Fonterra chairman Sir Henry van der Heyden is one of three alumni receiving special honours and awards at Lincoln University's 2011 Graduation ceremony on Friday 6 May.

Sir Henry receives an honorary Doctor of Commerce degree in recognition of his contributions to New Zealand agriculture and in particular the dairy industry.

The award will be made in the Lincoln Events Centre, Lincoln township, where the University's 2011 Graduation Ceremony is being held in place of the usual venue, Christchurch Town Hall, which was damaged in Canterbury's recent earthquake.

Sir Henry is a Lincoln University alumnus and graduated Bachelor of Engineering (Agricultural) with Honours in 1980. The honorary doctorate award is consistent with Lincoln University's recognition of the New Zealand dairy industry as occupying a pivotal role in the country's land-based economy, says the citation.

Sir Henry began his farming career as a sharemilker in the Putaruru/Tokoroa area where he purchased a farm in 1985. Today he has several family-run dairy properties. He entered public and political life in 1992 with election to the board of the NZ Dairy Group cooperative. He was in his early 30's and "fresh from his Putaruru cow shed".

He played a key role in the establishment of Fonterra in 2001, was a member of the foundation board and succeeded to the chairmanship in September 2002. For his services to agriculture he was made a Distinguished Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit in 2007 and received the reinstated title of Knight in 2009.

Bledisloe Medal

Lincoln University's Bledisloe Medal for 2011 for outstanding contributions to New Zealand's land-based interests goes to Neal Ibbotson of Marlborough.

Neal is the founder, with his wife Judy, of Saint Clair Family Estate winery, Marlborough, one of New Zealand's most "awarded" wineries, ranked in the top third of the world's best 100 wineries.

Neal and Judy were two of Marlborough's vineyard pioneers, planting their first vines in 1978. With foresight, Neal saw that grapes could be a realistic economic proposition in Marlborough's dry climate if abundant ground water could be harnessed.

From a small vineyard established on the outskirts of Blenheim, the business became the initial contract grower to Montana Wines, which began grape growing in the region in 1973.

Not only has Neal played a pivotal role in increasing the viability of Marlborough's economy and range of land-based enterprises, the success of his endeavours has put Marlborough on the map and greatly enhanced the economic well being of its residents. He holds a Diploma in Agriculture and a Diploma in Valuation and Farm Management from Lincoln University, awarded in the mid-1960s.

Alumni International Medal

Lincoln University's Alumni International Medal for 2011 will be presented to Martin Cartwright of Chile, who becomes the first recipient of the award for contributions in a South American country.

The award to Martin reflects the depth of Lincoln University's relationship with South America. In the case of Martin's homeland, Chile, it is a connection that stretches back to the 1920s when the first of many generations of Chilean students travelled to New Zealand to study at Lincoln.

Martin came to New Zealand in 1969 and completed a Diploma in Agriculture and a Diploma in Valuation and Farm Management at Lincoln University. He returned to Chile in 1974 and went on to purchase land and establish a fruit growing operation. This has been developed into a modern, efficient, high density orcharding operation planted in six different species and 24 varieties. It provides employment for a staff of over 80 working with cherries, apricots, nectarines, plums, pears and apples.

Today Martin is a successful Chilean horticulturist and fruit grower and runs his own farming business, Agricola Ponderosa. Fruit is exported through a grower owned company which has become Chile's ninth largest fruit exporter.

He is also the President and a Director of Prize Limitada, which acts on behalf of Zespri International in Chile. He has close links with the New Zealand Embassy in Santiago and actively encourages ties between the two countries in education, farming, fruit growing and exporting and the pursuit of global marketing opportunities.