Remuneration Committee and,

if thought fit, to resolve:

“That no increase of remuneration of Shareholders’ Councillors

be approved, as recommended by the Directors’ Remuneration

Committee.”

Resolution 3: That no increase of remuneration of Members

of the Directors’ Remuneration Committee be

approved

To consider the remuneration of Members of the Directors’

Remuneration Committee recommended by the Board and, if

thought fit, to resolve:

“That no increase of remuneration of Members of the Directors’

Remuneration Committee be approved, as recommended by the

Board.”

Appointment of Auditor

Resolution 4: Appointment of KPMG as auditor and

authorisation of the Directors to fix the

auditor’s remuneration

To consider the appointment of KPMG as auditor of the

Company and authorisation of the Directors to fix the auditor’s

remuneration and, if thought fit, to resolve:

“To appoint KPMG as auditor of the Company until the conclusion

of the Company’s next Annual Meeting and authorise the Directors

to fix the auditor’s remuneration.”

Ratification of Appointment of Directors

Resolution 5: Ratification of appointment of Ms Holly

Kramer

To consider and, if thought fit, to resolve:

“To ratify the appointment by the Board of Ms Holly Kramer as a

Director of the Company, under clause 12.4 of the Constitution.”

Resolution 6: Ratification of appointment of Mr Bruce

Hassall

To consider and, if thought fit, to resolve:

“To ratify the appointment by the Board of Mr Bruce Hassall as a

Director of the Company, under clause 12.4 of the Constitution.”

Approval of Amendments to the

Constitution

Resolution 7: Approval of open entry related amendments

to the Constitution

To consider and, if thought fit, to resolve as a special resolution:

“To approve the proposed amendments to the Constitution, as set

out in the section headed ‘Resolution 7’ of Part Two of the Notice of

Meeting.”

Notice is given that the Annual Meeting of the Shareholders of Fonterra Co-operative Group Limited (“Company”) will be held

on Thursday, 5 November at the Copthorne Hotel & Resort Solway Park Wairarapa, High Street, Masterton.

John Monaghan

Chairman, on behalf of the Board

Notice of Meeting dated 12 October 2020

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FONTERRA ELECTIONS 2020 NOTICE OF MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS AND EXPLANATORY NOTES

Shareholders’ Council Report

Chairman’s Review

Approval of Shareholders’ Council

Programme and Budget

Resolution 8: Approval of Shareholders’ Council

programme and budget

To receive and discuss the Shareholders’ Council report

(including the Milk Commissioner’s report) for 2019/20

(contained in the Shareholders’ Council’s 2020 Annual Report

to Shareholders) and the Shareholders’ Council’s programme

and budget for 2020/21 and, if thought fit, to resolve:

“To approve the Shareholders’ Council’s programme and budget for

the financial year ending 31 July 2021.”

Shareholder Proposal

Resolutions 9, 10 and 11: Mr Paterson’s Proposal

“To consider and support the following resolutions to restrict

the Fonterra Shareholders’ Council to performing only its

Constitutional duties in the manner detailed below, and that

funding for these limited activities be via a cents/per kgMS levy to

be determined by a farmer vote every year.

Resolution 9: That the Shareholders’ Council must engage an

external expert to produce reports that satisfy clause 16.1(e) and

16.1(g)(iii) of the Constitution:

(e) subject to any applicable legislative or regulatory requirement

and to the Market Rules, receiving and commenting on reports

from the Board on the Company’s consolidated and key business

unit operations at least four times each Season, such reports to

include a commentary on actual achievements compared with

the Board’s statement of intentions for the performance and

operations of the Company for that Season, and the Company’s

key performance indicators;

(g) preparing the Shareholders’ Council’s programme and budget

for each Season and, at each annual meeting of the Company:

(iii) reporting on the view of the Shareholders’ Council as to the

Company’s direction, performance and operations including

a commentary on actual achievements compared with the

Board’s statement of intentions for the performance and

operations of the Company for the most recently completed

Season.

Resolution 10: That the Council’s annual budget be reduced in-line

with its constitutional purpose to a total of $2,271,000 based on the

following activities:

FY20 BudgetNew Budget

Operating Costs

(Communications,

Councillor

Honoraria, Council

staff, meetings,

Milk Commissioner,

Milk Price Panel

appointees, legal,

insurance, I.T)

$2,010,000$1,450,000

(achieved by reducing

the number of

committees, meetings

and utilising technology

to reduce travel

expenses)

Connection

(My Connect

conference,

UYCP, Purpose

Review, Councillor

development,

Shareholder

engagement).

$590,000$0

(These programmes will

now be fully-funded and

run by Management

using existing resources).

Governance

Development

Programme

$146,000$146,000

(This is a 50%

contribution to the

cost of the programme

which is shared

with the Board. The

programme is governed

by the Governance

Development

Committee)

Guardianship

(Elections -

Returning Officer,

ISP, candidate

meetings)

$475,000$475,000

Performance

(External analyst

and advice)

$50,000$200,000

(This cost increase

reflects the out-sourcing

of quarterly performance

updates and creation of

any special reports)

Total$3,271,000$2,271,000

Resolution 11: That the funding model for the Shareholders’

Council to be in the form of a Milk Price levy, voted on by farmers

every year and starting at 0.0015 cents per kgMS for the 2021

Financial Year.”

FONTERRA ELECTIONS 2020 NOTICE OF MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS AND EXPLANATORY NOTES
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Explanatory Notes to Notice of

Annual Meeting

PA RT T WO

Welcome

The Chairman will welcome Shareholders.

Annual Meeting Proceedings

Remuneration of Directors, Shareholders’

Councillors and Directors’ Remuneration

Committee Members

Resolution 1: That no increase of remuneration of Directors

be approved

In accordance with clause 34.1 of the Company’s Constitution,

the Directors’ Remuneration Committee (“Committee”) met

in July 2020 to consider, and recommend to Shareholders,

the form and amount of the Directors’ remuneration. The

Committee comprises six elected Shareholders and is chaired by

Mr David Gasquoine.

Between 2014 and 2016 the Committee recommended that

Directors’ remuneration remain unchanged, which was

appropriate given the very challenging economic conditions

experienced by Shareholders.

In 2017 the Committee noted that market data showed that

remuneration levels for Directors had increased significantly

since the Fonterra Directors’ remuneration was last increased

in 2013. The Committee recommended increases to the

remuneration level for Directors to ensure that Fonterra

continued to attract and retain the very best Director

candidates, one of the key objectives of the Governance and

Representation Review recommendations.

The Committee also recommended that a discretionary pool of

$75,000 be available for remunerating Directors for additional

workload, to be allocated at the discretion of the Appointments

and Remuneration Committee and the Chairman of the Board.

In 2018 and 2019 the Committee considered workload

expectations and market trends and recommended no change

to Director remuneration. In 2019 the Committee noted that the

discretionary pool of fees put in place in 2017 had been used for

the first time to remunerate a Director $25,000 for additional

workload.

In 2020 the Committee reviewed remuneration practices in

New Zealand and Australia. The Committee noted that Director

remuneration had not been increased since 2017.

The Committee considered whether current remuneration

levels were appropriate, given the substantial Director

workload, to ensure highly skilled directors were attracted and

retained on the Board.

The Committee discussed the impact of the COVID-19

pandemic on Fonterra and globally, and noted that while

the general market trend was for a small annual increase in

directors’ remuneration, some companies had recently reduced

remuneration levels due to the financial implications of the

pandemic.

The Committee noted that the $75,000 discretionary pool

of fees had been utilised for the second time to remunerate

a Director $25,000 for additional workload. The Committee

determined that the discretionary pool gave the Board a tool

to adequately remunerate Directors for additional workload

including multiple Committee memberships, and recommended

removal of the limit of $25,000 per Director.

The Committee noted that while small incremental increases in

remuneration were preferable, there was significant economic

uncertainty as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. As such the

Committee determined to recommend no change to Director

remuneration in 2020, other than to remove the discretionary

pool’s $25,000 limit per Director.

The Committee’s recommendation to Shareholders in relation

to the remuneration of Directors is:

That the remuneration for the Directors be approved at the

following amounts from the date of this Annual Meeting:

• Chairman $430,000 p.a. (no change)

• Director $175,000 p.a. (no change)

In addition, at the discretion of the Board, the Chair of each

permanent Board Committee may be paid an additional $35,000

p.a., unless that person is the Chairman of the Board or already

in receipt of a Committee Chair allowance (no change).

• Discretionary Pool

Up to $75,000 per annum (in aggregate), be provided for

fees for Directors to be remunerated for additional duties,

workload and responsibilities; such fees to be allocated at the

discretion of the Appointments and Remuneration Committee

of the Board and the Chairman of the Board and the tabling of

details of such fee payments to the Directors’ Remuneration

Committee annually (removal of the $25,000 limit per Director).

The Committee has also approved the expense reimbursement

policy for both Directors and Shareholders’ Councillors,

whereby actual and reasonable expenses associated with their

positions are reimbursed. It has also approved, and regularly

monitors, the reimbursement of reasonable travel expenses for

Directors’ spouses/partners.

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FONTERRA ELECTIONS 2020 NOTICE OF MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS AND EXPLANATORY NOTES

Resolution 2: That no increase of remuneration of

Shareholders’ Councillors be approved

In accordance with By-law 3.1 of the Shareholders’ Council

By-laws, the Directors’ Remuneration Committee met in July

2020 to consider, and recommend to Shareholders, the form

and amount of the remuneration to be paid to Shareholders’

Councillors.

The Committee considers the Councillor’s representative role

to be an important one for the Co-operative, and that the level

of the honoraria needs to be sufficient to attract and recognise

Shareholders of a high calibre serving in that capacity. The

Committee noted the review of the Shareholders’ Council which

was underway.

Between 2014 and 2016 the Committee recommended that

Shareholders’ Councillor honoraria remain unchanged, which

was appropriate given the very challenging economic conditions

experienced by Shareholders.

In 2017 the Committee recommended increases to the

Shareholders’ Councillor honoraria. The Committee noted that

the number of Council wards had been reduced to 25 from the

date of the 2017 Annual Meeting.

In 2018 and 2019 the Committee recommended that the

Shareholders’ Councillor honoraria remained unchanged. The

Committee noted that the role of Deputy Chair had been

disestablished in 2019.

The Committee discussed the significant economic uncertainty

as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Given this and the

present review of the Shareholders’ Council, the Committee

considers that the Shareholders’ Council honoraria remains

appropriate and determined to recommend no change to

Shareholders’ Councillor remuneration.

The Committee reviews with the Chair of the Shareholders’

Council the allocations made from the discretionary pool in

the prior year, and is comfortable that the pool was utilised

in a reasonable manner consistent with the intent of the

recommendation.

The Committee’s recommendation to Shareholders in relation

to the remuneration of Shareholders’ Councillors is:

That the honoraria for the Shareholders’ Councillors and the

Chairman of the Council be approved at the following amounts

from the date of this Annual Meeting:

• Chair $100,000 p.a. (no change)

• Councillors $35,000 p.a. (no change)

• Discretionary Pool

Up to $100,000 per annum (in aggregate), be provided for

additional honoraria of Project Leaders and Subcommittee

Chairpersons of the Shareholders’ Council (in each case not

to exceed $17,500 per annum per person); and for ordinary

Councillors representing the Council at its request on external

Committees; such provisions to be allocated in whole or part

at the discretion of the Chairman of the Shareholders’ Council

and the tabling of details of such honoraria payments to the

Directors’ Remuneration Committee annually (no change to the

amount of the current pool arrangement).

Resolution 3: That no increase of remuneration of Members

of the Directors’ Remuneration Committee be

approved

The Board met to consider, and recommend to Shareholders,

the form and amount of the remuneration to be paid to

Members of the Directors’ Remuneration Committee. The

Directors’ Remuneration Committee comprises six elected

Shareholders.

The Board noted that the Directors’ Remuneration Committee

members’ honoraria had been increased in 2017 and were not

changed in 2018 and 2019.

The Board recommends no change be made in 2020.

The Board’s recommendation to Shareholders in relation to

the remuneration of Members of the Directors’ Remuneration

Committee is that the remuneration be set at the following

amounts from the date of this Annual Meeting:

• Chairman $2,000 p.a. (no change)

• Member $1,000 p.a. (no change)

Furthermore, Members of the Directors’ Remuneration

Committee are entitled to be paid for reasonable expenses

incurred in connection with the business of the Committee,

in line with the policy for remuneration of Directors and

Shareholders’ Councillors.

FONTERRA ELECTIONS 2020 NOTICE OF MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS AND EXPLANATORY NOTES
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Appointment of Auditor

Resolution 4: Appointment of KPMG as auditor and

authorisation of the Directors to fix the

auditor’s remuneration

The Companies Act 1993 requires the Company to appoint an

auditor. Section 207S of the Companies Act 1993 provides that

the fees and expenses of an auditor appointed at an Annual

Meeting can be fixed in the manner determined at that meeting.

KPMG has audited the Company’s financial statements for the

year ended 31 July 2020.

The Directors recommend that KPMG be appointed as

auditor for the coming year. The Directors recommend

that Shareholders authorise the Board to fix the auditor’s

remuneration.

Ratification of Appointment of Directors

Resolution 5: Ratification of appointment of

Ms Holly Kramer

The Company’s Constitution requires that the Shareholders

of the Company ratify the appointment of each Director

appointed by the Board in accordance with clause 12.4 of the

Constitution. This is to take place at the first Annual Meeting of

the Company following that Director’s appointment and, where

the appointment is for a term exceeding three years, shall be

ratified by Shareholders every three years.

Ms Holly Kramer was appointed by the Board in accordance

with clause 12.4 of the Constitution and her appointment is

required to be ratified by Shareholders at the 2020 Annual

Meeting.

The Fonterra Board has determined that Ms Holly Kramer

qualifies as an Independent Director.

Ms Kramer’s remuneration and benefits, as with all of the

Independent Directors, are determined by the Board in

accordance with section 161 of the Companies Act and are

not subject to Resolution 1. However, the Fonterra Board

remunerates Independent Directors at the same level as Elected

Directors.

Details of her qualifications and experience are set out below.

Holly Kramer

Holly Kramer was appointed to the Fonterra Co-operative

Group Board in May 2020.

She has more than 25 years of extensive governance,

management and product/marketing experience. Holly was

Chief Executive Officer of major Australian retailer Best & Less.

She has also held senior executive roles at Telstra Corporation,

Ford Motor Company (in the US and Australia) and Pacific

Brands.

Holly is currently a Director on the Boards of Woolworths,

Abacus Property Group and the GO (Goodes-O’Loughlin)

Foundation. She is Chair of the unlisted mortgage broking

fintech, Lendi. She is also the Pro-Chancellor of Western Sydney

University. Holly’s previous governance roles include the

Boards of Australia Post, Nine Entertainment Corporation, AMP

Limited, and Telstra Clear (NZ).

Resolution 6: Ratification of appointment of

Mr Bruce Hassall

The Company’s Constitution requires that the Shareholders

of the Company ratify the appointment of each Director

appointed by the Board in accordance with clause 12.4 of the

Constitution. This is to take place at the first Annual Meeting of

the Company following that Director’s appointment and, where

the appointment is for a term exceeding three years, shall be

ratified by Shareholders every three years.

Mr Bruce Hassall was appointed by the Board in accordance

with clause 12.4 of the Constitution and his appointment is

required to be ratified by Shareholders at the 2020 Annual

Meeting.

The Fonterra Board has determined that Mr Bruce Hassall

qualifies as an Independent Director.

Mr Hassall’s remuneration and benefits, as with all of the

Independent Directors, are determined by the Board in

accordance with section 161 of the Companies Act and are

not subject to Resolution 1. However, the Fonterra Board

remunerates Independent Directors at the same level as Elected

Directors.

Details of his qualifications and experience are set out below.

Bruce Hassall

Bruce Hassall was appointed to the Fonterra Co-operative

Group Board in November 2017.

He is a Chartered Accountant and has had a 35-year career at

PwC, including holding the position of Chief Executive Officer of

the New Zealand practice from 2009 to 2016. Bruce is Chairman

of The Farmers Trading Company Limited, Prolife Foods Limited

and Fletcher Building Limited and serves as a director on the

Board of Bank of New Zealand.

He was previously a member of the University of Auckland

Business School Advisory Board and was a founding Board

Member of the New Zealand China Council. Bruce has extensive

experience in financial reporting, information system processes,

risk management, business acquisitions, capital raising and IPOs

across both listed and private companies.

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FONTERRA ELECTIONS 2020 NOTICE OF MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS AND EXPLANATORY NOTES

Approval of Amendments to the

Constitution

Resolution 7: Approval of open entry related amendments

to the Constitution

Resolution 7 is a special resolution required by section 106(1)(a)

of the Companies Act 1993.

In July 2020, the Company committed to farmers that once

open entry is removed from the Dairy Industry Restructuring

Act 2001 (“DIRA”), it will continue to accept applications to

supply from all farms that are, at the time of the application,

supplying the Company, until the remainder of the pro-

competition provisions in the DIRA fall away. The Company also

stated that it would propose that this commitment was included

in the Company’s Constitution at the 2020 Annual Meeting and

asked farmers to support its addition.

The Dairy Industry Restructuring Amendment Act 2020 amends

DIRA, amongst other things, to remove the requirement on

the Company to accept applications to become shareholding

farmers made by a new entrant, effective from 1 June 2023.

The proposed amendment to clause 2.3 of the Constitution

gives effect to the Company’s July 2020 commitment, and is set

out below.

Consequential clause reference amendments will also be made

to clauses 2.7, 8.2, 8.3 and 9.1(e), by replacing references to

clause “2.3(b)” in those clauses with “2.3(a)(ii)”.

2.3 Board may accept application:

(a) Subject to clause 2.3(b), T

the Board may in its

absolute discretion decide:

(ai) whether or not to accept an application by

a person to become a Shareholder made in

accordance with clause 2.2 or any application

procedure which the Board may from time to time

determine; and

(bii) whether or not to accept the supply of Milk from

any person, on such terms and conditions as the

Board thinks fit, without requiring that person to

become a Shareholder in respect of that supply.

(b) In respect of applications for the supply of Milk to the

Company that are made on or after 1 June 2023, the

Board will (subject to clause 2.4) accept an application

by a person to supply Milk to the Company from any

Farm from which, at the time of the application, Milk

is supplied to the Company, provided that the Board

is satisfied that the applicant and the relevant Farm

comply with the Terms and Conditions. This clause

2.3(b) will cease to apply on the first date that subpart

5 of Part 2 of the Dairy Industry Restructuring Act

2001 is repealed or otherwise ceases to apply to the

Company.

The proposed amendment differs from the July 2020

commitment by specifying that it ceases to apply when

subpart 5 of Part 2 of DIRA is repealed or ceases to apply to the

Company, rather than when the pro-competition provisions

in DIRA fall away. Subpart 5 of Part 2 of the DIRA sets out the

open entry/exit and associated “pro-competition” provisions. It

is separate to subpart 5A, which sets out the milk price regime.

This means that the proposed amendment will cease to apply

if subpart 5 of DIRA is repealed, even if the milk price regime in

subpart 5A continues in force.

