Our team

Ian Barugh

For the last 20 years Ian has been providing technical support to producers, nutritionists, veterinarians and other industry personnel. He fills a key role with technology transfer, co-ordinates pork industry seminars and workshops and supplies technical information and expertise. Ian’s recent emphasis has been on welfare, sow housing and environmental issues.

Frances Clement

Frances has been involved with the New Zealand pork industry for over 20 years. Her work primarily focuses on those industry matters and activities to support pig farming as a sustainable activity producing New Zealand pig meat that is well regarded and appreciated by New Zealanders. She works closely with New Zealand Pork’s technical advisers and industry veterinarians to ensure policy is soundly based and represents these views to regulators and other primary industry organisations. Current priority matters span biosecurity, animal welfare and food safety / suitability.

Kirsty Chidgey

Kirsty developed a strong interest in pig production and pig welfare while studying Animal Science at Massey University in Palmerston North. She has been involved in the New Zealand pork industry as a postgraduate student since 2010. After completing a Masters in sow welfare, she went on to complete a PhD in 2016, supervised by Professor Patrick Morel, Ian Barugh, and Professor Kevin Stafford. Her PhD investigated sow and piglet behaviour and productivity in farrowing crates and in alternative farrowing pens in a commercial setting.

For the past two years, Kirsty has been based in the School of Veterinary Science at Massey in a role which involved working with veterinary, agricultural, and animal science students. Kirsty is interested in practical, science-based research that benefits and enhances on-farm practice. She is looking forward to the opportunity to carry out more pig-related research in her new role, also based at Massey, as an Animal Welfare Scientist and Advisor with NZ Pork.

Jeska McHugh

Jeska is a Certified Environmental Practitioner who has over fifteen years’ experience working with leading workplace safety and environmental practitioners to embed safety, and provide environmental and sustainable business solutions for organisations. This work has included a number of roles as a researcher, auditor, consultant, trainer, lecturer, certifier and business owner. Jeska is a registered lead auditor, holds occupational health and safety qualifications and is passionate about supporting others to build and operate world-class, best practice businesses.

Jane Meaclem