Nuffield International Announces Inaugural Jim Geltch Award Recipients

23/06/2025

MEDIA RELEASE

4 April 2025

Nuffield International is excited to announce the recipients of the inaugural Jim Geltch Award for the Best Report of the Year, recognising outstanding contributions to global agricultural knowledge and leadership.

Named in honour of Jim Geltch, a visionary leader whose dedication shaped both Nuffield Australia and the foundation of Nuffield International, the award celebrates excellence in Nuffield Scholar reports. Jim played a pivotal role in establishing Nuffield International in 2011 while serving as CEO of Nuffield Australia. From 2011 to 2016, he juggled both leadership roles to build the global network's capacity and funding.

After retiring from Nuffield Australia, Jim focused exclusively on Nuffield International, driven by his belief that Nuffield is a vital organisation with enormous potential to transform world agriculture through collaborative learning and innovation.

The tangible output at the end of a Nuffield scholarship program is a report or other piece of work that discusses the learnings gleaned from exposure to global agriculture on a topic of the scholars' choice. The reports are held on a public database. They are designed for peer-to-peer learning to enable lifelong contribution to and for the network. The Jim Geltch Award recognises reports that demonstrate global impact, depth of knowledge, and strong communication.

Nuffield International is proud to announce the 2024 recipients:

Winner:

- Elisa Blanco, 2021 Nuffield International Scholar - Chile

Elisa Blanco - Governing Water for Sustainable Farming

Chilean agronomist and 2021 Nuffield International Scholar Elisa Blanco explored global models of community-based water governance. Her research highlights how collaboration, trust, and innovative financing are key to managing water sustainably in the face of climate change. Drawing on case studies from six countries, Elisa offers practical insights for governments and farmers to enhance water resilience, ensure food security, and support sustainable agriculture worldwide.

"Effective water management is not just about technical solutions; it's about fostering collaboration among communities, stakeholders, and governments. By working together, we can tackle the challenges of climate change, ensure food security, and protect our vital water resources."

- 2021 Nuffield Scholar, Elisa Blanco

Honourable Mentions:

- Lucy Collins, 2021 Nuffield Australia Scholar

- Ruth McCabe, 2022 Nuffield United States Scholar

Additional Submissions:

- Renata Rossetto Lopes, 2022 Nuffield Brazil Scholar

- Shawn Moen, 2022 Nuffield Canada Scholar

- Gillian Willis, 2023 Nuffield Ireland Scholar

- Edwin Smits, 2023 Nuffield Netherlands Scholar

- Kerry Worsnop, 2023 Nuffield New Zealand Scholar

- Liz Cresswell, 2022 Nuffield United Kingdom Scholar

All submitted reports were judged using the following criteria:

- Impact and wider potential

- Knowledge and consideration of the subject

- Structure and readability

The winning scholar was announced at the Nuffield International Contemporary Scholars Conference in Auckland, New Zealand on March 8, 2025.

Nuffield International congratulates all scholars whose reports were submitted for the inaugural Jim Geltch Award for the Best Report of the Year. Each submission reflects the depth of thought, global perspective, and commitment to agricultural advancement that lies at the heart of the Nuffield network. This award reflects the core mission of Nuffield: to inspire, connect and grow agricultural leaders who are shaping the future of farming and food systems around the world.

We thank all scholars for their valuable contributions and look forward to continuing to showcase the impact of Nuffield research around the world.