DSF Annual Meeting – what to expect

October 14 is set for the DSF Annual meeting in Chicago. The DSF asked the meeting’s Master of Ceremonies, Dr David Nation, General manager of Dairy Australia and DSF Governor, about his aspirations for this first physical event since the COVID Pandemic.

So, what can those attending look forward to this time?  Lots! For a start, this is the first time we are meeting face to face for four years. There will be many new people to meet as well as old acquaintances to renew. The lunch event before the meeting will be a great place to network.
The meeting agenda is focussed on participation – to hear what is happening in the DSF and hear from people working in dairy sustainability. Importantly there is plenty of opportunity to engage with DSF peers who are facing similar challenges in different geographies. 

The theme of the meeting is ‘keeping ahead of the sustainability curve’, who’s speaking?  Brian and Donald will of course be presenting on the progress being made by DSF in a number of areas and we will also see the launch of an exciting new approach to membership that will make the DSF even more accessible to dairy colleagues globally.
The centrepiece of the event is a panel session that includes speakers from across the globe. We’ll get to hear from dairy farmers in the US and NZ that have leading roles in their industries (Marilyn Hershey, Chair of Dairy Management Inc. and Tracy Brown, Board Member at DairyNZ), from sustainability leaders in Europe (Hanne Søndergaard, Arla Foods) and in the Asian livestock industry (Dr Meenesh Shah, National Dairy Development Board, India) and the Director of Animal Production & Health Division, Food and Agriculture Organisation (Dr Thanawat Tiensin). You can find more details on our panellists in the next article. 

What will the Panel be discussing?  They’ll be discussing the fast-paced life we all seem to have in sustainability.
Here is the topic: “ Almost every week there seems to be another sustainability related challenge that requires the actions of the global dairy sector. Our Panel will explore and share with delegates how dairy can best strategically and responsibly manage this fast-evolving space.” 

I can’t travel to Chicago, is it worth me attending online?  Yes, definitely. We will miss seeing you at the event, of course, but these days it’s a great experience online too. The organising team (The DSF Development Group) are looking to bring the best of our experience doing these meetings online to make this a proper hybrid event. It is our ambition to ensure those online can experience as much as possible…as if they are also in the room.

Last year you offered some interpretation options, are you doing something similar this year?  Yes, we are continuing to offer interpretation. This year there will be Spanish and Japanese translators available both in person and online (one of the benefits of an on-line facility). It’s a ‘bring-your-own-earphones’ arrangement at Chicago if you want to hear the translators as it will operate through the Zoom function.

Who should attend the annual meeting in person?  Everyone reading this newsletter is invited and encouraged to attend – it’s the one time in the year opportunity to come together to meet and discuss sustainability on a global scale. There’s always lots to learn and share when we meet.  For those of us, like me, that have a long journey to Chicago – we are pleased about the hybrid format, and are making arrangements for some colleagues to attend in person and some to join online.  I hope to see as many of you as possible – both in person and online. 

If you haven’t yet registered, please click on the link here – we look forward to welcoming you!