AuctionsPlus Assessor Nick van den Berg shortlisted for Zanda McDonald Award

Nicholas van den Berg, a 34-year-old AuctionsPlus Assessor and Livestock Agent with Platinum Livestock in Keith, has been named on the 2026 Zanda McDonald Award shortlist - a major nod to emerging agricultural leaders across Australia and New Zealand.

Mr van den Berg is a prominent AuctionsPlus Assessor (Level 3 cattle and Level 2 sheep), having already listed more than 160 lots on the platform in 2025.

He also coordinated the first AuctionsPlus multi-vendor non-mulesed Merino ewe sale in October, which drew strong competition and solid prices. Nearly 90% of the 3,300 ewes offered were sold, reaching a top price of $328.

READ MORE: Non-mulesed Merino ewes sell to $328 in first multi-vendor sale

The Zanda McDonald Award, widely regarded as Australasia’s leading honour for up-and-coming ag professionals, recognises those who are showing genuine leadership, industry vision, and a commitment to driving progress across the primary sector.

Recognising the next generation of agricultural talent, the award offers a prize package focused on personalised mentoring and professional development.

This year’s finalists, five from each side of the Tasman, have been chosen for their strong leadership, passion for the industry, and commitment to advancing the primary sector.

The Australian Shortlist:

• Bryce Neyland (35), Engineering & Development Manager at Rural Funds Management, Gol Gol, New South Wales
• Caitlin Crowe (27), Head of Department Agriculture, Technologies & Arts at St George State High School, St George Queensland
• David Angus (24), General Manager of Signature Beef, Central Queensland
• Muhammad Kamran (34), Data and Business Analyst at Neogen Australasia and University of Queensland
• Nicholas van den Berg (34), Livestock Agent at Platinum Livestock, Keith, South East South Australia

The New Zealand Shortlist:

• Chloe Butcher-Herries, 32, farm manager Mathews Station sheep and beef farm, Central Hawkes Bay
• Karn Dhaliwal (32), Founder/Owner of greenfield development cropping business Ohinewai Harvest Ltd & Dhaliwal Ag Ltd, Te Hoe, Waikato
• Lana Marshall (31), Client Director at NZAB, financial guidance and strategic planning for farmers, and 50:50 sharemilker, Invercargill, Southland
• Laura Torpey (26), Crop Team Leader at vegetable produce company A S Wilcox & Sons Limited, and deer farmer, Awhitu Auckland
• Sophie Hurley (34), CEO of sustainable luggage and accessories brand Honest Wolf, Hunterville, Rangitikei 

Award Chairman Shane McManaway said he’s excited by the strong mix of talent coming through this year.

“It’s a privilege to see the strength of the next generation coming through. This award plays an important role in both celebrating and supporting future changemakers in the ag sector, and this year’s applicants show exceptional promise", Mr McManaway said.

"We’re looking forward to meeting the shortlist and hearing their ideas for the future of the industry.”

The shortlisted applicants will have interviews in early December, and from there, three finalists from each country will be selected.  One winner from each country will be crowned the 2026 recipients of the award, at the Zanda McDonald Award Impact Summit in Christchurch NZ, in March 2026.