Academic and Professional Background

• Personal Resume:

  Chris was appointed Chief Executive of Landcorp Farming Ltd - a State Owned Enterprise and New Zealand's largest corporate farmer - in March 2001. 

  Previously he held various positions with the New Zealand Dairy Board, including Strategic Planning Manager, General Manager for Corporate Planning and Global Head of Strategic Industry Relations.  Chris also had extensive experience representing farmer interests to the Livestock Improvement Corporation Ltd and the Animal Health Board. Earlier in his career, he practised as a veterinary surgeon and lecturer.  He was a Veterinary Advisor for Glaxo Animal Health Ltd and was the General Manager for North East Asia/New Zealand for Pitman Moore Ltd.

  Chris was Chairman of AgVax Developments, a subsidiary of AgResearch, responsible for commercialisation of Animal Health Products.

  He is an accredited Director with the Institute of Directors. As well as being on the Board of The Bio-Protection Research Centre, he is also a Director of NZ Agricultural ITO, Landcorp Estates Ltd, Landcorp Developments Ltd, and is a member of the Massey Council. The Listener magazine named Chris Kelly the Most Influential Person in Agriculture on their 2008 Power List.