Meet Louis Poole
Advisor New Zealand Government Affairs, Tāmaki Makaurau
I grew up on a dairy farm in South Taranaki and have always appreciated the lifestyle associated with farming and being able to work alongside family in an outdoor environment.
Studying Agricultural Science at university was a natural fit for me, and I was lucky enough to be awarded a number of study scholarships, which introduced me to Fonterra and agribusiness. I originally planned to start farming after university, however changed my plans following a summer internship with Fonterra where I worked in the Taranaki Farm Source team and in other roles in Auckland.
Following university, I spent two years on Fonterra’s Graduate programme, working in Farm Source’s Taranaki team as well as the Category Strategy team in Hamilton. The people I worked with were amazing and they created such a positive and supportive work environment.
Following the Graduate programme, I moved up to Fonterra’s head office in Auckland to work in the Government Affairs team, where I am currently based. The role is super interesting and involves a constantly changing landscape with many challenges to address. It’s been a steep learning curve, but the team has been great. That’s the special thing about Fonterra, everyone is generous with their time and knowledge and people care about each other.
In the future, I would like to work in an offshore capacity, selling our innovative products in-market, before returning to become a farmer and raise a family.