2025 Speakers

Speakers

Anna Meares OAM is considered by many to be Australia’s most accomplished cyclist and one of our greatest athletes of all time.

During her 15-year career as an elite athlete, Anna collected an incredible 18 gold medals, 13 silver medals, and 10 bronze medals at Olympic, World, and Commonwealth Games level across the 500m Time Trial, Keirin, Sprint, and Team Sprint events. Her career was one of many highs, lows, determination, grit, hard-work, and dedication.

In January 2008, a mere seven months before her second Olympic campaign for the Beijing Games, Anna broke her neck at the Los Angeles World Cup. It was possible she may never ride again. However, against all odds, Anna returned to the bike and won the silver medal in the Women’s Individual Sprint; it would be the only Olympic medal won by any Australian Cyclist in any cycling discipline in Beijing.

The 2012 London Olympics saw Anna’s great rivalry with Great British cyclist Victoria Pendleton come to a head, with Anna and her coach Gary West utilising data to take the Gold in the Sprint in an epic showdown.

At Rio in 2016, Anna was named Australia’s flag bearer and team captain. At the same Games, she made Olympic history by being the first Australian athlete from any sport to have ever won individual medals at four consecutive Olympic Games.

After 22 years involved in the sport, Anna retired as the most decorated female athlete in the world with 11 world titles. Of her 41 career medals, she achieved 26 following her near-career ending injury.

In 2018, while Anna was settling into post-professional life and training as a foster career, she was inducted into the SA and QLD Sport Halls of Fame for her sporting achievements. She was awarded "legend” status in the SA Sport Hall of Fame in 2021 (the youngest ever to achieve this accolade) and was inducted into Sport Australia Hall of Fame.

Anna was a key team member of the commentating team for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics with Channel 7. 

Anna was the General Manager for the Australian Commonwealth Games team in Birmingham 2022.

Anna was appointed Chef de Mission of the Australian Olympic Team for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, leading the team to their most successful Olympics ever. In November 2024, it was announced Anna would continue her role as Chef de Mission of the Australian Olympic Team for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games.

An accomplished and truly inspirational speaker, Anna speaks of sportsmanship, accountability, authenticity, success, and the power of the mind over the body. "Success is not about staying un-defeated" she says, "it's about how you handle defeat - that's what makes a true champion
on the track and off it".


Adrian Capogreco is the Managing Director for Nutrien Ag Solutions – Australia. Prior to this appointment in January 2025, Adrian held the position of Chief Financial Officer for the organisation.

Adrian is an experienced executive with significant industry and professional services leadership experience. He has worked with Australian and North American multinational listed companies in sectors including agriculture, industrial chemicals, manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, FMCG, financial services and professional services.

Adrian has an Executive MBA from Melbourne Business School (Melbourne University), a Bachelor of Business (Accountancy) from RMIT University, and is a graduate member of both the Australian Institute of Company Directors and the Institute of Chartered Accountants Australia & New Zealand.

Outside of work, Adrian enjoys spending time with his wife and three children, including involvement in community and school activities. Adrian also volunteers his time on a not-for-profit board focused on skills development in Australia.

Meg Kummerow is a seasoned agricultural professional dedicated to supporting growers and agronomists in optimising agronomy and crop management recording at Agworld. With extensive experience across the Australian cropping industries, AgTech, and the agricultural drone sector, she empowers farmers to make data-driven decisions that enhance both efficiency and sustainability.

A pioneer in agricultural drone technology adoption in Australia, Meg holds the distinction of being the first person in the country to sell a DJI spray drone—an achievement that marks a significant milestone in Australia's agricultural drone journey. This accomplishment underscores her commitment to delivering cutting-edge solutions to Australian farmers and highlights her deep understanding of the transformative potential of emerging technologies in agriculture.

Meg maintains strong connections within the Australian cotton and grains industries and has actively worked to amplify the voices of grain growers. Her efforts have contributed to ensuring that grower needs influence policy and research agendas. Driven by a passion for precision agriculture, Meg is focused on bridging the gap between innovative technologies and practical on-farm application, helping farmers embrace innovation to boost productivity and achieve long-term sustainability.

Michael Anderson is President of SAI Platform Australia and is Head of Sustainability at GrainCorp. Previously he spent 11 years with Goodman Fielder where he held sustainability and environmental management roles. He is an adaptable problem solver and passionate sustainability leader focused on making a difference. 

