phil handford

Responsible for the The Rural Bank's operations in Westland.

Live deer recovery. I established and operated a joint venture for the live capture and trading of wild deer during the establishment phase of the New Zealand deer farming industry.

Founding shareholder director. Androgenix is a biotech company established to develop a low cost means of sexing semen for the dairy cattle industry. The company was unsuccessful in its sexed semen research and I exited the company when it changed direction in 2011.

Founding shareholder director. Te Papanui Farms Ltd was established to develop a large scale dairy farm in West Otago. The original property was expanded and farmed 800+ dairy cows. In 2008 the farm was sold to one of the founding shareholders.

In 2000 I initiated the establishment of the National Bank's Equity Partnership Manager role to help facilitate and educate about the formation of equity partnerships in farming. This led to ANZ National Bank banking around two thirds of all equity partnerships in farming in New Zealand. The role involved actively utilising a large network throughout the country, speaking/presenting at seminars, publishing regular newsletters, making introductions and putting people in touch with others who could assist

Responsible for National Bank's agribusiness team in the western Waikato

Founding shareholder director. Ecodiesel was a start up company established to construct a 20 million litre/year commercial scale biodiesel plant in Auckland. The company was to take advantage of New Zealand's supply of tallow from the meat processing industry and capitalise on the New Zealand Government's Biofuel Sales Obligation (BSO). Fuel produced in the pilot plant met international specifications and was trialed by Mobil at retail level. http://www.nzherald.co.nz/rotorua-daily-post/news/article.cfm?c_id=1503438&objectid=10982637 The global financial crisis, a change in government and repeal of the BSO plus broken promises by the new government meant the plant was never completed. The assets were sold to Z Energy Ltd in 2012 and the company was wound up in 2013. In 2014 Z Energy announced its plans to complete construction of the plant. http://z.co.nz/keeping-business-on-the-move/energy-drop/2014/april/new-zealand-s-first-commercial-scale-biodiesel-plant/

Founding shareholder director. Grasshopper Rock Wine Limited was established in 2001 to purchase a 10.5 hectare property on Earnscleugh Road, Alexandra, Central Otago. I led the establishment of the company and recruitment of the four other founding families. The company's vision has always been to become a world class Pinot noir winery The land was cleared, developed and fully planted in Pinot noir vines in 2003.The first grapes were harvested in 2006 and the first wine released for sale in late 2007. In Nov 2007 I left the ANZ bank to work full time as Managing Director of Grasshopper Rock and to fill the sales and marketing role. Grasshopper Rock has produced excellent Pinot noir right from the first vintage and has established a reputation as one of the leading wineries in Central Otago. In 2012 Grasshopper Rock was judged the Champion Wine at the Air New Zealand Wine Awards. Grasshopper Rock Pinot Noir is now sold in New Zealand, Australia, UK and parts of Asia.