This proposed amendment also clarifies that both the applicant

and the farm need to comply with the Company’s standard

terms and conditions of supply in order for the proposed

amendment to apply.

As the amendments to the Constitution of the Company that

are contemplated by Resolution 7 do not impose or remove a

restriction on the activities of the Company, Shareholders will

not have the benefit of the minority buy-out rights set out in

section 110 of the Companies Act 1993.

A solicitor’s opinion regarding the Constitution of the Company,

as required under rule 1.11. 1 of the FSM Rules applicable to the

Fonterra Shareholders’ Market, has been provided to NZX.

As the proposed amendments will alter Part A of Fonterra’s

Constitution, the approval of a majority of 50 per cent or more

of Shareholders’ Councillors is required under clause 18.1 of the

Constitution. This approval was received on 18 September 2020.

If Resolution 7 is passed by the requisite majority of 75 per

cent or more of votes cast by Shareholders entitled to vote and

voting on the resolution, the Constitution will be amended as

set out above.

If Resolution 7 is not passed then the recommended changes

will not take effect. However, this will not otherwise impact the

commitment the Company made in July 2020.

FONTERRA ELECTIONS 2020 NOTICE OF MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS AND EXPLANATORY NOTES
11

Approval of Shareholders’ Council

Programme and Budget

Resolution 8: Approval of Shareholders’ Council

programme and budget

Under this item of business the Chairman of the Shareholders’

Council will, in accordance with the requirements of the

Company’s Constitution:

• report on Council’s view of the Company’s direction,

performance and operations for the financial year ending 31

July 2020 (FY20);

• report on the activities undertaken by Council in FY20;

• present Council’s programme and budget for the current

financial year;

• present the Milk Commissioner’s Report;

• comment on other Company and dairy industry matters.

Shareholders are then asked to approve the programme and

budget of the Shareholders’ Council for the current financial

year, ending 31 July 2021 (FY21).

In preparing the below budget for FY21 Council has sought to

take into account possible outcomes of the Review of Council,

based on the Steering Group’s Issues and Options discussion

paper sent to farmers in late August 2020. The final report and

recommendations of the Steering Group are expected to be

received after this Notice of Meeting is sent to Shareholders.

FY20

Budget

$000

FY20

Actual

$000

FY21

Budget

$000

Council operating costs:

Communications – including

Annual Report design and

print

201113

Councillor Honoraria (refer

Resolution 2 for amounts),

and Council staff salaries and

associated costs

1,6601,6451,650

Council meetings – including

accommodation and travel

for Council meetings, Board/

Board Committee meetings,

and meetings with external

stakeholders, and Diligent

meeting papers software

costs

200234200

Councillor engagement with

farmers in Wards – including

travel, accommodation and

catering

1001568

Councillor training and

development – including

course/facilitator and travel

costs, and new Councillor

introduction programme

3010 70

Insurance and IT costs

– including Councillor

liability insurance and staff

information technology costs

202024

Review of Council – Steering

Group costs including fees

paid to independent Chair,

Steering Group travel and

meeting costs, Report

design, and costs of farmer

consultation meetings

05475

External analyst support –

including financial and survey

design and analysis

5053100

Total Council operating costs2,0802,0422,200

Other costs contributed to or met by Council:

Connection

Contribution to costs of

MyConnect conference

21050160

Understanding Your Co-

operative Programme

25074170

Governance Development

Programme

14622100

Guardianship

Fonterra Director Elections:

• Returning Officer costs235204170

• Director candidate

meetings

553845

• Independent Selection

Panel and secretariat,

independent agent and

candidate interview

expenses

185152185

Professional Services - Milk

Commissioner costs, fees

paid to Council’s appointees

to the Milk Price Panel, legal

costs

110112125

Total other costs

contributed to or met by

Council

1,191652955

Combined Total3,2712,6943,155

12
FONTERRA ELECTIONS 2020 NOTICE OF MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS AND EXPLANATORY NOTES

Budget

Council seeks Shareholder approval for a budget of $2.2 million

for Council operating costs for FY21 and $955,000 for other

costs contributed to or met by Council, giving a combined total

of $3.155 million, as summarised above.

In November 2019 Fonterra Shareholders approved a budget

of $3.271 million for FY20 of which $2.694 million (82%) was

utilised.

Material variations between FY20 budgeted and actual

expenditure, and FY20 actual spend and FY21 budgeted spend

are summarised as follows:

• Council meetings: Costs exceeded budget, even with one

online meeting due to COVID-19 restrictions. During FY21

full Council will meet less frequently, however Committees

will need to meet occasionally in person. These meetings

will be scheduled as possible around Ward engagements to

manage costs.

• Councillor engagement with farmers in Wards: As

an extension to individual Councillor engagements in

Wards and in response to farmer requests, Leadership

Team meetings in Wards were planned for FY20 but were

impacted by COVID-19 restrictions. Recognising farmer

feedback during the Review of Council, more regional and

Ward engagements are planned for FY21.

• Councillor training and development: Councillor training

and development is imperative to Council effectively

fulfilling its functions. In FY19 and FY20 Council did not

allocate budget to training given the Fonterra wide focus

on reducing expenditure. The FY21 budget will enable all

25 Councillors to undertake targeted relevant training and

development, and reflects spend prior to FY19.

• Review of Council: The FY20 Budget did not include costs

for the Review as the Steering Group had not been formed

and would determine the Review process. Costs were

managed through the Terms of Reference which required

prior approval.

• External analyst support: Recognising farmer feedback

during the Review of Council, allowance has been made

for additional support including for financial analysis and

surveys.

• MyConnect conference: The 2020 conference was

cancelled due to COVID-19 restrictions. FY20 actual costs

are Council’s share of non-refundable deposits, which can be

credited to 2021 event costs. Allowance has been made for

the same contribution to the 2021 conference as in recent

years ($210,000), less the deposits already paid.

• Understanding Your Co-operative Programme: One

Programme was held in December 2019. The other planned

FY20 event and a series of shorter regional Know Your Co-op

programmes were cancelled due to COVID-19 restrictions.

Two UYCP events are planned for FY21.

• Governance Development Programme: COVID-19

restrictions required the second workshop to be deferred

to October. As a result, a significant proportion of the 2020

intake’s Programme costs will fall into FY21. After finalising

the FY20 budget the Governance Development Committee

decided to increase participant contributions which resulted

in a lower cost to the Co-op. This Programme is a joint

Council and Board initiative, with costs shared equally

between Council and the Board.

• Director election: The budgeted FY21 reduction in

Returning Officer costs reflects the costs that relate

to Councillor and Directors’ Remuneration Committee

elections (and the Fonterra Farmer Custodian Trust election

in 2019), which are met by Fonterra head office which

manages those elections.

Work Programme

Council’s work programme for FY21 includes the following key

workstreams:

Connection

• Foster members’ engagement with their Co-op through

Ward and regional meetings

• Understand members’ interests, needs and perspectives

through survey and meetings

• Represent members’ interests, needs and perspectives to

the Board

• Provide regular feedback on how members’ interests, needs

and perspectives have been represented

• Report on how members’ interests, needs and perspectives

align with Board strategy and Co-op performance

• Provide Councillors with relevant learning and development

programmes

• Foster Councillor succession

• Deliver the Understanding Your Co-operative Programme

Guardianship

• Progress any changes (including Constitutional, Council

By-laws, Board-Council-Management Working Interface

document (as applicable)) arising from the Review of Council

• Review and refresh (as necessary) the Co-operative

philosophy and principles, and promote greater member

understanding

• Manage the Director election in consultation with the

Board, and appoint the Returning Officer and Council’s

independent appointee to the Independent Selection Panel

• Represent members’ interests in relation to changes to the

terms and conditions of supply and the operation of the

Fonterra Shareholders’ Fund and the Fonterra Shareholders

Market

FONTERRA ELECTIONS 2020 NOTICE OF MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS AND EXPLANATORY NOTES
13

• Jointly with the Board, formally review the 2016 Governance

and Representation Review changes

Accountability

• Meet with the Board each quarter to understand

performance, strategy and future prospects and how well

members’ interests, needs and perspectives are being met

• Represent members’ interests in relation to Milk Price

Manual changes and governance

Council will report to members at least quarterly, including

through its Annual Report and at the 2021 Annual Meeting.

Shareholder Proposal

Under clause 15.1 of the Constitution, a Shareholder may give

written notice to the Board of a matter which the Shareholder

proposes to raise for discussion or resolution at the next

meeting of Shareholders at which the Shareholder is entitled to

vote. Under the provisions of section 9 of the first schedule to

the Companies Act, the Shareholder may include a statement of

not more than 1000 words in support of the proposal, together

with the name and address of the proposing shareholder.

Resolutions 9, 10 and 11: Mr Paterson’s Proposal

The Company has received the following proposal from Mr Tony

Paterson for shareholder consideration and resolution at the

Annual Meeting.

“To consider and support the following resolutions to restrict

the Fonterra Shareholders’ Council to performing only its

Constitutional duties in the manner detailed below, and that

funding for these limited activities be via a cents/per kgMS levy to

be determined by a farmer vote every year.

Resolution 9: That the Shareholders’ Council must engage an

external expert to produce reports that satisfy clause 16.1(e) and

16.1(g)(iii) of the Constitution:

(e) subject to any applicable legislative or regulatory requirement

and to the Market Rules, receiving and commenting on reports

from the Board on the Company’s consolidated and key business

unit operations at least four times each Season, such reports to

include a commentary on actual achievements compared with

the Board’s statement of intentions for the performance and

operations of the Company for that Season, and the Company’s key

performance indicators;

(g) preparing the Shareholders’ Council’s programme and budget

for each Season and, at each annual meeting of the Company:

(iii) reporting on the view of the Shareholders’ Council as to the

Company’s direction, performance and operations including

a commentary on actual achievements compared with the

Board’s statement of intentions for the performance and

operations of the Company for the most recently completed

Season.

Resolution 10: That the Council’s annual budget be reduced in-

line with its constitutional purpose to a total of

$2,271,000 based on the following activities:

FY20 BudgetNew Budget

Operating Costs

(Communications,

Councillor

Honoraria, Council

staff, meetings,

Milk Commissioner,

Milk Price Panel

appointees, legal,

insurance, I.T)

$2,010,000$1,450,000

(achieved by reducing

the number of

committees, meetings

and utilising technology

to reduce travel

expenses)

Connection

(My Connect

conference,

UYCP, Purpose

Review, Councillor

development,

Shareholder

engagement).

$590,000$0

(These programmes will

now be fully-funded and

run by Management

using existing resources)

Governance

Development

Programme

$146,000$146,000

(This is a 50%

contribution to the

cost of the programme

which is shared

with the Board. The

programme is governed

by the Governance

Development

Committee)

Guardianship

(Elections -

Returning Officer,

ISP, candidate

meetings)

$475,000$475,000

Performance

(External analyst

and advice)

$50,000$200,000

(This cost increase

reflects the out-sourcing

of quarterly performance

updates and creation of

any special reports)

Total$3,271,000$2,271,000

Resolution 11: That the funding model for the Shareholders’

Council to be in the form of a Milk Price levy, voted

on by farmers every year and starting at 0.0015

cents per kgMS for the 2021 Financial Year.”

14
FONTERRA ELECTIONS 2020 NOTICE OF MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS AND EXPLANATORY NOTES

The Board believes that Mr Paterson’s proposal raises

matters which are best considered by Shareholders.

For this reason, the Board will not be making a

recommendation to Shareholders regarding the

resolutions contained within Mr Paterson’s proposal.

The Shareholders’ Council has advised it does not support

the proposal.

This Shareholder proposal is three ordinary resolutions

requiring the support of a simple majority of the votes of those

Shareholders entitled to vote and voting on the resolutions.

Under Fonterra’s Constitution, the resolutions will not be

binding on the Board or Shareholders’ Council.

The proposing Shareholder, Mr Tony Paterson, was entitled to

provide a statement in support of the proposal. The following

was supplied:

Outcome:

For the Fonterra Shareholders’ Council to be restricted to

performing its Constitutional duties only, and that its funding

be provided by way of a cents per kgMS levy to be determined

by a farmer vote every three years.

Sponsors:

Tony Paterson

Background:

We are incredibly disappointed with the outcome of the

Shareholders’ Council Review. It is a lost opportunity to

return our representative body to the effective, respected

organisation it has been in the past.

Overwhelmingly, farmer feedback is that the Shareholders’

Council has not performed. It is ludicrous that the review

Steer-Co’s response to this is to suggest giving the Council

even greater responsibility.

Ultimately, everything we need from our Shareholders’ Council

is already possible within Clause 16.1 of the Constitution

today. In short, our proposal is that the Shareholders’ Council

stick to its Constitutional functions, provide farmers with

independent and expert financial analysis, and look for

significant cost-savings by transferring some activity to the

management team.

There has been a lot of noise about the Shareholders’ Council

being a ‘cornerstone shareholder’ and ‘holding the board to

account’. None of that is included within our Constitution.

Over time, Council has anointed itself with those titles

and expanded its scope - to the detriment of its overall

performance.

A review or self-assessment of the skills and attributes of our

Councillors was critically left out of the scope of this latest

review.

Our Shareholders’ Councillors are good people. They are

committed, passionate members of our ownership base who

are well placed to represent farmer interests to the Board and

communicate their independent view of the Co-op’s direction

farmer-to-farmer.

Councillors are also well-placed to advocate on behalf of their

fellow farmers when it comes to national or Co-operative

issues that impact their on-farm practices, such as freshwater

policy, DIRA, or the emissions trading scheme.

Aside from the skills and experience gained through their

farming businesses, Councillors may also be highly skilled in

other areas as a result of tertiary education or professional

careers in other sectors.

However, unlike our Directors, Councillors are not assessed

or elected against any set criteria of skills and attributes.

Therefore , it cannot guarantee that within its membership,

Council will have the ability to critically assess the performance

of the Board or Management team when it comes to complex

issues such as investment/divestment strategy or overall

financial performance.

Council is setting itself up for failure by anointing itself the

‘cornerstone shareholders’ and charging itself to ‘hold the

board to account’ - roles that it is neither empowered nor

qualified to undertake.

In developing the following proposal, we have looked at

the overlap between Council’s Constitutional function, the

capabilities of Councillors , and what farmers want from their

Council.

This leaves you with narrow list of jobs for the Shareholders’

Council that is more cost effective for farmers, and ultimately

can be delivered by the calibre of people filling Council positions.

The Refreshed Fonterra Shareholders’ Council

Role definition:

To share the collective view of Fonterra’s farmer-owners with

the Board and ensure the Co -operative acts in accordance with

our Co-operative Principles and its Constitutional purpose.

Scope:

a) Represent farmers‘ collective interests to the Fonterra

Board and ensure the Co-operative acts in accordance with

our Co-operative Principles and its Constitutional purpose.

b) Manage the Director election process in consultation with

the Board.

c) Oversee the creation of an independent quarterly review

of the Co-operative’s performance against the Board’s

statement of intentions, and report that back to farmers.

d) As required, commission a special report (whether internal

or independent) on specific projects or activities of the

Co-operative and report that back to farmers.

e) Call a special meeting of Shareholders, if the Shareholders’

Council has serious concerns about any Co-operative issue.

f) Consult with the Board in relation to the operation of the

Fonterra Shareholders Market and any Authorised Fund.

FONTERRA ELECTIONS 2020 NOTICE OF MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS AND EXPLANATORY NOTES
15

g) Consult with the Board in relation to any changes to the

Milk Price Manual and the Milk Price Principles.

h) Appoint any Valuer and procuring that any such Valuer acts

in accordance with the provisions of this Constitution.

i) Appoint and coordinate with the Milk Commissioner.

j) Publicly advocate on behalf of Fonterra farmers on matters

that impact their on-farm practices or the future of the

dairy industry.

Shareholder’s Council Budget:

FY20 BudgetNew Budget

Operating Costs

(Communications,

Councillor

Honoraria,

Council staff,

meetings, Milk

Commissioner,

Milk Price Panel

appointees, legal,

insurance, I.T)

$2,010,000$1,450,000

(achieved by

reducing the number

of committees,

meetings and utilising

technology to reduce

travel expenses)

Connection

(My Connect

conference,

UYCP, Purpose

Review, Councillor

development,

Shareholder

engagement.

$590,000$0

(These programmes

will now be run by

Management using

existing resources)

Governance

Development

Programme

$146,000$146,000

(This is a 50%

contribution to the

cost of the programme

which is shared

with the Board.

The programme

is governed by

the Governance

Development

Committee)

Guardianship

(Elections -

Returning Officer,

ISP, candidate

meetings)

$475,000$475,000

Performance

(External analyst

and advice)

$50,000$200,000

(This cost increase

reflects the out-

sourcing of quarterly

performance updates

and creation of any

special reports)

Total$3,271,000$2,271,000

Funding:

Shareholders’ Council funding be provided by way of a cents/

per kgMS levy to be determined by a farmer vote every year.

For the 2021 Financial Year, based on the budget above, the

levy would be set at 0.0015 cents per kgMS.

Farmer support:

We seek your support for this proposal to simplify and

improve the representative function of our Co-operative. We

appreciate the need for consultation with shareholders, but

believe this has been achieved through the official Steer-Co

and other recent Governance and Representation reviews in

2016 and 2019.

For our resolution to be successful, we require 50% support

of farmer votes cast and ask that you support all three of our

resolutions that will bring about this change.

If however you do not support one or more of the resolutions

we have put forward, we ask that you support those that you

do agree with as each resolution has merit in its own right.

Phone or email:

Any farmer who wished to discuss this proposal is welcome to

contact Tony Paterson by phone or email on the details below

Ph 0275948341 email tp.lisa@xtra.co.nz

The Board comments on Mr Paterson’s Proposal as

follows:

The Board respects the rights of Shareholders to propose

resolutions for consideration by all Shareholders. The Board

believes that Mr Paterson’s proposal raises matters which are

best considered by Shareholders. For this reason, the Board will

not be making a recommendation to Shareholders regarding the

resolutions contained within Mr Paterson’s proposal.

The Shareholders’ Council has reviewed Mr Paterson’s

Proposal.

Council respects the right of Shareholders to propose matters

for discussion or resolution at meetings of Shareholders.

Council has considered Mr Paterson’s proposal and the

statement provided in support of the proposal. Council does not

support the proposal for the reasons set out below.

1. The proposal pre-empts the outcomes of a review of Council

which has been conducted this year by a Steering Group

having a majority of members independent of the Council

and the Board. The Steering Group signalled possible

changes to Council’s role and functions in its Issues and

Options Discussion Paper sent to Fonterra farmers in late

August, which preceded a nation-wide series of consultation

meetings to discuss those issues and options. The Steering

Group’s final report and recommendations are expected to

be released soon (before the 2020 Annual Meeting). It is

premature for farmers to give a view on the outcomes of

the review before they are finalised and communicated to

farmers, or the recommendations have been acted on and

implemented.

16
FONTERRA ELECTIONS 2020 NOTICE OF MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS AND EXPLANATORY NOTES

2. The proposal is not fully consistent with the views that

have been expressed by Fonterra farmers. Feedback and

submissions during the review clearly evidence that the vast

majority place a high value on all of Council’s representation,

monitoring, connection and guardianship functions.

