Meet Tim Hodgson
I’ve been at Fonterra for over five years now, initially joining the Co-op as part of the Fonterra Graduate Technical Programme (FGTP).
I’m now based in Hamilton but grew up in Wellington with my parents and younger brother. Outside of work, I like to keep active – playing football, practicing judo, and tramping through New Zealand’s beautiful countryside. I have always had a passion for science and technology. I studied Chemical and Process Engineering at the University of Canterbury and after graduation leaped at the opportunity to join Fonterra.
As a Fonterra graduate, I was lucky to see a huge amount of New Zealand while learning from the exceptionally talented people at Fonterra’s Research and Development Centre (FRDC) as well as the wider organisation.
A highlight for me was the factory placements across our South Island sites where I had the opportunity to meet some of our manufacturing teams and get a first-hand look at our operations in action. Our FRDC is one of the largest of its kind in the world employing nearly 300 people and being behind many ‘firsts’ in the dairy ingredients industry.
From there, I moved into a Process Safety role within the New Zealand Manufacturing Engineering and Capital Projects team which was a great way to see ‘behind the curtain’ and the unsung work that goes into keeping Fonterra’s systems running.
I then joined the Environment Technical group in Technical Excellence in 2022 and have been there since, working on new build wastewater treatment plant capital projects, and nutrient management farms at our sites.
This year, I was selected for the Aotearoa Circle’s Rangatahi Advisory Panel, a relatively new initiative. The Aotearoa Circle brings together business, government, iwi, and non-governmental sector leaders to address some of the most pressing sustainability challenges facing our country.
In my time with Fonterra, sustainability has moved front and centre. It’s become widely recognised now, both here and across the industry, that the Co-op needs to lead the charge on this important issue, and we are. I'm excited to see the progress we are making in decarbonisation, the increased use of sustainable packaging, and the Co-op’s focus on wastewater portfolio and water improvement plans.
This year, I was selected for the Aotearoa Circle’s Rangatahi Advisory Panel, a relatively new initiative. The Aotearoa Circle brings together business, government, iwi, and non-governmental sector leaders to address some of the most pressing sustainability challenges facing our country. It also aims to serve as a platform for collaboration and collective action to promote sustainable development and stewardship of New Zealand's natural resources.
The panel consists of rangatahi (young people) who are passionate about sustainability. It was established to ensure the perspectives and voices of young New Zealanders are heard and incorporated into the discussions of Aotearoa Circle, ensuring any decisions made are inclusive, relevant, and effective for future generations.
I’m excited to be selected as a member of the Panel and am looking forward to doing my part in advocating sustainability issues, challenges, and opportunities that are important to New Zealand’s future generations. I am also looking forward to further building my understanding of environmental and governance issues outside of my professional experience.
Fonterra is a Leading Partner of the Aotearoa Circle which represents a great opportunity to further our aspirations of being a leader in sustainability now and in the future.