Livestock and Dairy
Email: tamakidairy@gmail.com
Geoff Walker is a graduate of Cornell University and INSEAD. He holds a Post-Graduate Diploma in Dairy Science and Technology from Massey University and an M. Sc. (Hons) from , Auckland University. He has worked in the international dairy industry for more than 30 years. In that time, he has spanned roles from technical support to sales and senior management, the latter in both commercial and development organizations. He has lived and worked in New Zealand, Mexico, USA, Korea, Bahrain and Pakistan. In an earlier part of his career, Geoff was Regional Managing Director for Africa, Indian Sub-continent and the Middle East, for Fonterra, the largest supplier of dairy products to the international market.
Geoff was the inaugural Chief Executive of Pakistan Dairy Development Company, based in Lahore, from early 2006 to late 2009. In this role, Geoff led a significant team build to reach 250 employees from scratch, with some ex-patriates but mainly young Pakistani staff. Geoff worked with the dairy industry to create an industry development strategy, and led approval of this strategy at the highest political levels in the country. Achievements during the time Geoff was Chief Executive include the following:
· Identification of the real reasons for the lack of development of the sector.
· Demonstrating that the dairy sector of Pakistan can provide profit to farmers.
· Enhancing the productivity and profitability of dairy farmers through the Model Farm Programme, which generally resulted in 35% increases in productivity within a matter of weeks of joining the programme. Over 900 model farms had been implemented at the time Geoff left PDDC.
· Implementation of 1,200 cooling tanks with private sector clients.
· Installation of 650 family-sized biogas units.
· Successful launch of our Community Farm Programme, which at the time of my departure from PDDC was providing real assistance to 800 small and poor farmers.
· Introduction of Farmer Discussion Groups for the first time in Pakistan.
· Development of training modules tailored to the needs of dairy farmers in Pakistan, by the Extension Department of PDDC.
· Introduction of more modern technology for milking, crop harvesting and animal management.
· The first widespread preventive treatment for mastitis.
Perhaps the greatest achievement, however, was the transfer of skills and knowledge in the broad field of dairy farming to the team of young Pakistani field workers.
In recent years, Geoff has undertaken consulting projects on the international dairy market, and undertook due diligence relating to dairy manufacturing prior to an investment in a major dairy company in a developing economy.
Geoff is able to undertake project work in the livestock and dairy field, and owing to his international experience and contacts, he is able to identify teams who can undertake major dairy/livestock development programs, or to develop modern dairy farms from greenfield in developing economies.
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