Scion CEO Warren Parker will be the guest speaker at the 2015 Bay of Plenty Ballance Farm Environment Awards dinner on February 27.

That's when the winners of a number of awards, including the Bay of Plenty supreme winner, will be announced from six finalists.

Warren Parker, Scion CEO, has served on science panels and advisory boards in both New Zealand and Australia.

The finalists include Hamama Kiwifruit Orchard (Opotiki), Katikati kiwifruit orchardists Stephen Kenna and Phillipa Wright and dairy farmers Corrie and Donna Smith of Edgecumbe.

Also in the running are Tataiwhetu dairy farm (Ruatoki), Manawahe dairy farmers Gerda and Geoff Bradly and dry stock farmers Catherine and John Ford of Highland Station, Rotorua.

Warren has a strong track record in scientific leadership and a background in agriculture, the environment, forestry and agri-business.

He joined Scion in March as CEO of the Crown Research Institute which specialises in research, science and technology development for the forestry, wood product and wood-derived materials and other biomaterial sectors.

Before taking on that role, Warren headed Crown Research Institute Landcare Research Ltd for five-and-a-half years.

Warren's previous roles included visiting research manager of IMBcom Pty Ltd at the University of Queensland and Chief Operating Officer at AgResearch Science.

From 1980 to 1998 he pursued an academic career, including a Massey University Professorship covering farm management and agricultural systems, agribusiness and natural resource management.

Warren gained a BAgrSc in 1978 and a MAgrSc in 1984, both with honours from Massey University, as well as a PhD in Animal Science in 1990.

He has been the recipient of a number of academic awards and has served on science panels and advisory boards in both New Zealand and Australia and as a director on a number of technology start-up firms.

The 2015 Bay of Plenty Ballance Farm Environment Awards dinner at the ASB Area, Mount Maunganui, is open to the public.

Tickets cost $75 each for a three-course meal and wine and can be purchased from the website: www.nzfeatrust.org.nz/ or by contacting co-ordinator Kirsten Winter via: [email protected]