This includes farmers wanting Council to help them feel

connected to their Co-op and also wanting greater visibility

of Councillors in their Wards to hear their views.

3. Council has seen the Steering Group’s draft final report.

Councillors are confident that changes can be implemented

and that these changes will address the issues identified by

Fonterra farmers during the review.

4. The Steering Group’s review has followed a thorough

and considered process, and has drawn on feedback and

submissions from Fonterra farmers, discussions with

independent experts of co-operatives (in New Zealand

and internationally), academic literature, discussions

with Council and the Board, and the Steering Group’s

own analysis. Council is confident that the Steering

Group’s recommendations are very well informed, have a

sound basis and will result in a Council that better meets

expectations and gives the Co-op’s members more effective

representation.

5. It is not accurate to assert that the Steering Group is

suggesting that the Council is given greater responsibility.

As noted in its Issues and Options Discussion Paper the

Steering Group’s proposed changes are ‘all aimed at

sharpening the Council’s focus and increasing its value for

members’.

6. The proposal does not recognise that:

• Council has for many years engaged external expertise

to assist with its analysis of Board reports on the

Company’s performance and operations. Council

currently reports quarterly. However quarterly reporting

against the Board’s Statement of Intentions (SOI’s) has

been prevented as the SOIs are not published until after

the end of the financial year. From FY21 Council will

be able to report against the SOIs on a quarterly basis

during the financial year and Council will engage external

analyst support to do this. Council’s budget set out in

this Notice of Meeting reflects this.

• In order to effectively represent Fonterra farmers’

collective interests to the Board, Councillors must be

enabled to connect and engage with the farmers they

represent, however no budget has been allocated to do

that.

• Councillors are elected against a ‘key qualities and

capabilities list’ which is included in the Candidate

Handbook when nominations are sought and in the

Candidate Profile booklets sent with voting papers.

• Bodies that operate effectively under a levy based

funding model must manage funding volatility arising

from production variations by holding adequate reserves

to cover poor seasons. Council has no ability or desire

to retain farmers’ funds in this manner. Council’s budget

for the year ahead already requires Shareholder approval

at each Annual Meeting. That budget must be adequate

for it to perform all the functions it is tasked with under

the Constitution. For these reasons Council believes

the current funding model and process for approval by

Shareholders is appropriate.

FONTERRA ELECTIONS 2020 NOTICE OF MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS AND EXPLANATORY NOTES
17

If undelivered please return to:
The Returning Officer

Fonterra Elections 2020

PO Box 3138

Christchurch 8140

Free phone 0800 666 034

YOU CAN VOTE IN ONE OF THE FOLLOWING FOUR WAYS:
HOW TO COMPLETE THE PROXY PAPER AND APPOINT A PROXY

1. Appoint a proxy: Provide the full name and address of your chosen proxy in the box labelled “Primary Proxy”.

A proxy need not be a Shareholder.

The Chairman of the Meeting is willing to act as your primary proxy. If you wish to appoint the Chairman of the

Meeting you can simply write “Chairman of the Meeting”.

It is recommended that you appoint an alternate proxy as well, in case your primary proxy is unable to attend

on the day of the Annual Meeting. Please provide the full name and address of your alternate proxy in the box

labelled “Alternate Proxy”.

Please note: You do NOT need to appoint an alternate proxy if the Chairman of the Meeting is your primary

proxy.

2. Instruct your proxy how to vote: You can instruct your proxy how to vote by placing a tick in either the “For”

or “Against” box. Your proxy CANNOT change the direction of your vote if you instruct them how to vote in

this manner. If you do not instruct your proxy how to vote by placing a tick in either the “For” or “Against” box,

then your proxy can vote as she/he determines.

3. Sign the form: Each Shareholder must sign the paper:

• Individuals/Sole Proprietors: the Shareholder must sign the paper.

• Companies: a duly authorised representative of the company must sign the paper.

• Joint Shareholders (including trusts, partnerships and estates): it is your responsibility to ensure that the

person(s) signing this paper is/are authorised to sign on behalf of, and bind, all joint holders.

• Attorneys: if the paper is signed under a power of attorney, it must be accompanied by a signed certificate

of non-revocation of the power of attorney. The power of attorney under which the paper is signed must be

sent with the paper if the power of attorney has not been previously produced to the Company.

4. Return the form: Return the proxy paper as soon as possible. It must be received by the Returning Officer no

later than 10.30am on Tuesday, 3 November 2020.

• Mail by separating, folding and inserting the proxy paper into the freepost envelope provided.

To ensure your Proxy Paper reaches the Returning Officer before the close of voting please post no later than Thursday,

29 October 2020.

HOW TO APPOINT A CORPORATE REPRESENTATIVE

In the case of a Shareholder that is a company or other body corporate, a representative can be appointed to

attend the Annual Meeting by completing the proxy form. In this form, proxy can mean proxy or representative

appointed for a company or other body corporate or entity.

ERRORS AND OMISSIONS

By signing and returning the proxy paper, you authorise Fonterra, in its sole discretion, to rectify any errors in, or

omissions from, the paper form, including by inserting and correcting details.

REVOKING YOUR APPOINTMENT

If you change your mind on the appointment of a proxy or representative, you can revoke the appointment by

written notice to the Company. Such notice must be received at the registered office of the Company - Fonterra

Annual Meeting, Fonterra Co-operative Group Limited, Private Bag 92032, Auckland 1142 no later than 10.30am on

Tuesday, 3 November 2020.

FONTERRA ANNUAL MEETING 2020

Combined Annual Meeting

Voting / Proxy Paper

FONTERRA ANNUAL MEETING 2020

Annual Meeting

Proxy Paper Information

INTERNET VOTING

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Post the completed Voting Paper to electionz.com in the freepost reply envelope provided.

To ensure your Voting Paper reaches the Returning Officer before the close of voting

please post no later than Thursday, 29 October 2020.

AT THE MEETING

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official of the meeting.

BY PROXY

Appoint a person to attend the Annual Meeting and vote on your behalf.

A proxy need not be a Shareholder.

1

2

3

4

PINPASSWORD

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For enquiries phone the ELECTION HELPLINE: 0800 666 034

VOTING CLOSES AT: 10.30AM ON TUESDAY, 3 NOVEMBER 2020

10.30am on Thursday, 5 November 2020. Copthorne Hotel & Resort Solway Park Wairarapa,

High Street, Masterton.

Indicate your vote with a tick
FORAGAINST

1

Resolution 1: That no increase of remuneration of Directors be approved

2

Resolution 2: That no increase of remuneration of Shareholders’ Councillors be approved

3

Resolution 3: That no increase of remuneration of Members of Directors’ Remuneration

Committee be approved

4

Resolution 4: Appointment of KPMG as auditor and authorisation of the Directors to fix the

auditor’s remuneration

5

Resolution 5: Ratification of appointment of Holly Kramer

6

Resolution 6: Ratification of appointment of Bruce Hassall

7

Resolution 7: Approval of open entry related amendments to the Constitution

8

Resolution 8: Approval of the Shareholders’ Council programme and budget

SHAREHOLDER PROPOSALS

Indicate your vote with a tick

FORAGAINST

9

Resolution 9: Mr Paterson’s Proposal

10

Resolution 10: Mr Paterson’s Proposal

11

Resolution 11: Mr Paterson’s Proposal

FONTERRA ANNUAL MEETING 2020

Annual Meeting Voting Paper

FONTERRA ANNUAL MEETING 2020

Annual Meeting Proxy Paper

Use this paper to vote online, by post or by attending the Annual Meeting to vote in person.10.30am on Thursday, 5 November 2020. Copthorne Hotel & Resort Solway Park Wairarapa, High Street, Masterton.

Supply No.:

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First Name:

Surname:

Signature:

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There are no voting restrictions on the resolutions to be considered at the meeting.

A: Shareholder Details

Name:

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Primary Proxy: I/We appoint:

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as my/our proxy to vote for me/us on my/our behalf at the Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held at 10.30am on Thursday, 5 November

2020 and at any adjournment of that Annual Meeting.

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the Meeting as proxy. The Chairman of the Meeting is willing to act as an alternate proxy. If the person I/we have appointed is unable to be my/

our proxy then I/we appoint:

Full name of your alternate proxy:

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C: Voting Instructions

You only need to complete this section if you want to instruct your proxy holder how to vote.

FORAGAINSTFORAGAINST

1

Resolution 1

7

Resolution 7

2

Resolution 2

8

Resolution 8

3

Resolution 3

9

Resolution 9

4

Resolution 4

10

Resolution 10

5

Resolution 5

11

Resolution 11

6

Resolution 6

Signature(s) of Shareholder(s) named in Section A (Please see signing instructions on the next page.)

By signing this form, I/we warrant and undertake that I/we are authorised to sign on behalf of, and bind, the Shareholder(s) named in Section A.

Name of Shareholder:Signature:

Full name and title of signatory:Date:

Name of Shareholder:Signature:

Full name and title of signatory:Date:

Name of Shareholder:Signature:

Full name and title of signatory:Date:

If you are appointing a proxy, return this paper as soon as possible. It must be received by the Returning Officer no later than

10.30am Tuesday, 3 November 2020.

Mail by separating, folding and inserting the proxy paper into the freepost envelope provided.

---

Fonterra Elections 2020
Board of Directors

Candidate Profiles

2
FONTERRA ELECTIONS 2020 BOARD OF DIRECTORS CANDIDATE PROFILES

Fonterra Directors Election Introduction 1

Attributes and Skills 2

Report of Independent Selection Panel 5

CANDIDATE PROFILES

Mike O’CONNER 7

Brent GOLDSACK 10

Cathy QUINN 13

Nathan GUY 16

Nicola SHADBOLT 19

Annabel COTTON 21

NOTE ON CANDIDATE STATEMENTS

Each Candidate Profile Statement contains a maximum of 1,000 words (excluding the

Candidate Interest Statement) provided by the candidate.

The Returning Officer and Fonterra Co-operative Group Limited note that

‘shareholdings’ in Fonterra or other companies disclosed by candidates may include

shares held by third parties in which candidates have a relevant interest as defined by

the Financial Markets Conduct Act 2013.

Any emphasis (including capitalisation, italics, bolding, underscoring and bullet points)

has been added by the candidate.

The Returning Officer and Fonterra Co-operative Group Limited accept no responsibility

for the content, or accuracy of the content, contained in Statements supplied by

candidates.

Warwick Lampp, Returning Officer – 2020 Fonterra Elections

Freephone 0800 666 034

iro@electionz.com

Contents

FONTERRA ELECTIONS 2020 BOARD OF DIRECTORS CANDIDATE PROFILES
1

Fonterra Directors Election Introduction

Voting is now open for the election of TWO (2) Directors to the Fonterra Board.

This year there are six candidates: four Independently Assessed Candidates (Mike O’Connor, Brent Goldsack, Cathy Quinn and Nathan

Guy), and two Non-Assessed Candidates (Nicola Shadbolt and Annabel Cotton).

The Fonterra Board has provided details of the Attributes and Skills the Board is seeking in the 2020 Directors’ Elections (pages 2-4 of

this booklet).

The four Independently Assessed Candidates have been assessed by the Independent Selection Panel against the desired Attributes

and Skills. The Independent Selection Panel’s Report outlining the process followed is on page 5 of this booklet. The Panel’s

assessment is included prior to each of these candidates’ Profile Statements.

The Non-Assessed Process allowed any Fonterra Shareholder (with the support of not less than 35 different Shareholders) to put

themselves forward as a Director candidate and be considered for election by their fellow Shareholders alongside the previously

announced Independently Assessed Candidates. Nicola Shadbolt and Annabel Cotton are standing as Non-Assessed Candidates in

2020.

‘First Past the Post’ Voting System

The Farmer Directors’ election uses First Past the Post voting. Each Shareholder may vote in favour of up to (but no more than) two

candidates.

The two candidates with the highest number of votes will be elected to the Board. In the event of a tied vote the outcome will be

determined by lot by the Returning Officer.

Fonterra Director Candidate Meetings

Fonterra Shareholders have the opportunity to meet and ask questions of the Director candidates at eight meetings throughout the

country.

Chaired by the Fonterra Shareholders’ Council, these meetings provide a setting in which candidates meet with and answer questions

from Fonterra Shareholders with a focus on explaining how their governance skills and attributes meet the requirements of the

Co-operative.

The format of the meetings will be that of a panel discussion whereby candidates are first provided an allotted time to introduce

themselves before the Chair takes questions from the floor and moderates.

The dates and locations of the meetings are as follows:

Date Time Location Venue

Monday 19 October 7:00 – 9:00pmInvercargillAparima Room, Ascot Park Hotel

Cnr Tay Street & Racecourse Road, Invercargill

Tuesday 20 October11: 00am – 1:00pmTimaruTalbot Room, The Landing Service Conference Centre

2 George Street, Timaru

Tuesday 20 October7:00pm – 9:00pmTempletonClubhouse (upstairs lounge), Templeton Golf Club

Pound Rd, Templeton, Christchurch

Wednesday 21 October11: 30am – 1:30pmStratfordMain Lounge, Stratford Golf Club

Pembroke Road East, Stratford

Wednesday 21 October7.00pm – 9.00pmPalmerston NorthElmwood Room, Palmerston North Convention Centre

354 Main Street, Palmerston North

Thursday 22 October11. 30am – 1.30pmRotoruaTotara Room, Holiday Inn

10 Tryon St, Whakarewarewa, Rotorua

Thursday 22 October7.00pm – 9.00pmHamiltonGallagher Building, Mystery Creek Event Centre

125 Mystery Creek Rd, Hamilton

Friday 23 October11. 00am – 1.00pmWhangareiLevel 2 Lounge, Semenoff Stadium

51 Okara Drive, Whangarei

2
FONTERRA ELECTIONS 2020 BOARD OF DIRECTORS CANDIDATE PROFILES

All of our Directors must believe in and value the Co-operative

and be able to demonstrate that they have the attributes and

skills needed to deliver governance at a level expected for a

globally competitive New Zealand dairy co-operative.

Directors on most boards operate within a band of governance

experience, from the most experienced through to those who

are newer to the particular role, organisation or industry. Over

time, newer directors gain more experience and this helps

ensure that there is succession on a board as well as a range of

views and perspectives.

In order to attract the best candidates for our Board, we will

need to access the attributes and skills that we know are in our

farmer shareholder base that will result in the right balance of

experience and ability on the Board over time. It is important for

potential candidates and for all our farmer shareholders to be

clear on what is required on our Board to deliver the necessary

performance and to set up our Co-operative for success in the

future.

We have identified a list of attributes (described below) that

each Director of our Co-operative must be able to demonstrate.

For some of these attributes, a Director will continue to develop

expertise but it is important that they are able to show that they

have the attribute and the ability to keep developing in their

role as Directors of our Co-operative.

In addition to these required attributes, our Board requires a

set of skills to deliver good governance. There is no expectation

that each Director will have all of these skills but it is important

that they are appropriately represented across the Board. Some

Directors will have strengths in some of the skills while others

might be still developing them or will be able to rely on fellow

Directors to provide guidance and expertise in particular areas.

It is also important that the skills required for our Board take

into account the types of opportunities and challenges that

the Co-operative will face in the future, and ensure we are

developing the skills that may not be needed currently but will

be critical going forward.

This means that the search for skills on the Board should

always be looking to extend and build on current expertise. The

Fonterra Board Skills List (described on page 3) should never

show that all skills are currently being delivered – it works best

when it shows the aggregate skills that are shared across the

Board as well as the skills that will be needed to deliver on the

strategy in coming years. This has resulted in a balanced mix of

skills related to the current requirements of the Co-operative,

which will continue to be enhanced to match Fonterra’s future

requirements.

A Director needs to demonstrate each of the attributes but

does not need to be able to demonstrate each of the skills. The

key requirement for a Director is that they are able to meet

the governance requirements at the level required for our

Co-operative. From time to time, we will identify particular

skills that may be needed on the Board. Prospective candidates

should not see the full list of skills or any particular set of skills

as a pre-requisite or as eligibility requirements but rather as

some of the things to take into account in considering if they

would meet the overall requirements for a Fonterra Director.

Attributes

We consider that there are certain attributes that all of our

Directors must be able to demonstrate. These are the core

requirements, and you should consider them carefully as you

will be asked to show how you are able to deliver on each

attribute.

(a) Understanding of and commitment to the highest standards

of governance including an understanding of the collective

group decision making processes adopted by the Fonterra

Board.

(b) Understanding of and empathy with the Co-op and its

farmer owners.

(c) Ability and knowledge to comprehend the wider commercial

and economic framework in which Fonterra operates.

(d) Broad governance experience.

(e) Proven track record of creating shareholder value.

(f) Global perspective.

(g) Time available to undertake a Director’s responsibilities.

(h) Sound judgement.

(i) Ability to apply strategic thought to important issues.

(j) Ability and willingness to constructively question, challenge

and critique and, where appropriate, offer alternative

viewpoints.

(k) Unquestioned honesty and integrity.

Attributes and Skills

FONTERRA ELECTIONS 2020 BOARD OF DIRECTORS CANDIDATE PROFILES
3

Skills List

Our strength as a co-operative relies on us being able to maximise the opportunity for our farmer shareholders to move from

their farming businesses to the board room.

An appreciation of the experience and skills required to make that transition and access to adequate training are essential for

any farmer shareholder who wants to become a Fonterra Director.

We expect our Board to have access to Directors with on-farm dairy knowledge based on having run or owned a dairy

operation as a member of our dairy Co-operative, who are well versed in what drives Fonterra’s Farmgate Milk Price and

profitability in our global Co-operative, and who demonstrate strong co-operative values.

For a number of Directors’ Elections, we have used a skills list made up of the skills the Board requires to govern Fonterra.

This skills list has been updated regularly and is published in the documents for the Directors’ Elections each year. The list

has also been used to help with the selection and appointment of our Independent Directors. In addition to keeping the skills

list updated, the Board has considered the relative weighting of how much of each skill is needed on the Fonterra Board. This

weighting can be used to establish how much of each skill we need on the Board over time (ie. how many Directors need to

exhibit each skill and to what level).

