Our People
The Headwaters team approach means the business operates under good governance, with a small management team supported by highly skilled contractors employed to meet the specific needs of the business.
General Manager
Tim Saunders
Having worked for ANZ for over 10 years, Tim has a strong background in Agriculture and Horticulture Finance. Most recently, Tim worked for the award winning Māori food and beverage company Kono NZ LP as their Commercialization Manager.
Tim holds a number of positions on Food & Beverage Advisory Boards and is also Deputy Chair of the Top of the South Community Foundation. Tim is married to an entrepreneur business woman Emma Saunders, they have three young boys.
Finance Manager
Tiffany Cawte
My financial background has come from working in large accounting firms such as Deloitte and BDO and also small local firms in the Waikato.
I have been Finance Manager in a large corporate dairy farm business and also worked in the banking industry for ASB Rural Corporate and Rabobank Major Agri.
My husband and I own a dairy farm in Leeston and I am a mother to three children.
I enjoy getting out into the hills tramping, travelling, and keeping fit.
Sales Manager
Andrew Bendall
Breeding has been a major part of Andrew's background, with his family being foundation members of both the first sheep and cattle performance groups (The NZ Romney Development Group & Waigroup Angus both being established in 1967).
Andrew and his wife Rhonda returned from the Falklands in July 2022 after two and a half years as a rural advisor for the Falkland Islands government leading the team at the Department of Agriculture.
Andrew is looking forward to getting back involved with the Headwaters community and being part of taking Headwaters and Lumina lamb to the next level.
Supply Chain Manager
Kelly Walsh
Kelly and his wife Kate have 3 children and live on a small farm just outside Timaru. Kelly has spent 16 years as a drafter for silver fern farms and joined the Headwaters team in October 2022. With a good understanding of the meat industry Kelly is looking forward to meeting all needs from the farmer through to processing and markets and keep building the Headwaters brand.
Supply Chain Manager
Tony Kelly
Tony is married to Jo and lives in Rangiora and has worked in the livestock industry all his life except for a period where he fulfilled a lifelong ambition working as a Referee Development Officer for Rugby NZ. Tony comes to us from ANZCO and is excited about adding his experience to the Headwaters team.
Breeding Manager
Tara Dwyer
Tara lives and farms in Middlemarch, Otago, with her husband Angus and 2 young children. She supports our growers with their Lumina breeding and finishing systems whilst also overseeing the farm assurance program that the group is undertaking. Tara is also very involved with the Headwaters genetics program.
Tara has an Ag.Science degree from Lincoln University and a background in both farming and rural services. Her drivers are to support our growers to be the best they can, and focusing on solutions to the challenges that they face.
Marketing & Administration Coordinator
Olivia Ridgen
Olivia lives in Southbridge and comes from a farming background. Since graduating, Olivia has spent time as a precision ag technician for Vantage NZ, working on a cattle station in Western Australia, driving harvesters for Watties and travelling. With a degree in media communication and marketing, her role will be our marketing and administration coordinator. Olivia enjoys networking with farmers and creating content that show cases the ag industry.