Congratulations to NZ Apple & Pears for delivering a most informative and enjoyable conference in Nelson recently. Among the many talented speakers was the inspiring and passionate Sir Ian Taylor.
Worth googling this guy’s life and career, a mercurial self-starter with a tonne of Kiwi “can do” attitude. While not many will know him as a lead singer of 1960’s band Kal-Q-Lated Risk, a few more may know of his work fronting Play School and What Now, plus other gigs before forming Taylormade Media. More latterly he formed the well-known Animation Research. This internationally renowned company has brought us amongst others, the incredible America’s Cup on screen graphics and PGA golf tour shot tracking animation, turning pretty uninteresting difficult sports to watch into must-see action-packed sporting events.
Sir Ian Taylor had a simple a message for us at the conference – it’s all about your attitude, don’t look at something and see challenges, look at it positively and see only opportunities. With the global population increasing by 40 million every year, food and safe sustainable food production and supply will only increase in demand. We are uniquely placed here in NZ to be able to grow and supply what the ever-increasing global population needs. A simple message, but I like simple things in this increasingly complex world. So, my call to action for all of us in our industry is stay positive, look for opportunities and not roadblocks.