Skill Category Definition

In Depth Dairy Farming Experience

Has deep “on farm” dairy experience, having run or owned dairy operations as a

member of our dairy Co-operative

Dairy Industry/ Understand Value

Drivers of Milk Price/ profit

Well versed in and has a strong understanding of what drives Fonterra’s milk price

and of the profit drivers of the Co-operative

Financial Experience

Has strong financial skills and knowledge gained through business management,

or is a highly experienced auditor, or has functional expertise in a senior financial

position to make them a qualified financial expert

Risk Management Experience

Has had senior level experience in, or governed organisations that have

significant risk management frameworks including health and safety and

reputational risk management

Global Manufacturing/ Commodity

Experience

Has experience running manufacturing assets in order to maximise financial

return/or experience at a senior executive or governance level in a global

commodity business

Consumer Experience

Has had a senior level executive or governance role in a consumer-oriented, retail

or consumer goods company with significant local, regional or global brands

Effective leadership

Demonstrated governance leadership experience. Has had executive or

governance experience in strategy oversight, stakeholder management and

human resource/ people management, in particular, experience in environments

that value and demonstrate diversity of thinking and diversity of approach

Commercial/ Value creation track

record

Has functional experience as CEO of a large operating business or has been

the primary person responsible for driving significant value creation of either

a private or public organisation, including developing strategy and leading

implementation

Global Experience/ Understanding

Has a deep understanding of international issues, has had on the ground

experience in Asia or other emerging markets, or has a proven global mindset

Technology Strategy and Governance

Has knowledge and experience in the governance, strategic use and risk

management of technology including information systems

Corporate Sustainability and

Responsibility Expertise

Has knowledge and a strong understanding of corporate sustainability including

the management of social, environmental and economic factors and their

contribution to long-term value creation

Innovation and Research and

Development

Has experience in or a strong understanding of the management or governance

of research and development and applied innovation

4
FONTERRA ELECTIONS 2020 BOARD OF DIRECTORS CANDIDATE PROFILES

2020 Skills Matrix – Aggregated Skills of Existing Fonterra Board

In Depth Dairy Farming Experience

Dairy Industry / Understand Value Drivers of Milk Price / Profit

Financial Experience

Risk Management Experience

Global Manufacturing / Commodity Experience

Consumer Experience

Technology Strategy and Governance

Corporate Sustainability and Responsibility Expertise

Innovation and Research and Development

Effective Leadership

Global Experience / Understanding

Commercial / Value Creation Track Record

Required skill level

Desired skill levelREMAINING BOARD

DIRECTORS RETIRING BY ROTATION

Skills Matrix

The Fonterra Board has produced a Skills Matrix. The purpose of the Skills Matrix is to show:

• the aggregate skills of the current Board

• for each skill the required level of that skill across the whole Board and the desired level of that skill

The Board has determined these required and desired levels based on the right mix of skills to govern Fonterra currently, the

present composition of the Board and the future strategic needs of the business.

The Skills Matrix uses blue horizontal bars to show the current aggregated skill of the Board. The whole of each blue bar

represents the current Board’s aggregated level for each skill, and the darker shading within those bars represents the skills of

the directors who are retiring by rotation in the current year.

The lighter shading represents the skills of directors who are not retiring in 2020.

The Skills Matrix will be provided to prospective candidates and to farmer shareholders to show them the skills that the Board

is looking for over time, and should be used as guidance. The Skills Matrix will be supplied to the Independent Selection Panel

to assist them as they assess the best candidates for the Board, and the Matrix will also provide useful information for farmers

when making voting decisions.

Based on this Skills Matrix (see below) the Board has prioritised a list of targeted skills being sought in the 2020 Farmer

Director Election. These are:

(a) Effective Leadership

(b) In Depth Dairy Farming Experience

(c) Financial Experience

(d) Global Manufacturing / Commodity Experience

(e) Global Experience / Understanding; and

(f) Innovation and Research & Development

Prospective candidates should consider these targeted skills, but should also consider the broader set of skills as they may

be able to demonstrate strengths and potential in some or all of these broader skills that would still make them worthy of

consideration.

FONTERRA ELECTIONS 2020 BOARD OF DIRECTORS CANDIDATE PROFILES
5

Introduction

This report sets out the 2020 process undertaken by the Independent Selection Panel (Panel) to:

• Rigorously assess and evaluate potential Farmer Director candidates under the Independent Assessment Process and make

recommendations to Shareholders of the Farmer Director candidates to stand for election at the upcoming Fonterra 2020 election

of directors; and

• Rigorously assess and evaluate incumbent directors standing for re-election in the 2020 election of directors who elected to

participate in the Independent Assessment Process.

The Panel was formed in 2016 by the Fonterra Board of Directors and the Fonterra Shareholders’ Council to provide intending

candidates with a confidential, rigorous and totally independent assessment of their skills and experience against the attributes and

skills required by the Fonterra Board in any year; and to provide Shareholders with independent and comprehensive information

about recommended candidates. The membership and operations of the Panel are independent of the Fonterra Board and Fonterra

Shareholders’ Council.

A joint committee of the Fonterra Board and Fonterra Shareholders’ Council was established in March 2019 to review the director

election process, following which changes were made to improve the independence and transparency of the ‘Independent Assessment

Process’.

The Panel Members for 2020 are as follows:

• Tony Carter, Independent Chair appointed by the Panel members

• Joan Withers, Independent Member appointed by the Fonterra Board

• Rob Campbell, Independent Member appointed by the Fonterra Shareholders’ Council

The objectives of the Panel are:

• To have high quality Farmer Director candidates nominated for election to the Fonterra Board; and

• That Shareholders will be better informed in the electoral process.

2020 Process Undertaken by the Panel

The Panel met in July to:

• Elect the Chair of the Panel and note the re-appointment of the representative Panel members by the Fonterra Board and Fonterra

Shareholders’ Council;

• Appoint an independent secretariat to assist the Panel;

• Appoint an independent search agent to support the assessment of intending Independently Assessed Candidates;

• Consider and note the required attributes and skill requirements for director candidates, as set by the Fonterra Board;

• Review and recommend minor amendments to its Terms of Reference;

• Agree the 2020 Panel Search Brief; and

• Agree the timetable to be followed in respect of the 2020 election process.

Following review of the nominations received, and an initial interview and reference checking process conducted by the Panel’s

independent search agent, the Panel interviewed each of the candidates that applied under the 2020 Independent Assessment

Process.

The Panel instructed the independent search agent to arrange interviews with the selected candidates, including the incumbent

director standing for re-election who had elected to participate in the Independent Assessment Process. The interviews were

all conducted over a two-day time-period. Time was allowed for deliberation after each interview and following conclusion of all

interviews.

Report of Independent Selection Panel

Appointed In Respect of Fonterra Co-operative Group Limited (Fonterra)

2020 Election of Directors

6
FONTERRA ELECTIONS 2020 BOARD OF DIRECTORS CANDIDATE PROFILES

Tony CarterJoan WithersRob Campbell

During the selection process, the Panel undertook a rigorous assessment of each candidate’s attributes, skills and experience relative

to those identified in the 2020 Candidate Handbook published by Fonterra, with particular regard given to the six targeted skills

identified.

The Panel considers that the interview process was conducted in such a way that each candidate had the same opportunity to

demonstrate why their attributes and skills meant they should be recommended by the Panel to shareholders for consideration as a

director of Fonterra.

Following the Independent Assessment Process, confidential feedback was provided to all candidates who participated in the process.

The incumbent director who is eligible for re-election this year, Brent Goldsack, confirmed he would stand for re-election in the 2020

election process.

The Panel unanimously selected three additional intending candidates to put forward to Shareholders for election (in alphabetical

order by surname) – Nathan Guy, Michael O’Connor, Cathy Quinn.

To assist Shareholders when deciding which candidates to vote for in the 2020 director elections, the Panel has prepared an

assessment summary of the incumbent director standing for re-election and the three additional intending candidates put forward by

the Panel, relative to the skills and attributes set out in the 2020 Candidate Handbook. These summaries are included in these Voting

Papers.

Declaration of Association

From time to time, Panel members may interview and assess intending candidates they have worked with in the past or have a

continuing business relationship with. The Panel is confident that, notwithstanding these associations, each Panel member will act

with professionalism and independent judgment when assessing Independently Assessed Candidates and it is the intention of the

Panel to make any such associations known to shareholders to ensure full transparency.

This year the Panel interviewed Cathy Quinn, with whom each Panel member has a current or prior business relationship.

Notwithstanding these associations, the Panel is confident that its assessment of each Independently Assessed Candidate during the

2020 Independent Assessment Process was based on merit and was not influenced by any prior or current business relationship with

Panel members.

Yours faithfully

Independent Selection Panel

FONTERRA ELECTIONS 2020 BOARD OF DIRECTORS CANDIDATE PROFILES
7

INDEPENDENTLY ASSESSED CANDIDATE

Mobile: 027 476 9794

Email: mikeo@spectrumgroup.co.nz

Mike O’CONNOR

Independent Selection Panel (ISP) Assessment - Non-incumbent

Mike is a third-generation farmer and current General

Manager and majority shareholder of Spectrum Group.

The group comprises five Canterbury dairy farms and three

Waikato-based dairy operations, milking a total of 7,600 cows

and producing 3.1 million kgs milk solids/year. The group also

operates a large-scale heifer grazing block in Canterbury on a

fully irrigated 300ha lease block located in the West Melton

area. Mike started his farming career as a cadet, moving on

to a 50/50 sharemilking career which spanned twelve years.

He and his wife purchased their own Waikato dairy farm in

1992 where they still live and where they have raised three

children. Mike has been the General Manager of Spectrum

Group since 2007, leading the business through a complete

restructure in 2013 to allow the exit of other shareholders

and to create a sustainable business fit to withstand future

challenges and provide a succession pathway. He also has

experience in governance roles for several organisations,

including a current position as Chair of Koromiko Grazing Ltd.

Panel’s assessment of Mike’s capabilities relative to

2020 Attributes:

Whilst a lot of Mike’s governance experience has been in his

own businesses and is not broad in the traditional sense, the

Panel recognised that he takes a well-organised, pragmatic

approach to the oversight of farming objectives, constantly

strives for excellence and is unafraid to make bold decisions.

He introduced independent directors for example, including

an independent Chair onto the board of his own business,

Spectrum Group, and at a time when this was unusual in the

dairy industry. Mike impressed as an authentic, grassroots

New Zealand farmer who has worked his way up from being

a farm cadet to majority shareholder and General Manager of

an impressive and hugely successful farming business, whose

farms are considered ‘gold standard’. His humility and deep

sense of community contribution was viewed as innate in

his personality. His farming family background and personal

values embody the co-operative principles of collaboration,

fairness and shared property.

Panel members were satisfied that he had some

understanding of Fonterra’s commercial and economic

framework through his farming concerns. They saw his

considered judgement style and strategic mindset as a

strength and its success proven through his leadership of

a complex company restructure and his steady guidance

through the global financial crisis refinancing exercise. Mike

likes to take time to collate information before making

decisions to give the best possible chance of success – this is

his general judgement style.

It was acknowledged that the international experience

gained during an investment into a farm in Missouri, USA

and other overseas business trips, have given Mike a taste of

the challenges when operating offshore. But the Panel saw

that Mike’s heart generally lies closer to home in his deep

connection with the land and in nurturing a new generation

of farm leaders to ensure a bright future for the dairy industry

– a position Panel members strongly appreciated, believing

he would bring an extra level of shareholder connection to

the Fonterra board.

Panel’s assessment of Mike’s capabilities relative to

2020 Skills:

The Panel recognised Mike as a major shareholder and

General Manager of Spectrum Group and a successful ‘hands

on’ dairy farmer who cherishes the traditional but also

explores and considers the new. Spectrum Group is a Fonterra

top performer, and Mike’s focus is on building a thriving

business which gives others the opportunity to grow and

achieve in the dairy industry. Panel members welcomed this

commitment to build and nurture effective and loyal teams

and his approach to mentoring his staff to be the best they

can be, supporting from behind and leading from the front.

It is evident that achieving excellence in standards is very dear

to Mike, and he is just as happy in gumboots on the farm as he

is in corporate guise. Panel members observed that whilst he

is not a trained financier, he keeps very close to his business

and thoroughly understands the cashflows. At interview, he

could articulate some of the drivers of the milk price. The Panel

also saw that Mike has some global commodity experience

and international experience. In terms of technology, Mike

describes himself as a follower rather than a leader. In typical

style, he chooses technology carefully, with consideration

for the relevancy. However, he has demonstrated his ability

to embrace innovation in many areas of farm management.

Corporate sustainability and responsibility are very close to

Mike’s heart and he puts his staff and local rural communities

front and centre of what he does with the business. The Panel

were again impressed with his deep and natural connection to

the community eco-system.

The Panel acknowledge that Mike is the least experienced

candidate in a traditional governance sense, however, he

embodies the co-op principles and they believed he would

work diligently to develop skills where required to be an

effective Fonterra director.

8
FONTERRA ELECTIONS 2020 BOARD OF DIRECTORS CANDIDATE PROFILES

Being the eldest of six and the third generation of a farming

family, my destiny was set, I always wanted to be a farmer.

Having witnessed the frustrations of farming the family farm

during my childhood, I recognised that I needed to create my

own future and the dairy industry was the chosen pathway for

this.

My next realisation was that if I was to achieve farm ownership,

I had to develop sufficient expertise to operate profitably every

year. I needed to focus on the business of dairy farming.

The dairy industry has provided me with opportunities beyond

my expectations, but it has required resilience, energy, planning

and attention to detail, to bring these opportunities to life.

After completing a Diploma in Agriculture at Massey University,

I embarked on a 50/50 sharemilking career which spanned

twelve years. Andrea and I were married during the early stages

of our farming career and we have three adult children.

We purchased our own Waikato dairy farm in 1992 where we

continue to reside. Since then, we have grown our business

through the equity partnership model to include farming

operations in Waikato, King Country, Canterbury and for a

period, Missouri USA.

To complement my equity partners’ skills, my time was spent

on all parts of the business as was required but in particular

I have been involved in the set up of equity partnerships, the

management of them and the eventual restructure to satisfy

shareholder needs. There were challenges along the way and as

a result, I recognised the need for governance, organisation and

structure if the business was to have a long-term future.

Spectrum Group in its current form is the result of the

restructured business and Andrea and I are the majority

shareholders.

Attributes

Why do I believe that I have the requisite attributes to

contribute as a director of Fonterra?

• Firstly, I am a dairy farmer and I believe that a strong Co-

operative is necessary to ensure all New Zealand dairy

farmers can prosper. I am committed to the Co-operative

principles.

• My background may seem traditional, but I have reached

beyond the farm boundary to help grow our business. My

skillset expanded from undertaking initial due diligence

through to setting up and managing farming businesses

both within New Zealand and offshore.

• In my role as General Manager for Spectrum Group I helped

guide the business through refinancing from multi-banking

during the Global Financial Crisis, the restructure of the

original business over a two year period and resetting the

organisational framework to take the business forward.

• During my career, I have sought adult learning to

complement the experience already gained to remain

capable of managing the Spectrum Group. I believe that

these learnings combined with practical grass roots

experience, has provided me with the platform to step into

the Fonterra board.

• While I am a loyal team player with a collaborative style, I am

also comfortable in leadership roles. I am commercial and

work hard to become informed before sharing an opinion.

• I understand and differentiate governance from

management. As a Fonterra shareholder I have witnessed a

subtle change in the way Fonterra’s management and board

operate. This suggests that the Fonterra board is healthy,

and I would like to contribute.

Targeted Skills

I aim to achieve excellence in all that I do and expect that of

others around me. While this can be challenging for others at

times, I take pride in the culture that exists within Spectrum

Group.

• My skills are relatively broad being comfortable in overalls or

a suit jacket. Common sense, determination and attention to

detail is a pre-requisite to both.

• I committed to dairy farming early and remained so from

entering as a farm cadet through sharemilking to farm

ownership and equity ownership beyond the farm boundary.

• I recognise the importance of people in business and enjoy

helping develop potential, be it on farm or at a corporate

level. In the roles that I have had I have been given a unique

learning experience about people, structure and strategy.

• The experience gained while doing business in Missouri gave

me a taste of the challenges when operating offshore. I am

certainly no expert but do recognise that businesses such

as Fonterra need to be well versed around regulations and

cultures to operate a successful business abroad.

• I have operated in a management role reporting to our

Spectrum Board and in governance roles on boards.

This window into each side allows me to understand the

pressures that come with each role.

Candidate Profile Statement

FONTERRA ELECTIONS 2020 BOARD OF DIRECTORS CANDIDATE PROFILES
9

Why Mike O’Connor?

My passion is farming, and I recognise there are many

opportunities that exist within the dairy industry. I have spent

the last decade in the General Manager’s role at Spectrum

Group helping to strengthen the business and organise it to be

capable of providing a successional answer for shareholders.

Our business is organised and is complemented by competent

and loyal people who are rising into the leadership roles within

the business. I have the time, experience and energy and want

to recognise the good fortune that I have enjoyed by serving on

the Fonterra Board which has had such an influence on our lives.

I realise that if elected, a position within the Fonterra Board of

Directors will be very challenging and I will do my best to be an

effective director.

Qualifications

Industry Involvement:

• Diploma in Agriculture - Massey University

• Winner - Waikato Sharemilker of the Year 1988

• Judge - NZ Sharemilker of the Year Competition. (judged for

3 years)

• Participant - Kelloggs Rural Leadership Programme

• Participant - NZ Institute of Directors Course

• Participant - NZ Icehouse Leadership Programme

• Participant - Fonterra Governance Development Programme

2010

• Participant - Seven Habits Programme

• Participant - ASB FAME Programme 2008

• Past Chairman - NZ Large Herds Conference, Waikato

Directorships:

• Director - Te Awamutu Veterinary Association, 1990 – 1996

• Director - RP O’Connor & Son Ltd

• Managing Director - Spectrum Group and associated

companies

• Chairman - Koromiko Grazing Ltd

• Director - M & A O’Connor Ltd

Candidate Interest Statement

Listed below are the details of all business, investment and other relationships I have with Fonterra Co-operative Group

Limited and its subsidiaries (the “Fonterra Group”) (including as supplying shareholder), or with any third party that transacts

with the Fonterra Group or carries on business in competition with the Fonterra Group:

I am a supplying Shareholder of Fonterra (in my name) jointly and with associated persons (as defined in the Financial Markets

Conduct Act 2013) as follows:

• M & A O’Connor Ltd 221,026 FC Shares

• R.P. O’Connor and Son Limited 199,623 FC Shares

• Burmont Holdings Ltd 441,599 FC Shares

• Jamieson Dairies Ltd 617,281 FC Shares

• Hinewai Holdings Ltd 248,614 FC Shares

• Mitcham Holdings Ltd 326,810 FC Shares

• Quintag Holdings Ltd 506,447 FC Shares

• Island Glen Dairies Ltd 355,463 FC Shares

I am a shareholder and director of the following companies supplying Open Country Dairies in a 50/50 sharemilking capacity:

• Piarere Holdings Ltd

• Totman Dairies Ltd

To the best of my knowledge and belief the disclosures set out above are full and complete.

10
FONTERRA ELECTIONS 2020 BOARD OF DIRECTORS CANDIDATE PROFILES

INCUMBENT DIRECTOR - INDEPENDENTLY ASSESSED CANDIDATE

Mobile: 021 756 154

Email: brent@dairygold.co.nz

Brent GOLDSACK

Independent Selection Panel (ISP) Assessment - Incumbent Director

Brent has served on the Fonterra Board for three years,

having been elected in November 2017. He is currently the

Chair of the Co-operative Relations Committee, is a member

of the Milk Price Panel, the Safety and Risk Committee,

the Capital Structure Committee, the Divestment Review

Committee, and the Disclosure Committee. In addition, he

serves as the Fonterra representative on the ‘Dairy Tomorrow’

Steering Group – which focuses on the strategy for the dairy

industry. Previously, Brent enjoyed a professional services

career with PwC of more than 20 years as a tax and financial

advisor. He advised many New Zealand companies operating

in the primary and export led sectors and led PwC New

Zealand’s ‘Behind the Farm Gate’ Agri strategy. He also holds

several governance roles, including director of Rabobank and

Chair of Waitomo Petroleum Group. He was previously on

the board of Canterbury Grasslands Limited and the New

Zealand National Fieldays Society. He is married with two

daughters and lives just outside of Hamilton. The family owns

three dairy farms in the Waikato milking 1,500 cows and takes

an active role in these businesses.

