Wingman Team

  • photo mark benns leaning against some machinery on a farm

    Mark Benns

    CO-FOUNDER & HERD ENGINEER

    After successfully exiting dairy farming in 2024 with one of New Zealand’s top herds (#54 on BW and #16 on PW), Mark (together with Louise and Hamish) established Wingman – our pioneering independent herd improvement consultancy.  Committed to sharing his passion, insights and knowledge, helping farmers achieve better herd performance and long-term success is at the heart of what Mark (and Wingman) is about.    

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  • Abby Ross

    HERD ENGINEER

    The latest addition to our Wingman team!  A recent graduate of Lincoln University, Abby has been tasked with the role of expanding our South Island footprint and supporting our farmers on the Mainland.  She comes from a strong dairy background and with a keen interest in both dairy and deer genetics, Abby is prepared to roll her sleeves up, get stuck in, and learn her craft with us.

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  • photo of louise benns leaning on a fence with a herd of cows behind her

    Louise Benns

    CO-FOUNDER & MARKETING LEAD

    Louise is Wingman’s innovation and insights champion.  She’s spent her career in agribusiness, working for well-known companies like Ballance Agri-Nutrients and LIC in a variety of roles including customer-facing, marketing, business development and innovation.  Louise is responsible for turning our customer insights into Wingman products and services that solve a farmer’s ‘jobs to be done’.

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  • photo of hamish gow in business clothes standing near a fence on a farm

    Hamish Gow

    CO-FOUNDER & STRATEGIST

    Hamish is Wingman’s resident ‘big picture thinker and dreamer.’  Hamish is an agribusiness Professor at Lincoln University specialising in global value chains and trade; a skillset which has taken him around the world to both the US and Australia.  With some serious intellectual horsepower (including sitting on Fonterra’s milk price panel), we’re very fortunate to have Hamish and his skills contributing to Wingman and our future direction.    

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