Previously, he worked with EPA Victoria, Meat and Livestock Australia and was a waste management consultant. He enjoys driving impact by combining a genuine interest in working with others to find a better way with enough technical and commercial nous to understand the opportunities.

Rod Birch is the Managing Director of Catalina Farms, a family-owned 12,500-hectare cropping operation located near Coorow in Western Australia’s northern wheatbelt. Since taking over the business in 1980, Rod has led Catalina Farms on a journey of growth and success, combining practical innovation with a deep respect for the land.

Rod describes himself as an “optimistic realist” with a strong passion for agriculture—not only as a scientific and productive pursuit, but also as an honourable profession committed to feeding the world. He believes that supplying safe, sustainable, and plentiful food to current and future generations is agriculture’s greatest humanitarian goal.

Claire comes from a beef farm in the southwest of Scotland and is a seasoned media professional, international MC and keynote speaker, with over a decade of experience working in TV, radio, print, and PR.

As a Nuffield Farming Scholar who has studied agriculture across six continents, Claire offers valuable insights into agricultural advocacy and communications.

Based in Orange, NSW, she founded Agvocacy Consulting to support agricultural businesses and organisations better communicate their stories, build social license and foster positive collaborations within the agricultural industry worldwide.

Conor Macfarlane is the Product Marketing Manager at Loam Bio, where he helps bring innovative technologies to Australian agriculture. He grew up on an organic mixed farm in Boonah, Queensland, and has a lifelong connection to farming communities. Conor holds a Bachelor of Agricultural Science and a Master of Biotechnology from the University of Queensland. Before joining Loam, he worked as an agronomist in the horticulture industry.

Lisa Birrell is an agricultural scientist and knowledge exchange specialist, based in the Goulburn Valley. She worked in the dairy industry in northern Victoria and Southern NSW for over 20 years, focusing on animal nutrition, business profitability and extension.

In 2021, Lisa was appointed Executive Manager of NorVicFoods, an initiative of the University of Melbourne and Victorian State Government - Department of Education and Training. NorVicFoods, which is based in Dookie, brings together research and innovation in science, technology, and engineering to help build agri-food knowledge and skills in the region.

Lisa has a Bachelor of Agricultural Science from the University of Melbourne. She completed the Fairley Leadership Program in 2014, the Foundation of Directorship course in 2021 and is involved in a number of community organisations in the Greater Shepparton Region.

Ben was appointed as Chief Executive Officer of the CBH Group in July 2021. Previously, he was Chief Operations Officer from where he was responsible for leading CBH’s world-class storage and handling, logistics and shipping services. Ben is leading CBH Group in creating a sustainable future and returning value to Western Australian growers.

Before joining CBH, Ben worked for an investment advisory firm and an international professional services firm.

Ben is a member of the Chartered Accountants Australia and is on the board of the Business Council of Co-operative and Mutuals (BCCM), UWA Business School, and Scotch College Perth.

Judith and her husband farm 10500 ha 250kms East of Perth in the WA Wheatbelt. They are a mixed enterprise comprising cereals, legumes, canola, hay and prime lamb production. Judith has completed a Bachelor of Business (Agriculture) and has followed her passion for being a food producer for over 25 years. 

To experience and have the opportunity to become involved in GrainGrowers' National Policy Group is one that Judith sees as both exciting and an intellectual challenge. Judith would like to be able to make a positive contribution to her industry and see real results.

Stuart Gregor is a co-Founder of Australian spirits most successful business since Bundy Rum, Four Pillars.

Starting out as an idea between three mates in 2013, Four Pillars has changed the face of Aussie distilling.

They have won almost all of the world’s most prestigious awards including International Gin Distiller of the Year, three times.

Aside from Four Pillars, Stuart has been a journalist, wine judge, business owner, communications expert, charity auctioneer and self-confessed professional drinker.

David grew up exploring the natural environment on the South Coast of Western Australia, where he developed an appreciation for the Australian landscape. A series of outdoor jobs and recreational activities further increased David’s interest.

David graduated from Charles Darwin University with a Bachelor of Science majoring in Ecology and Environmental Biology. Starting his NRM career with the Oyster Harbour Catchment Group as an NRM Officer, David moved into the agricultural space with South Coast NRM in 2008, where he was a Regional Agricultural Landcare Facilitator and Land & Water Program Manager.

David enjoys working with farmers and supporting people to incorporate evidence-based regenerative agriculture into their farming businesses.