Panel’s assessment of Brent’s capabilities relative to

2020 Attributes:

The Panel appreciated that Brent has had the opportunity

to experience the dialogue and decision-making on the

Fonterra board. As such, they viewed his governance level,

understanding of the co-op and its commercial and economic

framework to be very strong, as might be expected from an

incumbent board member. He clearly takes immense pride in

the organisation and in what it has achieved over the past 2-3

years, whilst acknowledging there was still much more to be

done to realise further value for farmers, communities, and

the workforce.

With a 20+ year background at the global accounting

firm PwC, the Panel considered Brent’s understanding of

Fonterra’s wider commercial and economic frameworks,

and his judgment and strategic thinking, as some of his

greatest strengths and his value-add to the Fonterra Board.

He spoke convincingly about commercial performance and

strategy. As an advisor, he has worked with several of New

Zealand’s most significant companies to add value, including

those in the primary and export led sectors. He has also

worked internationally, which has contributed to his global

perspective.

The Panel was impressed with Brent’s energy and passion

for the Co-op. He is a clear communicator with a collegiate

personal style. He has multiple, diverse experiences to call on

and share when offering his contribution, which he delivers

with a deeply logical approach.

Panel’s assessment of Brent’s capabilities relative to

2020 skills:

The Panel viewed Brent’s track record in leadership as

particularly significant. As a PwC partner (including as

Managing Partner of the Waikato office) of 12 years he has

been tasked with delivering complex solutions and assisting

many high-level executive teams with strategic and practical

advice. His financial understanding is extensive - he is a

Chartered Accountant, with specific expertise in tax and

financial structuring, and it was observed that he had an

innate understanding of business risk. Maximisation of the

value of commodities/milk powders is an interest of Brent

and speaks to his financial skillset. He also has a detailed

understanding of the complex drivers of the milk price, being

the only farmer-elected director on the Milk Price Panel.

In terms of global perspective, Brent brings experience from

earlier in his career working in Moscow, London and New

York. He has also travelled extensively during his three-year

tenure on the Fonterra Board. He is actively involved as a

shareholder of three dairy operations in the Waikato and until

recently had shareholding interests in two other dairy farms

with operations in both New Zealand and the United States,

which the panel reflected as extensive experience in dairy

farming. His time on the Fonterra board has also provided

Brent with some experience of global manufacturing and

commodities, and consumer-focused issues, but the panel

recognised that these were not his core strengths. Similarly,

he has had some exposure to technology strategy through

previous roles in technology investment and advisory

work, as well as contributing to Fonterra’s digital strategy

discussions.

The Panel recognised that it is New Zealand’s farming success

which is Brent’s overriding motivation and his commitment

to sustainability is demonstrated through his involvement

on the ’Dairy Tomorrow’ Steering Group, the strategy for the

industry, which has a keen focus on national and international

sustainability goals.

Overall, the Panel viewed Brent as an energetic and

accomplished contributor who would continue to bring

extensive skills and experience in several categories to the

Fonterra board.

FONTERRA ELECTIONS 2020 BOARD OF DIRECTORS CANDIDATE PROFILES
11

My wife Delwyn and I live with our two daughters (12 and 15)

just out of Hamilton where we milk 1,500 cows on three farms.

I was first elected to serve on the Board of Fonterra in

November 2017. I am currently the Chair of the Co-operative

Relations Committee, a member of the Milk Price Panel, the

Safety and Risk Committee, the Capital Structure Committee,

and the Disclosure Committee. I am also the Fonterra

representative on the ‘Dairy Tomorrow’ Steering Group - which

focuses on the strategy for our industry and is led by Dairy NZ.

I take my position as a Farmer elected Board member very

seriously. It is our role to ensure that Fonterra collects our

milk every day, processes it efficiently, sells our products for as

much as we can and returns the maximum amount to our New

Zealand farmers.

I believe passionately in the Co-op. I am proud of our Co-op and

what we have done over the past 3 years, but am aware there

is still much to do to realise further value for our farmers, our

communities and our people.

Over the past three years Fonterra has gone through many

changes. We have had to make some difficult choices, but as

a Board we have not shied away from asking the necessary

questions. Today we have a Co-op that is in better shape, poised

for the future and is a Fonterra I am proud to say we supply, own

and have a role in governing on your behalf.

The majority of the board have served for less than 4 years.

Continuity of board leadership and experience are important to

our Co-op if we are to maintain our momentum.

I would greatly appreciate your vote to be re-elected for a

second term on the Board and look forward to discussing

strategy, culture and performance.

Why am I am standing?

1. We need farmers on our board who have the necessary

skills and preferably a recent track record of successful

governance. I meet all three of those criteria.

2. We must continue to have a strong Co-op. At the heart of

a strong Co-op is a strong milk price. I pride myself on my

deep understanding of milk price, will fight for every cent

and ensure the process is transparent.

3. In times of uncertainty, having an experienced director to

continue with the changes we have made is valuable. I am

proud of the difference we as a board are making. However,

there is still much to do.

I have the specific skills and experience that Fonterra currently

requires: empathy with farmers, global experience, deep

financial skills, an understanding of consumer markets and

risk management, common sense and now I also have a deep

understanding of the workings of the Co-op from the past 3

years as a director.

Around the Board table I have a reputation for having a back-

bone, the ability to understand the big picture, to communicate

with passion and clarity, and the courage to hold people

(including myself) to account.

Empathy with Farmers and the Co-op

Including our family farms, Delwyn and I are partners and

actively involved in three dairy operations in the Waikato. Each

has between 450-550 cows, with a strong focus on our people

and profit. I am often in the shed.

I am currently Chair of the Co-operative Relations Committee

and a Fonterra representative on the Steering Group of Dairy

Tomorrow – which focuses on the dairy industry’s long-term

strategy. I understand the opportunities and challenges

Fonterra and our industry is facing.

Commercial Nouse and Risk Management

I worked for PwC (a global accounting firm) for 25 years and

was a Partner for 12. I understand numbers, risk management

and the importance of allocating capital effectively. I have put

this experience to good use at Fonterra over the past two years,

where we have reduced operational expenditure and capital

expenditure significantly, improved our cashflow, reduced our

debt, sold non-strategic assets and increased Advance Rate

payments to get more money to farmers earlier in the season.

I am on the Board of Rabobank New Zealand and Chair of the

fuel industry disruptor, Waitomo Group.

Formal qualifications:

• Commerce degree (accounting and finance) from Victoria

University

• Qualified Chartered Accountant

• Member of the Institute of Directors

• Lectured on International tax at the Auckland University

Masters of Tax programme

• Completed a short course at INSEAD University Business

School in Singapore

Global Experience

I had the privilege of working in Russia for 3 years, London for

2.5 years and New York for 18 months. Over the past 3 years I

have travelled to more than 15 countries for business.

I take a keen interest in global matters, in particular relating to

finance, dairy, and politics. I have a strong global network.

Candidate Profile Statement

12
FONTERRA ELECTIONS 2020 BOARD OF DIRECTORS CANDIDATE PROFILES

Understanding of Milk Price and our Profit Drivers

I understand the milk price in detail, and for 3 years I have

been the only farmer elected director on the Milk Price Panel. I

believe that we need higher earnings from the assets we own,

and the capital we have invested in the Co-op. Although we

are on the right track, we still have significant work to do in this

area.

Governance experience

Currently I am on the board of Fonterra, and Rabobank

New Zealand (including the Audit Committee, the Risk and

Compliance Committee, and the Remuneration Committee). I

am Chairman of Waitomo Group – a 75 year old 3rd generation

family business supplying the lowest cost fuel we can with great

service.

I am an experienced governor, a member of the Institute

of Directors and have completed the Fonterra Governance

Development Program.

Previously I was a director of PwC New Zealand, New Zealand

National Fieldays, Canterbury Grasslands Limited and have

and continue to be an advisor to families, trusts and NZX listed

companies.

I would be humbled to be re-elected to the Board of Fonterra

to work on behalf of farmers, continuing to build a strong

sustainable Co-op, ensuring our strategy delivers, our culture

is one we are proud of, and to maximise our milk price and

performance.

Candidate Interest Statement

Listed below are details of all business, investment and other relationships I have with Fonterra Co-operative Group Limited

and its subsidiaries (the “Fonterra Group”) (including as a supplying shareholder), or with any third party that transacts with

the Fonterra Group or carries on business in competition with the Fonterra Group.

As at 31 July 2020:

• Financial interest jointly with associated persons in Ngarua Dairy Limited, which holds 160,434 Fonterra shares.

• Partner jointly with associated persons in Kakepuku Farms L.P, which holds 239,973 Fonterra shares. Kakepuku Farms L.P.

also has a Growth Contract Milk in relation approx. 180,000 milk solids.

• I am the Chair of Waitomo Group Limited (and subsidiaries) who have a standard business relationship with Farm Source for

the sale of fuel to farmers.

• I am a director of Rabobank New Zealand Limited, who provide debt funding to a number of Fonterra supplying farmers.

Further, it is my understanding that from time to time Rabobank in the Netherlands may provide certain funding and advice

to Fonterra, however, I am not aware of what those arrangements are as I have never been party to any documentation or

discussion on such arrangements.

• Financial interest jointly with the associated persons in Ngarua Dairy Limited and Kakepuku Farms L.P. which holds shares

in Ballance Agri-Nutrients Limited and Livestock Improvement Corporation Limited.

To the best of my knowledge and belief the disclosures set out above are full and complete.

FONTERRA ELECTIONS 2020 BOARD OF DIRECTORS CANDIDATE PROFILES
13

INDEPENDENTLY ASSESSED CANDIDATE

Mobile: 021 610 771

Email: cathy.quinn@minterellison.co.nz

Cathy QUINN

Independent Selection Panel (ISP) Assessment - Non-incumbent

Cathy has a number of governance roles having previously

enjoyed a 30+ year career as a commercial and corporate

lawyer with MinterEllisonRuddWatts, and has significant

expertise in governance, equity capital markets, mergers

and acquisitions and private equity services. Amongst the

numerous awards she has won, Cathy was made an Officer

of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to law and

women in 2016.

Cathy grew up in rural New Zealand and spent summers

on family farms in her youth. She is now a director and

shareholder of Thistlehurst Dairy Limited, based in the

Waikato. She has advised the dairy industry for many years

including the Dairy Board, Fonterra, the Shareholders’

Council, and competitors of Fonterra.

Cathy is now pursuing a full-time governance career, having

stepped down from the MinterEllisonRuddWatts partnership

at the end of 2019. Key commercial Boards that Cathy serves

on are Fletcher Building, Tourism Holdings, Rangatira and

she chairs Fertility Associates. In terms of public service roles

Cathy is on the advisory board of New Zealand Treasury and

is a member of the Council of Auckland University. Cathy

lives in Auckland and has two adult sons.

Panel’s assessment of Cathy’s capabilities relative to

2020 Attributes:

The Panel respected Cathy’s deep commitment to the highest

standards of governance, both through her experience

advising boards on governance matters and through her

own broad range of governance roles. In her legal career,

she initiated and led the annual MinterEllisonRuddWatts

Governance Symposium to challenge and raise standards of

governance in New Zealand through thought leadership.

The Panel took the view that she had a solid empathy with

the co-operative, demonstrated through her provincial New

Zealand upbringing and through her legal work in the dairy

sector. She had a long association with the Dairy Board as a

legal advisor, and then advised Fonterra from formation up

to 2005. Cathy is a director and shareholder of Thistlehurst

Dairy Limited. The Panel felt that Cathy had a good track

record of shareholder value creation, both indirectly through

her years of advising different organisations, and directly,

having led a significant turnaround in the performance as

Chair of MinterEllisonRuddWatts. She was responsible for

growing revenue by 70 per cent and doubling its profitability,

demonstrating sound judgement in the decisions she took

to deliver this outcome. This tenure has also provided her

with a broad global perspective, having worked with many

international companies and organisations operating in global

markets. In addition, she has served on the NZ China Council,

where she has led trade delegations to China and represented

the Securities Commission at international meetings.

Despite having an active governance portfolio, the Panel

believe the strength of Cathy’s intellectual ability and work

ethic give her capacity to fulfil the role of a Fonterra Director.

Panel’s assessment of Cathy’s capabilities relative to

2020 Skills:

The Panel acknowledged Cathy’s strong leadership through

her role as Chair and Acting Managing Partner of the

MinterEllisonRuddWatts business, transforming it from a

second-tier law firm to one of the top four in NZ, recognised by

numerous awards. Honours for her leadership and

contribution, include an Officer of the New Zealand Order of

Merit in the Queen’s Birthday honours list 2016.

Cathy has limited ‘on farm’ experience, but the Panel

recognised her efforts over the last 12 months to nurture her

farming connections and better understand issues affecting

the dairy industry. At interview she spoke fluently about the

key challenges for Fonterra and the critical need for greater

shareholder engagement. She had already developed a very

solid understanding of the milk price and profit drivers of the

co-operative through her legal work. Whilst not a core area

of expertise, Panel members were satisfied that Cathy brings

experience in financial management. Her understanding of

risk is extensive, gained through her legal career and chairing

and membership of several Audit & Risk Committees. The

Panel noted that she had advised many clients operating in

global manufacturing and had further exposure through the

manufacturing operations of THL and Fletcher’s. She has a

strong global understanding developed partly through her

former board role on the NZ China Council which would be

potentially useful to the Fonterra board. Panel members saw

that Cathy has championed artificial intelligence projects and

IT at the law firm and understood corporate sustainability in

its widest sense, introducing integrated reporting at THL.

Overall, Panel members were highly impressed again by

Cathy’s calm, collected and intelligent communication style

and insightful questioning. They observed that she had

interviewed more strongly than last year and attributed this

to an extra 12 months of governance experience, through

particularly challenging times. The Panel expressed the view

that she would constructively challenge the Fonterra board

and offer significant value in representing farmer interests.

14
FONTERRA ELECTIONS 2020 BOARD OF DIRECTORS CANDIDATE PROFILES

Why I want to stand for the Fonterra Board

Fonterra‘s success is important to shareholders and our nation.

Fonterra was formed in expectation it would create a company

of global scale and deliver greater value than would otherwise

be.

Fonterra has not delivered on its full potential. While Fonterra‘s

performance has improved over the past year - there is still

much to do for Fonterra to be the success it should.

I am not a traditional farmer candidate but believe my skills,

experience and attributes would positively contribute.

Attributes

• I have the attributes sought - from experience as an adviser

to complex and global businesses, and as a director of

various entities including of scale.

• I have sought to raise corporate governance standards and

to apply them. I have an independent and inquiring mind,

ask challenging questions respectfully, listen and make

decisions taking into account the long term.

• I have advised the industry for decades, including the Dairy

Board, Fonterra, the Shareholders’ Council and competitors

of Fonterra. Through this, during last year’s election process

and subsequently I have engaged with many farmers and

heard their concerns.

• I have broad governance experience. Key commercial

director roles - Fletcher Building, Tourism Holdings,

Rangatira Investments, Fertility Associates (chair). Key

public service roles – NZ Treasury, Auckland University

Council. Previous roles- NZ China Council, Securities

Commission, chair of a law firm, director NZ Forest Research

Institute (now called Scion).

• I have a track record of creating value. During my tenure

as chair of a law firm, profitability and reputation grew

significantly. I contributed to clients’ strategies that created

value. All Boards I am on have strategies for long term value

creation.

• I have a global perspective. I have been involved in

organizations that interact globally. I represented the

Securities Commission at meetings of international

regulators. I advised companies from different jurisdictions.

On NZ Treasury we obtain international insights. I spent

time in China with NZ China Council. My governance roles

provide insights in respect of offshore businesses.

• I have time available to become a Fonterra director. I have

retired as a law partner and deliberately not pursued various

roles available.

• I am of sound judgment. Law clients sought me out for

this skill and I am seen as providing sound judgment as a

governor.

• A hallmark of a good commercial lawyer is the ability to

constructively question, challenge and critique before

advising. I have a successful track record of doing so as

a lawyer and director. A good lawyer is also capable of

listening to different stakeholder perspectives and having

these different perspectives considered by decision makers.

This is also a critical attribute of a good chair.

Skills

I have skills that could positively contribute to Fonterra.

Targeted skills

• Effective Leadership. I chaired a law firm for 8 years. We

developed and executed a strategy to be more successful.

We did things differently and embraced diversity. Our

enduring success reflects effective leadership including

management of different stakeholder groups. Diversity of

thought delivers creative solutions for clients. I lead teams

that provided creative client solutions. As a director, I offer

and listen to different perspectives.

• In depth dairy farming experience. While not a hands-on

farmer I have been a director of our dairy farming business

for 9 years.

• Financial experience. As a corporate lawyer, director and

chair I have financial skills and knowledge. I am on the

Finance Committee of Auckland University Council.

• Global Manufacturing/Commodity Experience. Tourism

Holdings is a global business with local and offshore

manufacturing. Fletcher Building has manufacturing

concentrated in New Zealand and Australia with offshore

suppliers. I advised global manufacturing/commodity

businesses over years.

• Global experience/Understanding. I am interested in

international issues and read widely. I spent time in Greater

China as a member of the NZ China Council and developing

a China legal practice. On the Securities Commission I

attended international conferences. I learn from global

competitors. My past law firm has a global brand and I

participated in its governance.

• Innovation and Research & Development. As chair of a law

firm I championed it investing in artificial intelligence. We

formed a joint venture to commercialise the technology.

Fertility Associates applies advanced technology and

science in treating patients. Fletcher Building is researching,

developing and applying innovative technologies and

approaches across a range of products and businesses

including at Golden Bay Cement and at its Clever Core

facility at Wiri. NZ Forest Research Institute specializes

in research, science and technology development for

forestry and wood products. Auckland University conducts

significant research and development.

Candidate Profile Statement

FONTERRA ELECTIONS 2020 BOARD OF DIRECTORS CANDIDATE PROFILES
15

The skills matrix highlights skills in Corporate Sustainability

and Responsibility Expertise, Risk Management, Commercial/

Value Creation and Consumer Experience would be desirable on

Fonterra’s Board.

Corporate Sustainability and Responsibility. I chair the

Sustainability Committee for Tourism Holdings and am a

member of the Health, Safety and Sustainability Committee

of Fletcher Building. I completed Cambridge Institute’s

sustainability course. As a director, I advocate for sustainability

in its broadest sense.

Risk management experience. Over my career I advised

organizations on risk management issues. I am a member of

the Risk and Audit Committee, Fletcher Building and its Health,

Safety and Sustainability Committee. I am a member of the

Audit Committee, Tourism Holdings. I chair the Risk and Audit

Committee for NZ Treasury. I am a member of the Audit and

Risk Committee, Fertility Associates.

