The Team Supporting Your Diversification Journey
Jade and Michelle share a passion for creating and supporting change towards diversified agricultural systems and landscapes that support the development of a localised bioeconomy across Aotearoa. This passion and motivation is backed up by their dovetailing skill sets and perspectives.
Michelle Barry
Michelle is a director, researcher, and business owner. She has 13 years’ experience across agri-environmental advisory services, viticulture and wine production, extension, stakeholder engagement and entrepreneurship. She is finalising her PhD in agricultural economics at Lincoln University.
Jade Chia
Jade brings startup experience and cross-functional expertise to the Variegate team. A food technologist by trade, her FMCG background spans across marketing, business strategy, commercialisation, sales and technical applications.
Jade is here to lead the integration of technological advancements, emerging primary industries, and their place in sustaining agricultural communities.