David is currently Perth NRM’s manager of the Sustainable Agriculture program and is involved with multiple regenerative agriculture and natural capital accounting projects, such as the joint GRDC and Southern Cross University “Regenerative Agriculture: Understanding the Intent, the Practices, the Benefits and Disbenefits."

David Jochinke, commonly referred to as 'DJ', is a third generation dryland mixed farmer. DJ operates his family's property in the Wimmera, Victoria, producing various broadacre crops and finishing prime lambs.

He has been heavily involved at all levels of farmer advocacy since finishing his Diploma of Applied Science (Ag Services) at Longerenong College. DJ was elected as President of the National Farmers’ Federation in October 2023 after serving as Vice President and Director and for numerous years.

DJ is the immediate past President of the Victorian Farmers Federation, is a Board Member of Grampians Wimmera Mallee Water and current chair of Grampians Wimmera Mallee Tourism.

He is a past recipient of a Nuffield Australia Scholarship and Australian Rural Leadership Program and is an active contributor to his local community. DJ holds membership of numerous committees including Wimmera Machinery Field Days, the Wallup Ag Group, the Northern Wimmera CFA Brigade, Longerenong College, Telstra Victoria Rural Advisory Committee and Birchip Cropping Group.

Tracy Lefroy is a respected leader in regional Western Australia, known for her advocacy in agriculture and rural communities. As the President of Moora Shire and Director at Cranmore Farming, Tracy’s impact extends across the WA Wheatbelt and beyond.

She chairs the GIWA Wheat Council and is an active member of the GIWA Board, using her extensive connections to support the agricultural sector. Formerly a Non-Executive Director at InterGrain, Tracy continues to shape national agricultural policy as a WA representative on the GrainGrowers National Policy Group.

As a member of the National Regional Leaders Network, Tracy is committed to advancing renewable energy leadership in regional Australia. She advocates for a transition that is not only sustainable but also just and equitable for farmers and regional communities, ensuring they share in the benefits of this transformation. Her work is driven by a deep commitment to the well-being of regional communities and a passion for shaping a sustainable future.

Tress Walmsley was appointed as the InterGrain CEO in 2012. InterGrain is a national cereal breeding business. Having joined the business at inception in 2007 as the first staff member, Tress played an integral role in governance, developing operating systems and building the company’s commercial platform.

Tress has over 20 years of agribusiness experience and prior to working for InterGrain, spent over ten years with DPIRD in a variety of roles. During this time, she played an industry leadership role in the development of the Australian grains industry's 'End Point Royalty' collection system, which has enabled cereal breeding in Australia to become commercially sustainable.

Tress is the Chair of Australian Crop Breeders, a member of Grains Australia Barley and Oat Councils, and Director of Chemistry Centre WA. In 2020, Tress was a finalist in the Telstra Business Women’s Award and in 2015, the WA Rural Woman of the Year.

Stefan is the General Manager of RaboResearch Australia & New Zealand and will work to provide unparalleled knowledge, insight and value to clients across Australia, New Zealand and around the globe.

He joined Rabobank in London as Head of Agri Commodities Markets Research and Global Sector Strategist, Grains and Oilseeds in 2014. Under his leadership both the London based Agri Commodities Research as well as the global grains and oilseeds research teams have deliver client centric impactful research to the benefit of various global Rabobank businesses.

He brings a wealth of experience to the role. His almost 20-year career has been focused on the food, agribusiness and trade industry. Prior to joining Rabobank, Stefan worked for more than a decade in strategy and market research positions with Archer Daniels Midland, including in the US as Director Market Research & Business Analytics and in Germany as Head of Economics Department. Stefan holds a Postgraduate Diploma in Agricultural Economics from University of Giessen, Germany.

Rebecca Kelly is a grain grower and director of Edenvale Farms in Mingenew, Western Australia, where her family produces wheat, canola and lupins. She holds a Bachelor of Agribusiness and is a past recipient of the Australian Grain Leaders Program, run by GrainGrowers.

In 2022, Rebecca was awarded a Nuffield Scholarship, supported by CBH Group, to investigate how farmers can better negotiate with energy and resource companies. Her research has taken her across North America and Europe, where she has explored global models of landholder engagement, regulatory frameworks, and the long-term impact of resource development on agriculture.

Rebecca brings a global perspective to local challenges and sits on several industry boards, working to strengthen the position of WA growers and support sustainable, informed decision-making in rural communities.

