Jack O'Connor, 32, lives in a fully off-grid home on his family farm at Oxton Park with his wife, Brigid, and their one-year-old son, Freddie. His role encompasses the diverse responsibilities associated with a mixed farming operation. Jack and his family were among the first clients to pilot AgriWebb and were early adopters of Rumanati, CiboLabs, and Farmbot, all leading innovators in the agricultural sector. Additionally, they have collaborated with producers of Gundagai Lamb, among many others. 

He is deeply passionate about renewable energy, agrivoltaics, carbon accounting, and the opportunities these emerging industries present. One of Jack's proudest achievements in his career was his time spent in rural Uganda, where he worked with local farmers and their families. He enjoys being outdoors, participating in sports, and connecting with people in his community and around the world.

 https://www.zandamcdonaldaward.com/team/-jack-o%E2%80%99connor 

About the award: 

Zanda McDonald was a prominent identity in the Australian beef and livestock industry and was proud to be a farmer who worked tirelessly to encourage young people to work in the industry that he loved. He died in April 2013 at the age of 41, following a tragic accident on his Queensland cattle property. 

Zanda was a founding member of a trans-Tasman agricultural networking group, which was formed in 2005 and comprised a handful of like-minded farmers who came together to spin yarns and solve a few industry problems. As part of his role in the group, Zanda led several initiatives to promote his industry to the next generation.

In 2014, in honour of Zanda, the networking group led by Shane McManaway launched The Zanda McDonald Award. The group, now known as the Zanda Mentoring Group (ZMG), has evolved into a collective of over 250 of Australasia's top rural leaders. This impressive network of top industry mentors throughout Australia and New Zealand is accessible to award finalists and winners.

The Award recognises young people working in the primary industry sectors in New Zealand and Australia and supports their future career development.