A front row seat to China’s rapid dairy industry with Paul Niven

In this week of Humans of Agriculture we have the pleasure of catching Paul Niven. Paul has come back to Australia after a  long career working within China’s dairy industry. He’s a seasoned agricultural leader with a wealth of experience  agribusiness and international consulting. He paints a picture of how his small roots from growing up on a farm in Central New South Wales eventually lead to working in China’s rapidly evolving dairy industry.

Paul provides unique insights into the challenges and opportunities of farming in China, the cultural adaptations required, and the lessons he brought back to Australia after over a decade abroad. From navigating five-year strategic plans to implementing major operational efficiencies, Paul’s story is one of adaptability, leadership, and lifelong learning.

In this episode you will hear about:

Paul’s Early Years – Growing up on a farm in NSW and the early ambitions that led him into veterinary science and consulting.
The Leap to China – What led Paul to leave Tasmania’s VDL Farms for a senior role in China’s dairy sector.
Operating at Scale – Managing 16,000+ milking cows, modernizing dairy operations, and handling wastewater treatment challenges.
Cultural Adaptation – Moving his family from Tasmania to Beijing and the personal challenges of adjusting to life in China.
Lessons in Leadership – The Chinese approach to efficiency, compliance, and rapid innovation, and how Australian agriculture can learn from it.
Returning to Australia – Why Paul made the decision to come home and what’s next for him in Australian agribusiness.
Advice for Young Professionals – Why agriculture offers global career opportunities, and why young people should "just do it" when it comes to working overseas.

Subscribe and Review: Enjoyed this episode? Don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and leave a review on your favorite podcast platform to help us reach more listeners passionate about agriculture and the incredible people behind it!

EvokeAG 2026:
I'm excited to be one of the MC's for evokeAG in 2026. This event is unlike any other in Aussie agriculture and brings together the brightest minds from across the AgriFood ecosystem focused on solutions to some of our planets biggest challenges. Get your tickets at evokeAG.com