Dave was appointed Chief Stakeholder Relations, Sustainability and Strategy Officer of CBH Group in March 2025, and is responsible for the Corporate Affairs, Government & Industry Relations, Grower Service Centre, and Sustainability & Strategy teams.

Dave joined CBH in 2017, serving as Head of Government & Industry Relations, which looks after CBH’s relations with Federal, State and Local Governments, and industry bodies.

Dave was seconded into the Chief External Relations Officer role from May 2022 for 12 months and then moved into the Head of Operations role. In this role, he was responsible for overseeing CBH’s Zone operations and frontline teams.

Dave holds a Bachelor’s degree in Law with Honours and worked as a senior lawyer in several firms in Perth. He also worked as a senior policy advisor for a Federal Cabinet Minister in Canberra.

Throughout his career, Dave has demonstrated his ability to lead large and diverse teams, manage complexity, and create and implement strategic initiatives.

Helen’s passion for workplace safety commenced following the death of her husband, Steve, in an underground mining accident in WA in 1991. At the time of Steve’s death, mining fatalities were considered an inherent risk of the industry, and support for loved ones was virtually non-existent. One of Helen’s coping strategies was to write - she wrote to her husband, but also to herself and her children, leading to the publishing of her first book some years later, “Just a Number” which outlines her family’s journey in the five years following Steve’s death, as they traversed the quagmire of emotional, legal and bureaucratic processes that constitute life for a bereaved family following a workplace death.

For the past 25 years, Helen has been travelling extensively across Australia as well as internationally, sharing her story with others across industries and reiterating the importance of all stakeholders’ commitment to safety at work.

Helen’s commitment and passion culminated in the establishment of Miners’ Promise in 2010 - a not-for-profit organisation established to provide emotional and practical support to members and their families following a crisis event such as a death, illness or serious accident in the mining industry.

As a result, she was a recipient of a WA Local Hero of the Year Award (2012), a category of the Australian of the Year awards. She was also awarded an Order of Australia Medal (OAM) in 2024.

Emily is a fifth-generation farmer and Chartered Accountant from Inglestone, Queensland. Alongside her family, she operates Coggan Farms, a vertically integrated enterprise consisting of irrigated and dryland cropping, grazing, a multispecies feedlot, and a Meatmaster Stud.

Before returning home, Emily worked at global professional services firm Deloitte, assisting Chief Financial Officers and finance teams to enhance their decision-making capabilities and delivering planning, budgeting, and forecasting (PBF) solutions. In her final role, she led the internal consulting PBF and workforce planning processes, reporting directly to the national Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer.

Emily holds a Bachelor of Commerce (Accounting) and a Bachelor of Economics (Public Policy) from The University of Queensland and has previously completed the AICD Foundations of Directorship Program.

She is actively involved in her community and serves as a Board Director and Vice Chair of Equestrian Queensland. Equally comfortable in the boardroom and paddock, she is committed to ensuring the longevity of Australian agriculture.

With a career spanning leadership roles in peak industry bodies, agribusiness, and media, Tyson has navigated multifaceted policy landscapes covering agriculture, immigration, home affairs, industrial relations, biosecurity, competition, sustainability and trade.

​His deep expertise in stakeholder engagement, government negotiations, government regulation and strategic communication allows him to advocate for robust policy outcomes, forge lasting partnerships, and secure sustainable, long-term success.

Tyson's expertise spans the development and execution of effective advocacy and media strategies, managing high-impact partnerships, and leading teams to deliver measurable results.

Tyson grew up on a family wheat and sheep property in Lake King, Western Australia, and holds a Bachelor of Communications from Edith Cowan University, a Graduate Certificate in Applied Finance from Kaplan Business School and is a proud graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (AICD).

His 2025 Nuffield research topic is on investigating and measuring the value of policy.

With a strong background in commerce and agricultural business, Nic Sewell brings in-depth expertise across all facets of grain marketing, from brokerage and logistics to tailored market planning and strategy.

Nic is dedicated to delivering informed, practical advice that helps clients make confident decisions in an ever-changing market. He builds trusted, long-term partnerships with growers, offering not only sound grain marketing strategies but also broader insights into farm business operations.

Steve Kelly was appointed Rabobank’s State Manager, Western Australia, in April 2019. In this role, he is responsible for Rabobank’s rural banking operations in WA across 10 branches.