Consumer Experience. I advised consumer companies with

significant local, regional or global brands on a range of issues.

Tourism Holdings is a global business providing services to

customers in market . Fletcher Building operates in a globally

competitive market albeit now focused on the Australasian

market. Fertility Associates provides fertility services to

customers including in Malaysia. Rainbows End (a Rangatira

subsidiary) is focused on the domestic consumer market. In

addition, the law is a business and its customers are demanding

and sophisticated consumers.

Commercial/Value Creation. I led a law firm during a period

of transformation and growth resulting in significant value

creation which endures. I have contributed to value creation as

an adviser and director.

Candidate Interest Statement

Listed below are details of all business, investment and other relationships I have with Fonterra Co-operative Group Limited

and its subsidiaries (the “Fonterra Group”) (including as a supplying shareholder), or with any third party that transacts with

Fonterra Group or carries on business in competition with Fonterra Group:

• I am a director and shareholder (as trustee) of Thistlehurst Dairy Limited, which is a supplying shareholder of Fonterra and

holds 444,280 Fonterra shares.

• I am currently a consultant on a part time basis at MinterEllisonRuddWatts. MinterEllisonRuddWatts has provided legal

services from time to time to Fonterra, the Fonterra Shareholders’ Council and competitors of Fonterra.

To the best of my knowledge and belief the disclosures set out above are full and complete.

16
FONTERRA ELECTIONS 2020 BOARD OF DIRECTORS CANDIDATE PROFILES

INDEPENDENTLY ASSESSED CANDIDATE

Mobile: 021 618 498

Email: nathguy@xtra.co.nz

Nathan GUY

Independent Selection Panel (ISP) Assessment - Non-incumbent

Nathan, aged 50, is retiring at the 2020 election after 15 years

as a National MP, culminating in five years as the Minister for

Primary Industries. He is the third generation to grow up on

his family dairy farm at Koputaroa, near Levin. Nathan has a

long history with the dairy industry – his great grandfather,

Joseph Nathan, helped establish Glaxo in the Manawatu

and his grandfather, Duncan Guy, was Chair of Levin Dairy

Co-op. He also has a long history of public service, with

three generations of family before him all involved in local

government. Prior to becoming an MP, Nathan served as

an elected Councillor on the Horowhenua District Council.

Nathan is now the joint owner and Managing Director of

Kereru Farm that began supplying the Levin Dairy Co-op in

1933 and has grown to milk 1,400 cows. He is also a director

of Horowhenua Kapiti Rugby Football Union. He is married

with three children.

Panel’s assessment of Nathan’s capabilities relative to

2020 Attributes:

The Panel found Nathan’s commitment to a broad concept of

high governance standards convincing, developed through his

time in Cabinet. He has strong relationships with politicians

from all parties and senior officials who provide advice to

Government and the Panel acknowledged that access to

these networks would be invaluable around the Fonterra

board table.

As Minister for Primary Industries (MPI) and in his other

parliamentary roles; public service, collective decision-making

and integrity have high priority. Making sound judgements,

often under pressure and in the spotlight was evident in his

experience and the Panel believed he would take a fearless

approach to robust and constructive questioning.

The Panel viewed his empathy with the Co-op as very

strong. Much of this belief has been anchored by his family’s

intergenerational commitment to dairy and pioneering spirit

and this underpins his passionate belief that farmers should

stick together.

In summary, the nature of his MPI role and his farming

background means that he demonstrates a very good

understanding of the Co-op’s commercial and economic

drivers and he looks forward to adding value as he has done

to many other iconic Kiwi businesses through the Ministry.

Panel’s assessment of Nathan’s capabilities relative to

2020 skills:

Stepping away from politics this year, Nathan impressed the

Panel with his desire to contribute a wealth of experience to

the success of Fonterra and be a continuing champion for

New Zealand’s dairy industry. Extensive leadership positions

and portfolios during his career mean that he has strong,

contemporary connections and influence which would be

very valuable to the organisation. He has tackled many tough

issues at MPI, such as international food safety concerns

which he credits with sharpening his risk management

skills and his commitment to openness and transparency

generally. Panel members also recognised his sophisticated

communication skills which have been honed in the political

arena, but which are very much rooted and directed towards

achieving healthy relationships with the New Zealand

farming community. Overlaid with this grassroots appeal

is Nathan’s international experience, representing the

Government overseas, which has also given him a high-level

understanding of the global commodities area, foreign dairy

industries and trade.

His understanding of finance has grown and evolved over the

years. He articulates a strong commitment to get Fonterra’s

milk price and dividends as high as possible for its farmer

shareholders and believes this can be achieved with a well-

executed strategy delivering strong results year on year. This

is one of Nathan’s main motivations for being on Fonterra’s

board. Through his Minister roles, he has had experience

overseeing significant systems implementations, and has a

solid understanding of the risks and challenges involved. Like

other candidates, he has had some exposure to consumer

issues and innovation and research & development, but these

are not his core strengths.

In short, Panel members felt that Nathan demonstrated

real ambition for Fonterra and warmed to his optimism for

its sustainable and successful future. He is an unproven

commercial director and transitioning from Cabinet to a

commercial boardroom might be a challenge. However,

overall, the Panel felt that his government and wider industry

experience were strong credentials for his candidacy.

FONTERRA ELECTIONS 2020 BOARD OF DIRECTORS CANDIDATE PROFILES
17

I’m the third generation to grow up on our family dairy farm at

Koputaroa, near Levin. Married to Erica, we have two sons (15

and 12) and a daughter (13) all of whom love life on the farm.

I believe I can make a valuable contribution to Fonterra’s

Board. Fonterra faces some challenges but has considerable

opportunities.

My Background

I oversee and jointly own Kereru Farm that began supplying the

Levin Dairy Co-op in 1933 and has grown to milk 1,400 cows.

Our family has huge confidence in Fonterra, and we are

expanding our operation by installing two 50 bail rotary

platforms in one building that will milk 700 cows an hour. It’s

important for our business and staff that we harvest quality

milk in a sustainable, efficient and environmental manner.

Technology will enable us to better manage our whole

operation.

For the past 15 years I have been an MP in Parliament,

highlighted by five years as the Minister for Primary Industries

(MPI).

Pride in Dairying

Family farms remain at the heart of Fonterra. Our recognition

as ‘essential’ during Covid-19 lockdown and our major role in

New Zealand’s economic recovery provides an opportunity for

Fonterra farmers to gain well deserved kudos.

Fonterra and DairyNZ need to continue winning the ‘hearts and

minds’ of those that are disconnected from rural life. Like most

of you, we have fenced off our waterways, created wetlands and

done riparian planting.

Staunch Supporter of the Co-operative

I am a strong believer in the co-operative structure and

retaining Fonterra in Kiwi farmers’ control. Much of that

belief has been anchored by my family’s intergenerational

commitment to dairy and pioneering spirit.

I was fortunate to attend, with my late father Malcolm, the

shareholder meetings to create Tui Milk Products then Kiwi

Dairies and ultimately MergeCo and Fonterra.

I believe in the power of farmers sticking together and

benefitting from economies of scale through co-operative

ownership structures.

Fonterra’s strength comes from the success of its supply chain

which connects our dairy products with consumers around the

world.

Fonterra Should Play to Win

I strongly believe Fonterra needs to ‘back winners’ with a more

refined strategy. Now is not the time for high risk – high reward

investments.

There is an opportunity to create more value from New

Zealand’s grass-fed provenance story and having the most

efficient carbon footprint in the world.

Fonterra has an impressive track record in commodity markets

but shouldn’t take its eye off its ability to add more value to

products. Our research centre in Palmerston North has some of

the best scientific brains and needs to keep creating innovative

products.

Farmers should be proud of what Fonterra has achieved. The

fundamentals of the co-operative are strong and I want to be a

part of taking it to the next level.

Milk Price

Fonterra’s core purpose is to get milk price and dividends as

high as possible for its farmer shareholders.

To achieve this, Fonterra needs to execute its strategy well and

deliver results year on year.

I want to be part of a strong united Board that articulates

Fonterra’s direction and drives management to deliver.

My background is about leading and delivering for farmers and

my experiences have given me financial literacy and the ability

to assimilate large volumes of material. I have a track record of

speaking my mind while remembering the importance of being

a Board team player.

Transferable Skills

Cabinet operates much like a Board of Directors. During

my time in Parliament I built good relationships with senior

politicians from all parties.

As Fonterra is regulated, its relationship with Wellington

decision-makers is critical. I know how the system works and

have strong relationships with senior officials - who provide

advice to Government. These relationships and connections

will be invaluable around the Board table, whoever is in

Government.

Known for being calm under pressure, I have helped lead

the dairy industry through crisis situations with strong

communication skills, clear thinking and good decision-making.

Candidate Profile Statement

18
FONTERRA ELECTIONS 2020 BOARD OF DIRECTORS CANDIDATE PROFILES

Trade and Market Access

While Minister, I accompanied trade missions to China,

Thailand, Mexico, Brazil, Chile and Columbia, and led missions

to China, Sri Lanka, India, Chile, Colombia and Iran – often

promoting Fonterra’s interests.

These in-market experiences and relationships developed with

overseas Ministers and senior officials would benefit Fonterra.

They enabled me to deal more proactively with several food

safety and market access issues like getting infant formula

brands listed in China, the botulinum false alarm and the 1080

criminal blackmail threat.

Covid-19 proved Fonterra’s supply chain is strong and flexible,

and this agility will be necessary as markets respond to this

pandemic.

Summary

I would consider it a huge privilege if you elect me to the Board

of Fonterra. I will bring common sense governance mixed with

fresh new ideas.

I am ready to make a difference for you, your families and our

great country. A strong sustainable Fonterra is needed now -

more than ever.

Qualifications and Experience

• Independent Director, Horowhenua Kapiti Rugby Union

• Institute of Directors Member

• ‘Te Hono’ Primary Sector Leaders course, Stanford, USA

• Global Young Leaders Conference, South Korea.

• Kellogg’s Rural Leadership programme, Lincoln University

• Winston Churchill Fellowship, USA

• Rotary Group Study Exchange, Canada

• Bachelor of Agriculture and Diploma of Rural Studies,

Massey University.

Candidate Interest Statement

Listed below are details of all business, investment and other relationships I have with Fonterra Co-Operative Group Limited

and its subsidiaries (the “Fonterra Group”) (including as a supplying shareholder), or with any third party that transacts with

the Fonterra Group or carries on business in competition with the Fonterra Group.

• Director of Kereru Farm (2005) Ltd which is a supplying shareholder of Fonterra and holds 439,207 Fonterra shares.

To the best of my knowledge and belief the disclosures set out above are full and complete.

FONTERRA ELECTIONS 2020 BOARD OF DIRECTORS CANDIDATE PROFILES
19

NON-ASSESSED CANDIDATE

Mobile: 021 598 799

Email: nmshadbolt56@gmail.com

Nicola SHADBOLT

Nicola Shadbolt is standing as a candidate under the Non-Assessed Process.

Nicola provided the following statement, and the assessments and views on attributes and skills are her own.

Two years ago, based on a board initiated independent

assessment of my performance, the Fonterra Board endorsed

me to serve another term as an elected director. Unfortunately,

the election rules at that time meant that you, the owners, did

not get the chance to agree, or not, with that endorsement.

So, I am standing this year to give you that chance as I am still

willing and able to serve another term. My passion for Fonterra

is as strong as it was then and I bring to the board, again, a deep

knowledge of Fonterra and the industry, plus enhanced skills in

the areas identified as in short supply in the current board.

I would like to share with you some of the comments made by

that independent assessor. He identified that I possess notable

points of difference as a director - my strong awareness of

global dairy and my breadth and currency of knowledge across

multiple subject matters and their significance in strategic

planning and long-term value creation. He stated that my

assets are my intellect, my facts-based approach, currency

on contemporary issues and interest in good governance.

He recognised my knowledge and ability to contribute in

the “softer” issues of business (sustainability, CSR, safety,

innovation, R&D, governance) notwithstanding my board

experience in other areas. He noted my strength of knowledge

and advocacy in relation to science as a real driver of Fonterra’s

success. My science qualifications and background, together

with my scanning of international food and farming trends

and developments, provide me with a strong knowledge and

understanding of the central roles of science and innovation to

Fonterra’s strategic options.

He thought that I exhibited a healthy understanding of good

governance practices and requirements, and what makes for “a

good board” and suggested that I was somewhat of “an iron fist

in a velvet glove”, was principled, relatively tough, courageous

and called out behaviours or conduct that I don’t approve of.

Importantly he believed I understand governance well, know the

responsibilities of a Fonterra Board Member relative to farmer

representation, can draw on my personal experiences and have

the ability, in his opinion, to be a valuable sounding board for

less experienced directors. This, and finding ways to bring on

the next generation of directors, is an area I would like to focus

on if elected for another term.

Value Creation Track Record

I have been a farmer for nearly 40 years and have taken an

active involvement both in developing and implementing

strategic plans for the farms. In 2006, the main farm business,

Westview, won the Ballance Supreme Farm Environment

Award for the Horizon’s region. I have been a key driver in

the expansion of our farming business and in its financial

management. Our original partners are still in the business. We

have always prided ourselves on maintaining profitability and

being able to farm sustainably through the commodity cycles.

We are a farming family who understand the challenges and

opportunities of shareholders.

Starting from scratch, we now manage, and part own, a

farming venture with turnover of $4.7m and assets of $34m; a

mix of share and cash leasing arrangements within 4 equity

partnerships – including 1000 dairy cows plus sheep, beef, deer

& forestry. Our journey has not only created value for us but

also for all the partners who have travelled with us.

Co-operative Knowledge & Background: I am a strong

supporter of the Co-operative business model and have a broad

understanding of the factors impacting on the success of Co-

operatives internationally. In the last two years I have further

expanded this knowledge through being involved in aid projects

with Cambodian and Tanzanian cooperatives and being invited

to a Cooperative Leaders’ Forum in the US by Professor Mike

Cook, exploring a wide variety of cooperative business models.

More recently I was asked to attend a workshop of the Fonterra

Shareholders Council Review Committee to discuss responses

to the comments you all submitted. This workshop reminded

me that our cooperative is evolving and that there is more work

to be done to strengthen the critical link between the Board

and Council. It will take commitment at both levels to build the

respect and trust required to make this work.

Leadership & Science: In the last two years I have also taken

on the role of Chair of the Plant & Food Crown Research

Institute. This has provided an opportunity for me to expand my

leadership skills and to be involved in setting strategy and the

delivery of science-based solutions for the food industry. This

has strengthened my belief that Fonterra’s strategic solutions

and competitive positioning lie in its much better use of the

research and development capability that it has.

Candidate Profile Statement

20
FONTERRA ELECTIONS 2020 BOARD OF DIRECTORS CANDIDATE PROFILES

Candidate Interest Statement

Listed below are details of all business, investment and other relationships I have with Fonterra Co-operative Group Limited

and its subsidiaries (the “Fonterra Group”) (including as a supplying shareholder), or with any third party that transacts with

the Fonterra Group or carries on business in competition with the Fonterra Group.

• Pohangina Land Company (No.1) Limited

• North Grove Dairy Limited

• I am a supplying shareholder of Fonterra jointly with Associated Persons (as defined in the Companies Act 1993) and hold

386,705 Fonterra shares.

To the best of my knowledge and belief the disclosures set out above are full and complete.

My Passion for the Dairy Industry, and Fonterra

One of the most important strategic decisions dairy farmers

make is selecting membership of the Co-operative Board. When

I first stood for the board several of you asked if I was in for

the long haul and I said I was. You asked me to devote my time

and energy to Fonterra and I believe I did. The reasons why I

accepted the challenge have not changed, they have instead

been strengthened; I would like your support to enable me to,

once again, serve your cooperative.

Strong governance is critical for Fonterra. The reality is that

successful governance is most likely to be based around a

Board with a diverse, balanced and complementary set of skills.

My unique combination of agribusiness, science and practical

farming experience, international perspective and analytical

skill set, and governance experience will provide you with

choice to empower the Board.

I look forward to hearing your views on our Co-operative by

phone 021 598 799 or by email nmshadbolt56@gmail.com and at

the Directors’ Election Candidate Roadshow meetings. I ask for

your vote in this election. I would consider it a priority, and a

privilege, to join the team that leads Fonterra.

Qualifications: B.Sc(Hons), M.AgrSc(Hons), DipBusStud

(Accountancy), FNZIPIM (Reg), FAICD, INSEAD IDP-C, ONZM for

services to agribusiness.

FONTERRA ELECTIONS 2020 BOARD OF DIRECTORS CANDIDATE PROFILES
21

NON-ASSESSED CANDIDATE

Mobile: 027 473 7333

Email: acotton@merlinir.nz

Annabel COTTON

Annabel Cotton is standing as a candidate under the Non-Assessed Process.

Annabel provided the following statement, and the assessments and views on attributes and skills are her own.

A Family History of Industry Leadership

I own a 252 ha dairy farm west of Hamilton with my husband

Michael and brother David. Our sharemilkers run a top tier 420

cow herd.

I’m a proud 4th generation guardian of this property which my

family has owned since titles were issued in the late 1800s. My

great grandfather, Thomas Blackett, was Farmer Chair of the NZ

Dairy Association and drove the merger in 1919 that created the

NZ Co-operative Dairy Company, inherently securing farmer

control of co-operative dairy companies.

I Offer a Unique Skill Set

Like the vast majority of Fonterra shareholders we own a single

dairy property. I face the same challenges and opportunities

as many of you across the multitude of issues that affect our

business.

While my industry involvement qualifies me to stand in this

election what differentiates me from other candidates is the

knowledge and expertise I have gained in my 30+ year career

in finance. Having started as an investment analyst I now

advise NZX and ASX-listed companies on matters related to

investor communications and engagement, sustainability and

governance. I also have a portfolio of board appointments

built around trust being placed in me by national and local

government, and private sector shareholders to represent

their interests. I think independently and differently to many

directors.

As a director of and consultant to the boards of some of NZ’s

largest companies I have extensive experience reviewing

and assessing corporate strategy, capital expenditure, risk

management, sustainability and operational and financial

performance.

My leadership, integrity, judgement and commitment to

high standards of governance has been recognised by four

professional organisations awarding me with Fellow status.

Why I’ve Chosen the Non-assessed Path

Last year I was one of a small number of Panel-interviewed

candidates. This year, I’ve reached out to a broader group for an

assessment of my suitability to represent you. Senior company

directors, business leaders and Fonterra suppliers have told

me that my proven ability to think, analyse and constructively

critique is what Fonterra shareholders most need to represent

their interests as critical decisions are made regarding Fonterra’s

long-term strategy.

