Taranaki's Oliver Cayley is proof you don’t need an agricultural background to excel in agribusiness. The second-year International Agribusiness student at Massey University, who has always lived in town, has just been awarded the Perrin Ag John Perrin Scholarship for 2024.
Oliver topped his cohort in his first year. His remarkable academic achievements, dedication and understanding of the big picture industry issues made him the standout recipient for the $3,000 scholarship.
John Perrin, founder and Chair of Perrin Ag, commended Oliver's impressive performance.
“Oliver isn’t from an agricultural background, so he has done exceptionally well in his studies. His dedication and application in year one, as shown by his results, are extraordinary,” says John.
“I was impressed by his mature and considered assessment of issues facing the agriculture industry in New Zealand at the moment. It was clear he fully intends to use his Bachelor’s degree to further our industry and support the farmers within it. We wish him all the best in his future endeavours.”
Oliver says the scholarship takes away some of the financial pressure that comes with being a student. It has also helped him build industry connections with organisations like Perrin Ag.
“I’ve always lived in town. I don’t come from a farming background so making industry connections with leading organisations like Perrin Ag is invaluable for me,” says Oliver.
Oliver chose to pursue International Agribusiness at Massey after enjoying business, geography, and agriculture in high school. He had also gained practical experience in policy at a youth United Nations Economic Conference and participated in the Taranaki Futures Accelerator Programme which connects students with industry to help them define their career path.
For the past two summers Oliver has worked in a summer position at CMK Chartered Accountants giving him hands-on insights into the financial workings of their agribusiness clients.
"Working with CMK's agribusiness clients allowed me to apply my knowledge in real-world scenarios and to continue building my network which I am grateful for," says Oliver.
“At school, I always wanted to do something business-related. I've always done accounting and economics and I love analysis. Studying agribusiness lets me do all those things.
“Ultimately, I want to be able to use my skills to help farmers increase productivity and efficiency, in a sustainable way.”
Oliver says the international focus of his study has opened his eyes to the entire value chain for New Zealand’s primary products from paddock to plate around the world.
“New Zealand’s products reach an international customer base. My studies are helping me understand the global value chain and how New Zealand's sustainable farming methods can support and add value to that. There is huge potential in global agribusiness.”
His major in International Agribusiness also leaves the door open to travel, which is an exciting possibility, he says.
“Using my skills to help New Zealand farmers achieve on the world stage would be amazing. I have learned a lot from analysing companies like Zespri as part of my study and looking at how they approach their value chain.”
Outside of his academic pursuits, Oliver enjoys basketball, football, fishing, hiking, and volunteering. He looks forward to further leveraging the connections made possible by the scholarship, especially with Perrin Ag’s Feilding-based team.
"The scholarship has opened doors for me, and I'm eager to make more of these connections," says Oliver.
About the Scholarship: The John Perrin Scholarship is one of two awards Perrin Ag offers each year to promising individuals to continue (2nd year or later) agriculture and horticulture science studies at the undergraduate, post-graduate diploma, or Honors level at either Lincoln, Massey, or Waikato Universities.
Named after the founder and current Chairman of the company, this scholarship recognises the qualities John has brought to his clients and colleagues for so many years – passion, dedication, the pursuit of excellence, and the desire to make a positive impact on our communities.