Rabobank is one of Australia’s largest rural lenders and a major provider of corporate and business banking services to the region’s food and agribusiness sector. In his role, Steve has a mix of responsibilities, including developing staff, working with farmers, as well as helping shape and implement Rabobank’s strategy to be the leading Food & Agri bank.

Prior to his current position, Steve has held various client-facing and leadership roles throughout his 30-year Rabobank career, including Area Manager Esperance and Deputy State Manager Western Australia.
Steve originates from a family grain and sheep farm at Narembeen and holds qualifications in both agribusiness and banking & finance.


Laura Gourley OLY was born and raised in Narrabri, NSW attending Narrabri Public School and then Narrabri High School for two years before making the move to Sydney. It was here she took up the sport as a Year 9 student at Sydney’s Loreto Normanhurst Catholic School.

Laura first made NSW state selection in the 2020 women's youth eight, which didn't race at the Interstate Regatta due to the pandemic. Laura was set to trial for the junior Australian team in 2020, but that was cancelled forcing her to train on her neighbour’s irrigation dam while in Narrabri during two lockdowns.

In 2021, Laura was again selected in the NSW women's youth eight, placing third in the race for the Bicentennial Cup at the Interstate Regatta within the Australian Rowing Championships.

Laura's Australian representative debut came in 2022 when she was selected as Australia's U23 single sculler to compete at the 2022 U23 World Rowing Championships in Varese where she finished in eighth place.

In March 2023 Laura was selected in the Australian senior women's sculling squad for the 2023 international season. At the Rowing World Cup II in Varese, Italy, Laura raced as Australia's W2x entrant with Amanda Bateman. They made the A final and finished in fourth place.

At 2023's Rowing World Cup III in Lucerne, Switzerland, Laura and Amanda again raced the W2X. They made the A final and in a tight finish at the back of that field they finished in fourth place.

Laura and Bateman raced in Australia's double scull at 2023 World Rowing Championships in Belgrade, Serbia. They placed third in their heat but won their repechage to qualify through to the A/B semi in which they finished fifth. In the B final they finished second, earning a seventh place world ranking from the regatta and qualified the boat for Paris 2024.

At Paris 2024, Laura made her Olympic debut as she competed in the Women's Quad Sculls alongside Caitlin Cronin, Rowena Meredith and Ria Thompson. The crew finished fifth in their heat, third in the repechage and second in the B final, finishing with an overall ranking of eighth.

In 2025, Laura will represent Australia in the Women’s Single Scull. At the most recent Australian Rowing Championships, she dominated the regatta, winning the Queen’s Cup for New South Wales, as well as the Open Women’s Single Scull and Women’s Quad Scull titles.

Laura is currently a member of the Australian Women's Single Sculls.

James is a fifth-generation grower from the Northeast region of Victoria, on the outskirts of the town of Rutherglen. James recently completed a dual degree in Agribusiness and Farm Production. Following this, he has ventured into the world of corporate banking, embarking on a new career path in the rural finance sector. This transition has provided James with fresh perspectives on the agricultural industry, enriching his knowledge in anticipation of his return to the family farm in the coming decade. 

James’s personal fervour lies in the growth and prosperity of the agricultural sector. As a result, he has actively engaged with various agricultural extension organisations, immersing himself in advocacy, grower development, research, and extension to broaden his understanding of the facets of agriculture.

Caroline has more than two decades of agribusiness experience, having held senior roles in both the public and private sectors and with state and federal farmer representative bodies in Australia, including the former South Australian Farmers’ Federation and the Grains Council of Australia. She was the CEO of Grain Producers SA prior to joining PPSA, and brings skills in strategic communications, stakeholder management and regulatory affairs.

Caroline brings extensive experience in corporate governance and has served on a wide range of industry and community sector boards. Her current external board appointments include the Australian Farm Institute, Foodbank SA/NT, the South Australian Cricket Association and the Adelaide Oval Stadium Management Authority. She holds a Bachelor of Agricultural Science and a Master of Agribusiness and is a graduate of the Australian Rural Leadership Program.

Justin has been in Ag Retail for more than 30 years. After beginning his career with IAMA in the early 1990s, he purchased a Wesfarmers Agency in Bruce Rock in the late 1990s.

After selling the agency business in 2013, Justin commenced work with Corporate Nutrien Ag Solutions, holding a variety of roles before commencing as General Manager Southern WA, overseeing the businesses Network operations.

