Dr Jenny Jago

Position: Strategy and investment leader – farm performance, DairyNZ
Field: Dairy research

Jenny was in charge of the Greenfield Project, a research programme investigating the potential to use an automatic milking system to manage milking on dairy farms. She continues to work at DairyNZ working to provide New Zealand farmers with new options to improve farm productivity and workplace design through the application of technology to reduce labour requirements, make better decisions and change the nature of work on dairy farms. 

Job

Jenny enjoyed her work at the Greenfield Project because it has the potential to positively affect so many people. The project is also innovative and creative, and she loves working with people who are enthusiastic about rising to the challenges it involves.

Find out more about Robotic milking.

I really like the prospect of being able to make a difference...

Career Pathway

Jenny was brought up on a dairy farm in Stratford, Taranaki. She was very interested in Science and Maths at school, and especially enjoyed carrying out practical investigations with snails, slaters and the cows on her parents’ farm. She also loved helping her father with the jobs on the farm, especially looking after the young calves.

At university she studied abroad range of topics including Management, Physics, Maths and Computing, with a major in Animal Behaviour. Jenny went on to complete a PhD studying the behaviour of bulls. She then worked in Denmark and France before returning to New Zealand. As a result of her previous experience and knowledge she was asked to join DairNZ's Greenfield Project's research team – to which she said “Yes, please!” In 2018 Jenny stepped into the strategy and investment leader role, having previously been the portfolio manager.

Interests

Jenny is a keen swimmer, cyclist and golfer and has 3 children.

This article is based on information current in 2007 and updated in 2021.