Speakers

Amber Carpenter

Director

Amber Carpenter is a dairy farmer, business owner and rural leader who brings practical farming experience and a background in marketing to her work across New Zealand’s food and fibre sector.

Together with her husband Fraser, Amber farms just under 500 dairy cows in Paparimu, south of Auckland, and leases two beef farms. Originally from urban Auckland, she built her early career in the fashion industry before making the move into farming.

Today, Amber owns and leads Grass Roots Media, a digital marketing agency helping rural businesses communicate clearly, build trust and share the stories behind their work. Her experience across farming and business gives her a practical understanding of the pressures facing the sector and the importance of connecting with people beyond the farm gate.

Amber chairs DairyNZ’s Dairy Environment Leaders network and is a Farmstrong ambassador, Kellogg Rural Leadership Programme graduate and AWDT Escalator graduate. She has also served as National Chair of the New Zealand Dairy Industry Awards and was a finalist for the 2024 Fonterra Dairy Woman of the Year.

Across her roles, Amber is committed to supporting rural people, strengthening communities and helping shape a dairy sector where profitable businesses, environmental progress and people’s wellbeing grow together.