2012 Lincoln Alumni International Medal Citation - J. H. Clendon

A portrait of J. H. Clendon (1969-71 DipAgr (Distinction), DipVFM), the Alumni International Medallist, 2012. John Harvey Clendon is a New Zealand citizen who grew up in the Hutt Valley and resides in Krabi, Thailand, where he is Managing Director of Univanich Palm Oil Company, the world’s leader in the sustainable production of palm oil. John’s overseas career began in 1975 when he went to the Solomon Islands as an agricultural adviser for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. This followed a short stint with the Valuation Department in New Zealand as a rural valuer and project appraiser, after completing his Lincoln qualifications. In 1997 John became chairman and managing director of a number of Unilever businesses and joint ventures at the forefront of global oil palm research and development and mechanised plantation agriculture. In 1998 he returned to the managing directorship of Univanich Palm Oil Co Ltd. In 2011 Univanich became the first palm oil producer in Asia to receive Certified Emission Reductions under the United Nations Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) programme for the reduction of greenhouse gases. In 2005, 2008 and 2009 Univanich received the Stock Exchange of Thailand’s award as the country’s best performing mid-cap company and on each occasion John Clendon was also a finalist for Thailand’s CEO of the year award. In 2011 Univanich had sales of US$260 million.