From curious farm boy to global leader

When Stuart Gouk reflects on his life and career, he traces it all back to a dairy farm in Ōhaupō, a small town near Te Awamutu. It was all from there that eventually took him across the world in senior leadership roles – most recently to Melbourne, where he has stepped into a new role as Site Manager for Lactalis.

Through dairy, discipline, and drive

Stuart was born in Te Awamutu and raised on a family dairy farm. His father was a former SAS soldier, and his mother was a schoolteacher at Ōhaupō Primary School. He recalls, “Growing up was very tough because my father was very strict given his military background – but it taught me the value of hard work.” With a household full of strong-willed kids, his mum made the unique call to send each of them to a different private school. “I credit much of my life journey to the education I received at St Peter’s School in Cambridge.”

One story from childhood stands out and hints at his future in engineering and operations. “When we visited our cousins, they would always hide their toys,” he laughs. “Because we would always try and figure out how they worked, and at the end of the day, the toys would be destroyed.”

The detour that led to dairy

Originally, Stuart had a very different future in mind. “I always dreamed of joining the Air Force,” he shares. “But I had an accident at boarding school and lost sight in my right eye, which ended that dream. It was a tough moment.”

After school, Stuart’s father spotted an advertisement for a demineralisation operator role at the Waitoa Dairy Factory, part of the New Zealand Co-operative Dairy Company (NZCDC) at the time. Although Stuart didn’t successfully secure the role, the company kept his application on file. Just two weeks later, he was invited to interview at the Te Awamutu site – a moment that marked the beginning of his career in New Zealand’s dairy industry. From there, he quickly demonstrated his capabilities and was promoted up the ranks within just two years.

It didn’t take long for Stuart’s potential to be noticed. In his third year on the job, he was invited to join the company’s management cadet scheme. As part of the programme, he began studying at Massey University in Palmerston North, working towards a Diploma in Dairy Science and Technology. He attended from 1984 to 1986 and proudly graduated in 1987.

“Massey gave me the theoretical knowledge to assist with my decision-making around problem-solving. While education doesn’t guarantee success, it gave me a foundation to build from in the food sector,” he says.

From Massey to the Middle East – and beyond

Over the years, Stuart has built a successful career – holding key operational and leadership roles internationally, including a transformative stint as Chief Manufacturing Officer at Mazoon Dairy Company in Oman.

At Mazoon, one of Stuart’s most impactful strategies was cultural transformation. “The company had a habit of relying heavily on external support,” he explains. “I encouraged our team to take ownership of their processes and develop in-house solutions. It was important for them to understand that if mistakes were made, they had the support of management and that mistakes presented opportunities for growth.” This shift empowered employees and created a more engaged, innovative workplace culture. 

Another major achievement at Mazoon was a drastic reduction in inventory levels, which significantly improved cash flow. “We discovered that poor communication between Sales and Operations was at the root of the issue,” he says. “So, we aligned historical data with sales targets and gave Procurement the insights they needed to manage stock better. We started small – testing it with a few key product lines – and once the results were clear, we scaled it across the company.”

Stuart is known for his sharp financial acumen. One principle he lives by is that you can’t improve what you don’t measure.

“I use the analogy of Formula 1 racing,” he says. “Our machine operators are the drivers. They need to run the equipment at peak performance. But to do that, they need support – a pit crew. That’s where our automation and mechanical engineering teams come in. If we all work together, we run at optimal capacity, reduce energy and utility costs, and ultimately, improve the bottom line.”

The power of adaptability and global mindset

A defining theme of Stuart’s career has been adaptability. He has worked in countries including New Zealand, Malaysia, and across the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region, including Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Oman, and recently transitioned to Australia. The transitions weren’t always easy, but Stuart’s secret? Learning to be comfortable with the uncomfortable.

“To grow, you need to take opportunities when they are presented to you. Throughout my career, I have had the opportunity to work in several different countries, and this has taught me to understand cultural differences within the workforce. You need to take a leap of faith, believe in your skills and abilities, and be able to communicate these when exploring opportunities.”

One particularly tough project was a joint venture in Malaysia. He recalls, “Managing internal relationships with the partner company while presenting a united front to the customer was no easy task. It taught me the importance of clearly outlining every possible point of conflict in contracts. If it’s not in writing, it’s a recipe for trouble.”

An exciting new chapter at Lactalis

Stuart’s latest move is to Lactalis in Melbourne, where he’s overseeing the integration of three newly acquired sites. While his technical skills are a perfect fit, the challenge has been learning a new company’s systems and structures. “It’s always a learning curve,” he says. “But Lactalis has a fantastic support team that helps new employees settle in quickly.” He’s energised by the opportunity to bring improvements to these sites and lead them into their next chapter as part of a global corporation.

To stay ahead in a fast-changing industry, Stuart relies on a mix of global networking, conference attendance, and continuous learning. Social media, like LinkedIn, has enabled him to access global trends and new technologies.

Stuart’s advice for young professionals is simple but powerful: “Roll up your sleeves and work alongside everyone, no matter their role. If you see someone struggling, then get alongside them and work as a team. Respect, integrity and empathy are key to your success and career development.”