Targeted Skills Match

The board skills matrix identifies financial skills as the Board’s

second most required skill set. I have advanced level corporate

financial expertise and assess my other skill sets as follows:

LeadershipConsiderable senior level experience

Dairy farmingHighly engaged farm owner

Financial

Considerable advanced level experience

Global manufacturing /

Commodities

Limited experience

Global experience /

understanding

Considerable experience

Innovation and R&D

Moderate experience. Owner of

international software busines

My Four Priorities

Learn from past mistakes

Disrupted business models and changing consumer demand

patterns are today’s reality. As Fonterra’s owners we need

assurance that your directors apply 50+ years of corporate

memory to ensure that the strategy reset incorporates the

elements of our greatest successes and doesn’t repeat critical,

value-destroying mistakes.

Re-engage with capital markets

The Board’s engagement with capital markets participants

must be bolstered. Seeking their views can give direction to

communications improvements and boost market confidence in

Fonterra.

Candidate Profile Statement

22
FONTERRA ELECTIONS 2020 BOARD OF DIRECTORS CANDIDATE PROFILES

Maximise our grass-fed protein and fat advantage

Fonterra should be the world’s most efficient commodity

manufacturer and leader in the manufacturing of innovative

nutrition products. Our natural competitive advantage in high-

quality production must be supported by an entrepreneurial,

market-leading vision for products. This must be underpinned

by astute capital management, and strong performance and risk

monitoring.

Reduce the environmental impact

Our industry’s long-term future and social licence to operate

requires a lower environmental impact between the paddock,

processing chain and consumer. Strengthening the co-op’s farm

advisory programme can deliver proven, appropriate solutions

to support us as we change and innovate our farming practices.

Experience, Attributes and Governance Style

Over the last 20+ years I have held governance appointments

at a number of large NZ companies across a range of industries.

My consultancy business advises NZX and ASX-listed boards

and executives on governance and communication of strategy,

and operational and financial performance.

My governance style is to be brave, thorough and question until

satisfied with management’s proposed approach. I probe deeply

and use the knowledge base and experience built up over many

years. I use common sense, a sense of what’s right and take a

long-term view. I’m pragmatic, outcome-focussed and think a

strategy should be simple to understand and explain.

I understand value creation from a technical and practical

perspective. However, experience tells me that by focussing on

generating long-term sustainable profitability, shareholder value

will naturally follow.

My global perspective on economics, trade, finance and risk is

based on many years’ working in financial markets, international

study tours, conferences, travel and plain hard work.

Fonterra’s shareholders include traditional farmers,

corporate owners, family and iwi groupings. Each has a

different perspective, but we are all guardians of the land.

My considerable experience managing complex stakeholder

relationships means I understand and will continue to support

the common threads binding us together and underpinning the

co-operative ethos. Tātou, tātou.

Governance Appointments

Private/ family-controlled companies are not included.

NZX Regulation Ltd Director

Hamilton & Waikato Tourism Ltd Chair

Global Women Trustee *

Trust Investments Management Ltd Director ** ^^

Waikato Regional Airport Ltd Director **

Donny Charitable Trust Trustee

Previous

External Reporting Board Board Member

Kingfish Ltd, Barramundi Ltd, Marlin Global Ltd Director **

Genesis Power Ltd Director *

Momentum Waikato Community Foundation Trustee ^

Reclaim Another Woman Director **

Securities Commission Commissioner *

Commissioner for

Financial Advisers

* Audit & Risk Committee Member

^ Investment Committee Chair

** Audit & Risk Committee Chair

^^ Due Diligence Committee Member

Fellowships Conferred

Institute of Directors

Chartered Accountants Australia & NZ

Institute of Finance Professionals

Australasian Investor Relations Association

Qualifications

Associate Chartered Accountant

Chartered Accountants Australia & NZ

Bachelor of Management Studies in Accounting and Finance

University of Waikato

Certified Securities Analyst

Institute of Finance Professionals

Professional memberships

Chartered Accountants Australia & NZ

Institute of Finance Professionals

Institute of Directors

NZ Global Women

I offer you the opportunity to appoint me to the Fonterra

board to apply my skills to govern on your behalf. I have

the knowledge, experience, time, energy and personal

commitment to contribute to guiding Fonterra’s future

success.

FONTERRA ELECTIONS 2020 BOARD OF DIRECTORS CANDIDATE PROFILES
23

Candidate Interest Statement

Listed below are details of all business, investment and other relationships I have with Fonterra Co-operative Group Limited

and its subsidiaries (“Fonterra Group”) (including as a supplying shareholder), or with any third party that transacts with the

Fonterra Group or carries on business in competition with the Fonterra Group:

An Associated Person (as defined in the Financial Markets Conduct Act 2013) is a supplying shareholder of Fonterra Group as

follows:

• I am a director and shareholder (as trustee) of Farmy McFarm Limited, which is a supplying shareholder of Fonterra and

holds 116,607 Fonterra shares.

• I am Managing Director of Merlin Consulting Limited, a consulting business that provides:

• Beneficial ownership reporting services to Fonterra Group.

• Investor relations advisory services to Synlait Limited. Separation procedures are in place to ensure I have no access to

any workstreams undertaken for this client by Merlin Consulting advisers. Fees billed to Synlait in the 12 months to 31

August 2020 were approximately $3,500 + GST.

To the best of my knowledge and belief the disclosures set out above are full and complete.

24
FONTERRA ELECTIONS 2020 BOARD OF DIRECTORS CANDIDATE PROFILES

If undelivered please return to:
The Returning Officer

Fonterra Elections 2020

PO Box 3138

Christchurch 8140

Free phone 0800 666 034

FONTERRA ELECTIONS 2020
Board of Directors

VOTING PAPER

Election of TWO (2) Directors

YOU CAN VOTE IN ONE OF THE FOLLOWING TWO WAYS:

First Past the Post Voting

This is a First Past the Post vote to elect two (2)

directors.

The two candidates with the highest number of votes

will be elected.

Postal Voting Instructions

• You may select a maximum of TWO (2) candidates.

If you select more than two candidates, all your

votes will be invalid.

• You can select fewer than two candidates.

• Vote by placing a tick “” in the circle next to

the name of each candidate you wish to vote in

favour of.

VOTE HERE

Mike O’CONNOR

Independently Assessed Candidate

Brent GOLDSACK

Incumbent Director - Independently Assessed Candidate

Cathy QUINN

Independently Assessed Candidate

Nathan GUY

Independently Assessed Candidate

Nicola SHADBOLT

Non-Assessed Candidate

Annabel COTTON

Non-Assessed Candidate

INTERNET VOTING

Vote via Farm Source website at:

www.nzfarmsource.co.nz

• Login using your Farm Source login and password.

• Follow the voting links from the homepage.

• Enter your Personal Identification Number (PIN)

and password – see below.

IMPORTANT: By entering the PIN and password you

warrant and undertake that you are authorised to

exercise the vote of this shareholder.

After voting online, you do not need to submit this

Voting Paper and it can be destroyed.

POSTAL VOTING

Post the completed Voting Paper(s) in the freepost

envelope provided no later than Thursday,

29 October 2020 so it reaches the Returning Officer

before the close of voting.

1

2

PINPASSWORD

Please only use one of these voting methods

For enquiries phone the ELECTION HELPLINE: 0800 666 034

Voting closes at:

10.30am on Tuesday, 3 November 2020

*123456x*

123456

---

Fonterra Elections 2020
Shareholders’ Council

Candidate Profiles

Ward 4 - Waikato West

FONTERRA

SHAREHOLDERS’

COUNCIL

The Fonterra Shareholders’ Council Election 1
The Shareholders’ Council Representation Role 1

Key Qualities and Capabilities of a Councillor 2

Shareholders’ Council Wards 3

CANDIDATE PROFILES

Grant Coombes 4

Gaynor Tierney 5

DISCLAIMER STATEMENT BY FONTERRA CO-OPERATIVE GROUP LIMITED

Each Candidate Profile Statement contains a maximum of 400 words (excluding the

Candidate Interest Statement) provided by the candidate.

The Returning Officer and Fonterra Co-operative Group Limited note that

‘shareholdings’ in Fonterra or other companies disclosed by candidates may include

shares held by third parties in which candidates have a relevant interest as defined by

the Financial Markets Conduct Act 2013.

Any emphasis (including capitalisation, italics, bolding, underscoring and bullet points)

has been added by the candidate.

The Returning Officer and Fonterra Co-operative Group Limited accept no responsibility

for the content, or accuracy of the content, contained in Statements supplied by

candidates.

Warwick Lampp, Returning Officer – 2020 Fonterra Elections

Freephone 0800 666 034

iro@electionz.com

Contents

FONTERRA ELECTIONS 2020 SHAREHOLDERS’ COUNCIL CANDIDATE PROFILES WARD 4 - WAIKATO WEST
1

There are 25 Shareholders’ Councillors representing Fonterra shareholders in 25 Wards throughout New Zealand.

Voting is now open for the election of a Councillor to represent shareholders in Ward 4 Waikato West.

There are two candidates – Grant Coombes and Gaynor Tierney.

Voting Method

Voting for Shareholders’ Councillors is on the basis of two votes per shareholder. Both votes may be used by the shareholder, or one

may be given to a sharemilker. Votes are not weighted by milksolids production.

The Shareholders’ Council Representation Role

The formal role of the Shareholders’ Council is set out in our Constitution and Council’s By-laws. It can currently be summarised under

the following three main themes, however this may change following the review of Council which is currently underway. The Steering

Group leading the review is aiming to complete its consultation process and deliver its recommendations in November 2020. Some

proposed changes may need to be voted on by shareholders before they can be implemented, others may be introduced straight away.

In the meantime, the role and functions of Council will continue as they are at present:

1) Monitoring:

• Council acts as the Co-operative’s

cornerstone shareholder

monitoring and reporting on the

performance of the Co-operative

against specified targets and its

strategy.

• Council provides farmers with an

objective, independent opinion

on matters which they deem to

be significant from an owner’s

perspective.

2) Farmer Connect:

• Council is responsible for

ensuring we have an informed and

connected farmer base within the

Co-operative.

• Council represents the collective

view of farmers up to the Board,

and provides farmer-minded

analysis of key Board decisions

back out to the farmer base.

• Council works with the Board to

develop a pipeline of future leaders

through educational programmes

such as the Understanding Your

Co-operative Programme and

the Governance Development

Programme.

• Council plays a supportive role in

developing farmers’ understanding

of our Co-operative’s strategy and

how key Board decisions relate to

that strategy. Importantly, Council

educates farmers on the benefit of

being in a co-operative, who we are

and why our Co-operative exists.

3) Guardians of our Co-operative

Principles:

• Council is the guardian of our

Co-operative Principles and acts as

a sounding-board for the Board on

matters that impact our individual

farming businesses.

• Council has other formal and

constitutional roles including:

• Managing the Director

elections process in

consultation with the Board.

• Approving the company’s

mission statement and values

as proposed by the Board.

• Appointing the Milk

Commissioner.

• Considering and, in

consultation with the Board,

proposing changes to Part A of

the Constitution.

• Ability to call a Special Meeting

of shareholders.

• Consulting with the Board

in relation to the Fonterra

Shareholders’ Market and

Fonterra Shareholders’ Fund.

• Consulting with the Board

in relation to the Milk Price

Manual and Principles.

• Sitting on the Board’s

Co-operative Relations

Committee.

The Fonterra Shareholders’ Council Election

2
FONTERRA ELECTIONS 2020 SHAREHOLDERS’ COUNCIL CANDIDATE PROFILES WARD 4 - WAIKATO WEST

Key Qualities and Capabilities of a Councillor

• Honesty and integrity.

• Courage to question/challenge the status quo.

• In-depth farming knowledge.

• An understanding of Fonterra’s business.

• Awareness of the regulatory frameworks in which the Co-operative operates.

• An understanding of and empathy with the Co-operative.

• An understanding of the key drivers of wealth - milk price and profit.

• Business acumen - financial literacy and ability to think strategically.

• Communication skills (including presentation/public speaking capability).

• Interpersonal skills (approachable nature, empathy with fellow farmers).

• Time available to undertake the required Councillor responsibilities.

• A commitment to on-going training including building broad-based Co-operative and governance knowledge to enhance their

effectiveness in the role.

Shareholders’ Councillors are elected representatives and are expected to commit an average of one day per week to their role.

FONTERRA ELECTIONS 2020 SHAREHOLDERS’ COUNCIL CANDIDATE PROFILES WARD 4 - WAIKATO WEST
3

Shareholders’ Council Wards

2020 Shareholders’ Council Wards

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

10

9

12

11

13

17

16

18

14

15

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

1

Northern Northland

2

Central Northland

3

Southern Northland

4

Waikato West

5

Hauraki

6

Piako

7

Waipa

8

South Waikato

9

King Country

10

Northern Bay of Plenty

11

Eastern Bay of Plenty

12

Central Plateau

13

Central Taranaki

14

Coastal Taranaki

15

Southern Taranaki

16

Central Districts West

17

Hawke’s Bay

18

Wairarapa

19

Tasman / Marlborough

20

North Canterbury

21

Central Canterbury

22

South Canterbury

23

Otago

24

Eastern Southland

25

Western Southland

4
FONTERRA ELECTIONS 2020 SHAREHOLDERS’ COUNCIL CANDIDATE PROFILES WARD 4 - WAIKATO WEST

TAUPIRI

Mobile: 027 223 4384

Email: foxrpl@gmail.com

Grant COOMBES

Candidate Interest Statement

Listed below are details of all business, investment and other relationships I have with Fonterra Co-operative Group Limited

and its subsidiaries (the “Fonterra Group”) (including as a supplying shareholder), or with any third party that transacts with

the Fonterra Group or carries on business in competition with the Fonterra Group

• I am a supplying shareholder of Fonterra as a director and shareholder of Waikato Dairy Limited and hold 216,854 Fonterra

shares

To the best of my knowledge and belief the disclosures set out above are full and complete.

I ask for your vote in the Fonterra Shareholders’ Council elections. I represent a new voice at Fonterra Shareholders’ Council, it is one

that is committed to strong representation and advocacy for you as a Fonterra farmer in our ward.

My farming career has spanned over 25 years. My wife Kyly and I along with our four grown children Aleisha, Hayden, Liam and

Marcus farm in Taupiri and the surrounding areas. We have worked through the dairy pathway from 50/50 sharemilking through to

farm ownership now milking 460 cows on a farm we own on the outskirts of Hamilton.

I enjoy being part of our wider community, contributing with my role as a board member of Rural Support Trust, Waikato Hauraki

Coromandel and involvement with our local sports clubs.

As someone whom has supplied Fonterra since its inception, I am passionate about ensuring that the Shareholders’ Council creates

value to our Co-op. This comes via strong Shareholder engagement, effective representation and advocacy on your behalf. We have

a great Co-operative and it must be guarded wisely. We need to remain ever focused that our business remains strong for future

generations. To achieve this, we need our Shareholders’ Council to be effective.

I value your support and ask for your vote to enable me to ensure that your views are represented within our Co-operative.

Should you have any questions or comments in the lead up to the election please feel free to contact me on 027 223 4384.

FONTERRA ELECTIONS 2020 SHAREHOLDERS’ COUNCIL CANDIDATE PROFILES WARD 4 - WAIKATO WEST
5

HAMILTON

Mobile: 021 125 0334

Email: gaynortierney@hotmail.com

Gaynor TIERNEY

Candidate Interest Statement

Listed below are details of all business, investment and other relationships I have with Fonterra Co-operative Group Limited

and its subsidiaries (the “Fonterra Group”) (including as a supplying shareholder), or with any third party that transacts with

the Fonterra Group or carries on business in competition with the Fonterra Group

• I am a supplying shareholder of Fonterra (Gaynor Louise Tierney, Director of Glendine Ltd) and hold 78,139 Fonterra shares

To the best of my knowledge and belief the disclosures set out above are full and complete.

My husband and I currently farm in Ngaruawahia. Milking 240 cows. Returning from travel overseas in 2000 we progressed through

the industry from managing through to sharemilking and farm ownership. All in the local geographic area.

I am a working farmer, mother and passionate supplier and shareholder of Fonterra and whilst I am a relatively new farm owner and

shareholder (8 years) believe that the Cooperative is crucial to the future of the success of our NZ dairy Industry and rural prosperity.

I believe the Shareholders’ Council is fundamental in making this a success through working alongside and representing our farmers. I

would be a dedicated and focused member of the Council.

I want my generation to be paving the way for our next generation and the success of the Shareholders’ Council is vital to this.

I have been very fortunate and blessed to have met so many wonderful farmers in my time farming in our local area and have attended

Fonterra meetings, held shed meetings and farmer catch ups regularly for the past 20 years.

Having a clear vision and strategy and the right structure for Fonterra is imperative to the future success of the Cooperative and now

more than ever we need a strong Council who is able to listen and utilise the immense knowledge in their farming communities. They

need to be engaged with their members and the board at all times to ensure that Fonterra remains on track and a driving force for NZ

dairying.

In addition to working on the home farm and bringing up our children I have worked outside the farm gate in many roles with both

DairyNZ (Consulting Officer, Project Mgmt.) Federated Farmers, Primary ITO and currently Tutor the Agribusiness Diploma (part time)

and am a Director of Anexa FVC Waikato.

I am not afraid to challenge the status quo. I adapt to new environments easily and I always aim to ensure that I add value where I can.

I am open and honest and feel I have good communication, facilitation skills but most importantly am a good listener.

I am a keen observer, enjoy researching subjects and have a good ability to assimilate and retain information. Most of all I feel I am

loyal and have good empathy and a passion for our Dairy Industry and the amazing people that work within it and support it.

If undelivered please return to:
The Returning Officer

Fonterra Elections 2020

PO Box 3138

Christchurch 8140

Free phone 0800 666 034

You are automatically entitled to two votes. You may use your two votes in the following ways:
1. If you want BOTH YOUR votes to be the same just complete and return VOTING PAPER 1.

2. If you want your two votes to be different, or give the second vote to your sharemilker, tick the blue box below.

I want my two votes to be different and have completed both Voting Papers / I have given Voting Paper 2

to my sharemilker to complete.

FONTERRA ELECTIONS 2020

Shareholders’ Council Election

VOTING PAPER 1

FONTERRA ELECTIONS 2020

Shareholders’ Council Election

VOTING PAPER 2

Postal Voting Instructions

(Please read carefully)

• Please rank the candidates you wish to vote for in

your order of preference by clearly writing a “1”

beside the name of the candidate you most prefer

and a “2” beside the name of your second most

preferred candidate.

• You can rank as many or as few candidates as you

wish, though your vote is most effective if you

rank all candidates.

• You can only write one number “1” and one

number “2” and you must not give the same

ranking to more than one candidate.

• Do not vote with a cross “” or a tick, “”.

• If you make a mistake, cross it out and write the

correct number next to it.

NUMBER

HERE

Ensure each number is written neatly

inside the voting box next to each

candidate.

Gaynor TIERNEY

Grant COOMBES

Postal Voting Instructions

(Please read carefully)

• Please rank the candidates you wish to vote for in

your order of preference by clearly writing a “1”

beside the name of the candidate you most prefer

and a “2” beside the name of your second most

preferred candidate.

• You can rank as many or as few candidates as you

wish, though your vote is most effective if you

rank all candidates.

• You can only write one number “1” and one

number “2” and you must not give the same

ranking to more than one candidate.

• Do not vote with a cross “” or a tick, “”.

• If you make a mistake, cross it out and write the

correct number next to it.

