Cheyne Gillooly
In short: Cheyne Gillooly is chief executive of New Zealand Young Farmers (NZYF), a rural membership organisation in New Zealand. He joined in June 2025 from the Ministry for Primary Industries. He matters to dating industry readers because NZYF partnered with the rural dating app Howdy for its New Zealand launch, and he spoke publicly about the tie-up.
Key facts
| Role | Chief Executive, New Zealand Young Farmers |
|---|---|
| Organisation | New Zealand Young Farmers |
| Based in | New Zealand |
| Website | youngfarmers.co.nz |
| Current role | Chief Executive, New Zealand Young Farmers [NZ Young Farmers Appoints Cheyne Gillooly as Chief Executive, 16 June 2025] |
| Start date | Started as NZYF chief executive on 16 June 2025, succeeding Lynda Coppersmith [Cheyne Gillooly appointed CEO of NZ Young Farmers, 16 June 2025] |
| Previous role | Director Operations, Agriculture and Investment Services, Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) [Cheyne Gillooly to head up Young Farmers, 20 May 2025] |
| Background | Experience in government, primary sector, investment, business development and policy [Board of Directors, NZ Young Farmers, 2025] |
| Dating industry link | NZYF partnered with rural dating app Howdy for its New Zealand launch; Gillooly was quoted on the partnership [Young farmers flock to new dating app seeking long-term conn, 2025] |
| Howdy NZ launch | Howdy launched in Australia in March 2024 and in New Zealand on 1 June [Howdy brings rural matchmaking to New Zealand, 2025] |
Biography
Cheyne Gillooly is chief executive of New Zealand Young Farmers (NZYF), a grassroots membership organisation for young people in the country's food and fibre sector. NZYF announced his appointment in May 2025, and he started in the role on 16 June 2025. He took over from Lynda Coppersmith, who had announced her resignation earlier in the year.
Before joining NZYF, Gillooly was Director Operations, Agriculture and Investment Services at the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI). NZYF describes his background as spanning government, primary sector, investment, business development and policy leadership. His MPI work included initiatives on regional development and innovation, and on links between government and the agricultural sector.
His link to the dating industry comes through Howdy, a rural dating app founded by Australian Mia Ryan. Howdy launched in Australia in March 2024 and entered New Zealand on 1 June 2025 through a partnership with NZYF to promote the launch. Gillooly was quoted by the NZ Herald, RNZ and Farmers Weekly NZ on the tie-up. He described the app as the latest dating tech meeting what he called the country's oldest rural dating agency, and said it fits with club balls and events. Dating Industry Insights cited NZ Herald coverage of the launch in its report on Howdy's rural growth.
Also mentioned in
Questions about Cheyne Gillooly
Who is Cheyne Gillooly?
He is the chief executive of New Zealand Young Farmers, a rural membership organisation. He started in the role on 16 June 2025.
What is his link to online dating?
NZ Young Farmers partnered with the rural dating app Howdy for its New Zealand launch, and Gillooly spoke to the media about the partnership.
Where did he work before NZ Young Farmers?
He was Director Operations, Agriculture and Investment Services at the Ministry for Primary Industries.
What is Cheyne Gillooly's current role?
Cheyne Gillooly is Chief Executive, New Zealand Young Farmers at New Zealand Young Farmers.
Also known as: Cheyne Gillooly, NZ Young Farmers CEO.
Sources
- NZ Young Farmers Appoints Cheyne Gillooly as Chief Executive Officer
- Cheyne Gillooly appointed CEO of NZ Young Farmers
- Cheyne Gillooly to head up Young Farmers
- Board of Directors, NZ Young Farmers
- Young farmers flock to new dating app seeking long-term connections (RNZ)
- Howdy brings rural matchmaking to New Zealand