Abbey Turner is the Digital Technology Lead at John Deere, supporting dealers and customers across Western Australia, South Australia, Victoria, and Tasmania with the adoption and use of John Deere’s Digital and Precision Agriculture Technologies.

Before joining John Deere, Abbey worked as a Precision Ag Specialist at a dealership, where she supported farmers in implementing and troubleshooting precision ag solutions, provided training, and helped integrate digital tools into everyday operations. Following that, she spent a year in sales, where she built strong customer relationships and deepened her understanding of equipment and business needs on the ground.

Abbey studied Agribusiness at Muresk Institute and grew up on a family farm, where she developed a deep connection to agriculture early on—often behind the wheel of a John Deere tractor. Her background helps her bridge the gap between technology and real-world farming, and she enjoys working with dealers and producers to make digital tools more accessible and effective.

Frank has 32 years of experience owning and managing a farming enterprise south of Cunderdin in the Central Wheatbelt of Western Australia. The mixed farming business is comprised of the seasonal production of cereal grains, including wheat, barley, oats, oil seeds and legumes, supported with fine merino wool and cross-bred lambs. The business is family-managed with his wife Jane and son Lachlan.

Frank is privileged to have had 22 years of experience as a company director, serving the Cunderdin Farmers’ Cooperative Ltd, of which for five years he was chairman.

He has held a position on the Cunderdin District High School Board for 6 years, an Independent Public School, years K to year 10, of which he was chairman for 4 years.

Frank has been a member of GrainGrowers’ Western Region National Policy Group for 6 years from 2018 to 2023 and sat on the NFF Economic Policy and Farm Business Committee as a GrainGrowers representative.

Frank’s tertiary studies started with a Bachelor of Business from Curtin University, and more recently in 2014, an Executive Masters in Business Administration from the University of Western Australia, at which time he also graduated from the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Frank has been a keen member and supporter of several community-based organisations in Cunderdin and, at times, has held official positions in all of them.

Chris Shafto is the Extension Manager at Loam Bio, overseeing trials on farm and in partnership with a wide range of industry stakeholders. Chris has been with Loam for over 4 years in various roles, helping develop Loam's products. Prior to Loam, he was working at NSW DPIRD in insecticide resistance monitoring. Originally from Melbourne, Chris holds a Bachelor of Science from RMIT and Bachelor of Agriculture (Honours) from UTAS.

Brett is a grain farmer with a 5600ha continuous cropping program, cropping wheat, barley, field peas and vetch in a low/medium rainfall area on sodic duplex soils. He formed a subcommittee within SEPWA, forming a Youth in Ag group bringing together young farmers and young industry professionals. He has taken committee delegates interstate and overseas to watch the process from paddock gate to consumer.

Rhys Turton is a grain grower from York, Western Australia where he grows a range of crops including cereals, pulses, canola and hay. Rhys is a grower director of GrainGrowers. Rhys has worked in agricultural organisations both in Australia and internationally, giving him a thorough understanding of international trade and market access.

Nigel is a fourth-generation farmer from Goondiwindi QLD with over 20 years’ of farming and business management experience, and is the Managing Director of New Leaf Ag Pty Ltd, a family owned food and fibre company. Nigel is a GrainGrowers Director for the Northern Region and sits as the chair of GrainGrowers’ Grains Sustainability Steering committee, and Audit and Risk committee.

With a Bachelor of Applied Science Agronomy from the University of Queensland, Nigel’s work across agriculture has been recognised as Australian Cotton Grower of the Year and ABC Rural Australian Young Farmer of the Year. Nigel also received a Nuffield Scholarship. Nigel currently sits on the board of both Cotton Seed Distributors and Ability Agriculture.

Julia Hausler is a grower director of GrainGrowers, and operates a successful family farming operation in Victoria’s Wimmera region which is annually benchmarked. Julia is an engaged and effective Board Director of GrainGrowers and is the Chair of GrainGrowers People and Culture Committee. In her tenure on the Board, Julia has positively contributed to governance standards, a refreshed strategy, investment portfolio growth, and has represented GrainGrowers nationally and internationally. 

Julia has recently joined the Grains Australia Pulse Council and is on the Australian Institute of Company Directors Grampians Regional Advisory Forum. In addition to this, Julia is also a Director on Wimmera Southern Mallee Development Board to advocate for economic and social opportunities for her region. Julia brings is highly strategic bringing 25 years’ experience in agriculture alongside expertise in marketing, accumulation, education, financing, and rural policy as an excellent basis for her board work.