NUMBER

HERE

Ensure each number is written neatly

inside the voting box next to each

candidate.

Gaynor TIERNEY

Grant COOMBES

WARD 4 WAIKATO WEST

Election of ONE (1) Councillor

WARD 4 WAIKATO WEST

Election of ONE (1) Councillor

YOU CAN VOTE IN ONE OF THE FOLLOWING TWO WAYS:

YOU CAN VOTE IN ONE OF THE FOLLOWING TWO WAYS:

Please only use one of these voting methods

For enquiries phone the ELECTION HELPLINE: 0800 666 034

Please only use one of these voting methods

For enquiries phone the ELECTION HELPLINE: 0800 666 034

For the Shareholders’ Council Election you have received two Voting Papers for each

farm that you own in Ward 4.

Votes for the Shareholders’ Council Elections are on a per farm basis, not on

milksolids production.

Voting closes at:

10.30am on Tuesday, 3 November 2020

Voting closes at:

10.30am on Tuesday, 3 November 2020

INTERNET VOTING

Vote via Farm Source website at:

www.nzfarmsource.co.nz

• Login using your Farm Source login and password.

• Follow the voting links from the homepage.

• Enter your Personal Identification Number (PIN)

and password – see below.

IMPORTANT: By entering the PIN and password you

warrant and undertake that you are authorised to

exercise the vote of this shareholder.

After voting online, you do not need to submit this

Voting Paper and it can be destroyed.

INTERNET VOTING

Vote via Farm Source website at:

www.nzfarmsource.co.nz

• Login using your Farm Source login and password.

• Follow the voting links from the homepage.

• Enter your Personal Identification Number (PIN)

and password – see below.

IMPORTANT: By entering the PIN and password you

warrant and undertake that you are authorised to

exercise the vote of this shareholder.

After voting online, you do not need to submit this

Voting Paper and it can be destroyed.

POSTAL VOTING

Post the completed Voting Paper(s) in the freepost

envelope provided no later than Thursday,

29 October 2020 so it reaches the Returning Officer

before the close of voting.

POSTAL VOTING

Post the completed Voting Paper(s) in the freepost

envelope provided no later than Thursday,

29 October 2020 so it reaches the Returning Officer

before the close of voting.

1

1

2

2

PINPASSWORD

PINPASSWORD

---

Fonterra Elections 2020
Shareholders’ Council

Candidate Profiles

Ward 6 - Piako

FONTERRA

SHAREHOLDERS’

COUNCIL

The Fonterra Shareholders’ Council Election 1
The Shareholders’ Council Representation Role 1

Key Qualities and Capabilities of a Councillor 2

Shareholders’ Council Wards 3

CANDIDATE PROFILES

Robert Cookson 4

Nacre Maiden 5

Andrew Reymer 6

DISCLAIMER STATEMENT BY FONTERRA CO-OPERATIVE GROUP LIMITED

Each Candidate Profile Statement contains a maximum of 400 words (excluding the

Candidate Interest Statement) provided by the candidate.

The Returning Officer and Fonterra Co-operative Group Limited note that

‘shareholdings’ in Fonterra or other companies disclosed by candidates may include

shares held by third parties in which candidates have a relevant interest as defined by

the Financial Markets Conduct Act 2013.

Any emphasis (including capitalisation, italics, bolding, underscoring and bullet points)

has been added by the candidate.

The Returning Officer and Fonterra Co-operative Group Limited accept no responsibility

for the content, or accuracy of the content, contained in Statements supplied by

candidates.

Warwick Lampp, Returning Officer – 2020 Fonterra Elections

Freephone 0800 666 034

iro@electionz.com

Contents

FONTERRA ELECTIONS 2020 SHAREHOLDERS’ COUNCIL CANDIDATE PROFILES WARD 6 - PIAKO
1

There are 25 Shareholders’ Councillors representing Fonterra shareholders in 25 Wards throughout New Zealand.

Voting is now open for the election of a Councillor to represent shareholders in Ward 6 Piako.

There are three candidates – Robert Cookson, Nacre Maiden and Andrew Reymer.

Voting Method

Voting for Shareholders’ Councillors is on the basis of two votes per shareholder. Both votes may be used by the shareholder, or one

may be given to a sharemilker. Votes are not weighted by milksolids production.

The Shareholders’ Council Representation Role

The formal role of the Shareholders’ Council is set out in our Constitution and Council’s By-laws. It can currently be summarised under

the following three main themes, however this may change following the review of Council which is currently underway. The Steering

Group leading the review is aiming to complete its consultation process and deliver its recommendations in November 2020. Some

proposed changes may need to be voted on by shareholders before they can be implemented, others may be introduced straight away.

In the meantime, the role and functions of Council will continue as they are at present:

1) Monitoring:

• Council acts as the Co-operative’s

cornerstone shareholder

monitoring and reporting on the

performance of the Co-operative

against specified targets and its

strategy.

• Council provides farmers with an

objective, independent opinion

on matters which they deem to

be significant from an owner’s

perspective.

2) Farmer Connect:

• Council is responsible for

ensuring we have an informed and

connected farmer base within the

Co-operative.

• Council represents the collective

view of farmers up to the Board,

and provides farmer-minded

analysis of key Board decisions

back out to the farmer base.

• Council works with the Board to

develop a pipeline of future leaders

through educational programmes

such as the Understanding Your

Co-operative Programme and

the Governance Development

Programme.

• Council plays a supportive role in

developing farmers’ understanding

of our Co-operative’s strategy and

how key Board decisions relate to

that strategy. Importantly, Council

educates farmers on the benefit of

being in a co-operative, who we are

and why our Co-operative exists.

3) Guardians of our Co-operative

Principles:

• Council is the guardian of our

Co-operative Principles and acts as

a sounding-board for the Board on

matters that impact our individual

farming businesses.

• Council has other formal and

constitutional roles including:

• Managing the Director

elections process in

consultation with the Board.

• Approving the company’s

mission statement and values

as proposed by the Board.

• Appointing the Milk

Commissioner.

• Considering and, in

consultation with the Board,

proposing changes to Part A of

the Constitution.

• Ability to call a Special Meeting

of shareholders.

• Consulting with the Board

in relation to the Fonterra

Shareholders’ Market and

Fonterra Shareholders’ Fund.

• Consulting with the Board

in relation to the Milk Price

Manual and Principles.

• Sitting on the Board’s

Co-operative Relations

Committee.

The Fonterra Shareholders’ Council Election

2
FONTERRA ELECTIONS 2020 SHAREHOLDERS’ COUNCIL CANDIDATE PROFILES WARD 6 - PIAKO

Key Qualities and Capabilities of a Councillor

• Honesty and integrity.

• Courage to question/challenge the status quo.

• In-depth farming knowledge.

• An understanding of Fonterra’s business.

• Awareness of the regulatory frameworks in which the Co-operative operates.

• An understanding of and empathy with the Co-operative.

• An understanding of the key drivers of wealth - milk price and profit.

• Business acumen - financial literacy and ability to think strategically.

• Communication skills (including presentation/public speaking capability).

• Interpersonal skills (approachable nature, empathy with fellow farmers).

• Time available to undertake the required Councillor responsibilities.

• A commitment to on-going training including building broad-based Co-operative and governance knowledge to enhance their

effectiveness in the role.

Shareholders’ Councillors are elected representatives and are expected to commit an average of one day per week to their role.

FONTERRA ELECTIONS 2020 SHAREHOLDERS’ COUNCIL CANDIDATE PROFILES WARD 6 - PIAKO
3

Shareholders’ Council Wards

2020 Shareholders’ Council Wards

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

10

9

12

11

13

17

16

18

14

15

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

1

Northern Northland

2

Central Northland

3

Southern Northland

4

Waikato West

5

Hauraki

6

Piako

7

Waipa

8

South Waikato

9

King Country

10

Northern Bay of Plenty

11

Eastern Bay of Plenty

12

Central Plateau

13

Central Taranaki

14

Coastal Taranaki

15

Southern Taranaki

16

Central Districts West

17

Hawke’s Bay

18

Wairarapa

19

Tasman / Marlborough

20

North Canterbury

21

Central Canterbury

22

South Canterbury

23

Otago

24

Eastern Southland

25

Western Southland

4
FONTERRA ELECTIONS 2020 SHAREHOLDERS’ COUNCIL CANDIDATE PROFILES WARD 6 - PIAKO

WAITOA

Mobile: 021 752 423

Email: rjc76431@gmail.com

Robert COOKSON

Candidate Interest Statement

Listed below are details of all business, investment and other relationships I have with Fonterra Co-operative Group Limited

and its subsidiaries (the “Fonterra Group”) (including as a supplying shareholder), or with any third party that transacts with

the Fonterra Group or carries on business in competition with the Fonterra Group

• I am a supplying shareholder of Fonterra in the name of Rangitahi Farms Limited and hold 163,315 Fonterra shares.

To the best of my knowledge and belief the disclosures set out above are full and complete.

Coming from a family that has been farming in Springdale for over 90 years I am proud to be standing for election this year to

represent Ward 6 as your local Shareholders’ Councillor.

I am involved in the daily operations of my 170 hectare farm, milking 420 cows, so am well aware of the challenges we face in

operating our farms day-to-day.

Despite the recent unrest and opinion that the Shareholders’ Council is ineffective, I believe this to be untrue. I do however, believe

changes in the way the Council currently operates would be beneficial in order to protect the interests of us, the farmers and

shareholders of our Co-op. Changes would also ensure there is a level of transparency and accountability within the Fonterra ranks.

I want to ensure our Co-op continues to thrive for generations to come and look forward to your support.

FONTERRA ELECTIONS 2020 SHAREHOLDERS’ COUNCIL CANDIDATE PROFILES WARD 6 - PIAKO
5

TE AROHA

Mobile: 021 137 2334

Email: kaimore@farmside.co.nz

Nacre MAIDEN

Candidate Interest Statement

Listed below are details of all business, investment and other relationships I have with Fonterra Co-operative Group Limited

and its subsidiaries (the “Fonterra Group”) (including as a supplying shareholder), or with any third party that transacts with

the Fonterra Group or carries on business in competition with the Fonterra Group

• I am a supplying shareholder of Fonterra jointly with Associated Persons (as defined in the Financial Markets Conduct Act

2013) in the name of Kaimore Farms Limited, which holds 90,957 Fonterra shares.

• I have a beneficial and financial interest jointly with Associated Persons in Tauhei Farms Limited, which holds 820,150

Fonterra shares.

To the best of my knowledge and belief the disclosures set out above are full and complete.

My husband and I own a 62ha Fonterra supply dairy farm with an Autumn calving herd. I am also involved in my family’s dairy farming

business, regularly milking to provide time off for the farm manager, among other tasks.

Having grown up on a dairy farm and continuing to see the challenges faced by the industry, now seems as good a time as any to put

my hand up to give back. My previous experience, having worked in local government and in agri-banking gives me a well-rounded

view of the challenges on both sides of the table for our farmers. It will be important to me that I am available to all Fonterra suppliers,

be they shareholders or sharemilkers, having come through the sharemilking system, one of my main concerns is how we retain

people within the Fonterra family. We want them to choose to supply Fonterra rather than our competitors, when they achieve farm

ownership. With this in mind, it is important to me that Fonterra continues to facilitate and support both existing and alternate

pathways to farm ownership and Fonterra supply.

Within the wider family business, we are very fortunate to have farmland that has been in the family for over 100 years, we aim to

retain this as productive land for another 100 years. Sustainability is a “no-brainer”, but it has to be done right. Many farmers feel they

have been burnt spending money on compliance but finding that very quickly the standards have changed and more expenditure is

required. Being ‘green’ but not making profit is not sustainability. We need to have money to invest in green technology and systems.

Environmental and financial sustainability must go hand in hand. As Fonterra suppliers we need Fonterra to continue to support us in

both aspects. Fonterra must be a financially strong company to provide us with a great milk price and significant dividends on a year

in, year out basis, while also upskilling and supporting farmers to be environmentally sustainable. We must retain our social licence to

dairy farm. The Shareholders’ Council must continue to remind the Board of both of these requirements.

I look forward to meeting you and hearing your views of the Co-op.

6
FONTERRA ELECTIONS 2020 SHAREHOLDERS’ COUNCIL CANDIDATE PROFILES WARD 6 - PIAKO

OHAUPO

Mobile: 027 498 8496

Email: andrew@grasslandz.co.nz

Andrew REYMER

Candidate Interest Statement

Listed below are details of all business, investment and other relationships I have with Fonterra Co-operative Group Limited

and its subsidiaries (the “Fonterra Group”) (including as a supplying shareholder), or with any third party that transacts with

the Fonterra Group or carries on business in competition with the Fonterra Group

• I am a supplying Shareholder of Ohaupo Dairies Ltd with associated persons, which is a fully shared up Fonterra supplier

holding 223,937 shares.

To the best of my knowledge and belief the disclosures set out above are full and complete.

Guarding the Co-op is the single simplest form of the Shareholders’ Councilors’ role. While the Board is charged with running the

business, it is the Shareholders’ Council that must hold it to the Co-op principles. Once this clear distinction is made, the rest falls into

place. It is not our role to run the business, but simply to ensure it is run how we, the farmer shareholders would like to see it run.

What then are we looking for in a Shareholders’ Councilor? Simply someone that keeps us connected to the Co-op and gives us

the avenue for information to be passed both up and down. We want to know our opinions are heard, as well as have genuine ‘tell

us how it really is’ reporting coming back down about our Co-op. I have always prided myself in my ability to bridge this gap, to be

able to connect with farmers on the ground, but also the managers of the business. I enjoy people, understanding their thinking and

connecting them with others.

While actively involved with the daily operation on our 500-cow farm in Ohaupo, I have the time to commit to the role to do it justice

yet connected to the younger farmers coming through to understand their concerns and thinking.

Developing a strong Shareholders’ Council and representative network is one of the most important duties I see in this role. Building a

more engaged and informed shareholder base is the key to its survival. Information leads to knowledge, which leads to understanding

and then belief. Having farmers believe in their co-op is our strength.

Having completed the Fonterra Understanding Your Co-operative course in 2014, I developed the passion that followed on from

understanding. This led me to the Governance Development Program which I completed in 2015. What was evident to me from

that programme is that representation is key to shareholder’s connection with the Co-op. Governance and representation are very

different, but equally important. I am married to Liz with three budding All Blacks, Joshua 16, Curtis 15 and Nathan 11 who keep us

focused on why we are in a co-op, so we have a strong industry to pass on.

I am the chairman of the Te Awamutu Branch of the Federated farmers, and Waikato Vice Dairy Chair. Collective strength amongst

farmers is their philosophy, and this lines up with co-op principles, and mine.

FONTERRA ELECTIONS 2020 SHAREHOLDERS’ COUNCIL CANDIDATE PROFILES WARD 6 - PIAKO
7

8
FONTERRA ELECTIONS 2020 SHAREHOLDERS’ COUNCIL CANDIDATE PROFILES WARD 6 - PIAKO

If undelivered please return to:
The Returning Officer

Fonterra Elections 2020

PO Box 3138

Christchurch 8140

Free phone 0800 666 034

You are automatically entitled to two votes. You may use your two votes in the following ways:
1. If you want BOTH YOUR votes to be the same just complete and return VOTING PAPER 1.

2. If you want your two votes to be different, or give the second vote to your sharemilker, tick the blue box below.

I want my two votes to be different and have completed both Voting Papers / I have given Voting Paper 2

to my sharemilker to complete.

FONTERRA ELECTIONS 2020

Shareholders’ Council Election

VOTING PAPER 1

FONTERRA ELECTIONS 2020

Shareholders’ Council Election

VOTING PAPER 2

Postal Voting Instructions

(Please read carefully)

• Please rank the candidates you wish to vote for in

your order of preference by clearly writing a “1”

beside the name of the candidate you most prefer

and a “2” beside the name of your second most

preferred candidate, and so on.

• You can rank as many or as few candidates as you

wish, though your vote is most effective if you

rank all candidates.

• You can only write one number “1”, one number

“2”, one number “3” and you must not give the

same ranking to more than one candidate.

• Do not vote with a cross “” or a tick, “”.

• If you make a mistake, cross it out and write the

correct number next to it.

NUMBER

HERE

Ensure each number is written neatly

inside the voting box next to each

candidate.

Nacre MAIDEN

Robert COOKSON

Andrew REYMER

Postal Voting Instructions

(Please read carefully)

• Please rank the candidates you wish to vote for in

your order of preference by clearly writing a “1”

beside the name of the candidate you most prefer

and a “2” beside the name of your second most

preferred candidate, and so on.

• You can rank as many or as few candidates as you

wish, though your vote is most effective if you

rank all candidates.

• You can only write one number “1”, one number

“2”, one number “3” and you must not give the

same ranking to more than one candidate.

• Do not vote with a cross “” or a tick, “”.

• If you make a mistake, cross it out and write the

correct number next to it.

NUMBER

HERE

Ensure each number is written neatly

inside the voting box next to each

candidate.

Nacre MAIDEN

Robert COOKSON

Andrew REYMER

WARD 6 PIAKO

Election of ONE (1) Councillor

WARD 6 PIAKO

Election of ONE (1) Councillor

YOU CAN VOTE IN ONE OF THE FOLLOWING TWO WAYS:

YOU CAN VOTE IN ONE OF THE FOLLOWING TWO WAYS:

Please only use one of these voting methods

For enquiries phone the ELECTION HELPLINE: 0800 666 034

Please only use one of these voting methods

For enquiries phone the ELECTION HELPLINE: 0800 666 034

For the Shareholders’ Council Election you have received two Voting Papers for each

farm that you own in Ward 6.

Votes for the Shareholders’ Council Elections are on a per farm basis, not on

milksolids production.

Voting closes at:

10.30am on Tuesday, 3 November 2020

Voting closes at:

10.30am on Tuesday, 3 November 2020

INTERNET VOTING

Vote via Farm Source website at:

www.nzfarmsource.co.nz

• Login using your Farm Source login and password.

• Follow the voting links from the homepage.

• Enter your Personal Identification Number (PIN)

and password – see below.

IMPORTANT: By entering the PIN and password you

warrant and undertake that you are authorised to

exercise the vote of this shareholder.

After voting online, you do not need to submit this

Voting Paper and it can be destroyed.

INTERNET VOTING

Vote via Farm Source website at:

www.nzfarmsource.co.nz

• Login using your Farm Source login and password.

• Follow the voting links from the homepage.

• Enter your Personal Identification Number (PIN)

and password – see below.

IMPORTANT: By entering the PIN and password you

warrant and undertake that you are authorised to

exercise the vote of this shareholder.

After voting online, you do not need to submit this

Voting Paper and it can be destroyed.

POSTAL VOTING

Post the completed Voting Paper(s) in the freepost

envelope provided no later than Thursday,

29 October 2020 so it reaches the Returning Officer

before the close of voting.

POSTAL VOTING

Post the completed Voting Paper(s) in the freepost

envelope provided no later than Thursday,

29 October 2020 so it reaches the Returning Officer

before the close of voting.

1

1

2

2

PINPASSWORD

PINPASSWORD

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