Hugo van der Werff

Hugo van der Werff stepped into his National Harvest Manager role at Pāmu after a few good conversations with familiar faces. It was the logical next step in his career and an easy yes. Today, he works at the sharp end of the business, right where farming, forestry, and the environment intersect.  

Forest harvesting is a massive daily puzzle. Hugo has to bring heavy machines, logging crews, farm teams, and complex logistics together, all while managing the weather to get the job done. 

For Hugo, the best moments are always when he leaves the office behind to visit Pāmu farms in person. When asked what he loves most about his job, his answer reflects the reality of the field: the natural environment, the people, sawdust, and the smell of fresh cut timber. 

Farming excellence in forestry requires a long-term view. Hugo points out that daily planning is a massive part of his routine. This planning dictates the quality of the current work, but it also determines the long-term impact on the land itself. 

On a working farm, a forestry block is often just one piece of a much larger puzzle. To get a harvest across the line, Hugo relies heavily on the Pāmu core value of working 'Shoulder-to-Shoulder'.  

Success happens when forestry and farm teams tackle a project as one unit. He draws inspiration from seeing regional teams pull off great work and get the recognition they deserve.

The rural sector is in a phase where farming and forestry ideas and practices are always being tested. Looking ahead five years, Hugo wants to look back knowing he has had a positive influence on shaping the forest harvesting programme at Pāmu.