A grain grower at Mallala, SA, Richard produces a wide variety of cereals, pulses and oilseeds. Richard served for six years on the Advisory Board of Agriculture, and seven years on the GRDC’s Southern Panel which included the Plant Biosecurity Cooperative Research Centre, Grains Advisory Panel. He was also a non-executive director and Chair of the Australian Grain Growers Co-op board and has served on the Rural Business Support Board since 2019.

Richard has experience in corporate governance, strategic and business planning, financial management and planning, implementation and project planning and oversight and graduated from the Australian Institute of Company Directors in 2015.

Ashleigh Brooks and her family operate a broadacre cropping business in the Wimmera, Victoria, growing canola and pulses.

Outside of the farm, Ash has worked in the grains industry for over 20 years, including national marketing and strategy positions, and values the importance of industry research and development. Supply chain engagement has also been integral within these roles, and through these experiences, Ash has developed effective agronomic, marketing, market development, strategy, and governance skills.

Ash is also a Grains Councillor at the Victorian Farmers Federation (West Wimmera Representative), Chair of By Five’s Wimmera Southern Mallee Children's Innovation Hub, former Treasurer at South-East Australian Barley Advisory Council and former Director at the Rural Financial Counselling Service – Victoria West. Ash holds a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture (Hons) degree, is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors Course and the 2021 GrainGrowers inaugural OnBoard program.

Ian is a grower director, a second-generation grain grower in northwest NSW. 

Ian has over 25 years’ experience in the grains industry and has been a part of GrainGrowers National Policy Group, president of Dryland Cotton Research Association since its inception in 2014, and heavily involved in the Northern Grower Alliance establishment. 

Having worked across many areas of the grains industry including research, production, transport, and marketing, Ian has had the chance to view the industry from many different perspectives.

Richard Norton has extensive international experience in the agribusiness sector and is the current Managing Director of the ASX-listed Terragen Holdings. Before his tenure as Managing Director at Meat & Livestock Australia (MLA), he held senior roles with global agribusiness companies, including responsibilities in Australia, Brazil, the United States, and Europe. This international exposure has provided him with a comprehensive understanding of global agricultural markets and practices.

Richard is a seasoned agribusiness executive with extensive leadership experience across the Australian global agri-food sector, raising over $50m in capital for start-up companies, with a proven track record in driving strategic innovation, fostering industry collaborations, and implementing digital transformation to enhance sustainability and profitability. Recognised for spearheading large-scale initiatives in agricultural technology, data-driven solutions, and supply chain optimisation.

Mr Norton’s executive experience includes founding the retail wholesale business Community Rural Group, Managing Director of Landmark Operations (Now Nutrien Ag Solutions) and General Manager of Retail at Elders. Richard also has previously held senior positions at Wesfarmers Dalgety, Toll Holdings, Woolworths and Coca Cola Amatil.

Shona is GrainGrowers' CEO. Shona has over 20 years of experience working in the areas of marketing, communications, membership services, media and public relations.

Shona's experience includes roles in Australia and the United Kingdom, working on projects that have spanned digital technology, infrastructure, the charity sector and industry associations.

Passionate about local communities and the champions who make them special, Shona loves being a part of the team that gets to share the stories and experiences of growers across the country.

Zach is the General Manager, Policy and Advocacy at GrainGrowers. He manages GrainGrowers’ policy and advocacy efforts working to ensure the right policy settings for Australia’s grain growers. 

Previously, Zach has worked for the Department of Agriculture and most recently was the Grains Policy Director at AgForce Queensland Farmers. He has qualifications in International Relations and Public Policy and is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Zach is from Merriwa in rural New South Wales, where his family remains involved in agriculture.

Sarah has worked in manufacturing, technical research, innovation, market research and sustainability over the course of her career in the Australian food and agriculture industry. Before coming to GrainGrowers, Sarah led the development, launch and management of the world-first Sheep Sustainability Framework. Sarah has qualifications in Applied Chemistry, Cereal Chemistry and Sustainability.

At GrainGrowers, Kate brings together her experience across leadership, strategy, program development and education to ensure Australian grain growers have access to capacity building opportunities that support individual growth and a highly skilled and respected agriculture industry. Kate has qualifications in creative arts, communications, philosophy and architecture - all of which find application in her work at GrainGrowers every day.