• Applications sought for Grain Trade Australia CEO role
• New exec director for Tractor and Machinery Association
• Haire takes helm at Cotton RDC
• GrainGrowers CEO steps down
• GIWA interim chair appointed
• RIRDC appoints new chair
• GTA operations manager appointed
• John Minogue new GRDC northern panel chair
• Farmers Edge names new general manager
• GTA life membership for Chris Kelly
• Charles DuBourg joins Agworld
• Vic Plague Locust Commissioner retires.

A POPULAR feature on our sister website, Beef Central, is a regular compilation of people movements around the industry – appointments, retirements, achievements, acknowledgements – from across the private and public sectors. Published below is Grain Central’s first similar installment, which will become a regular feature. Send your submissions to “People on the Move” to [email protected]

Applications sought for Grain Trade Australia CEO role

GRAIN Trade Australia (GTA) is seeking a new chief executive officer following the sudden death of former CEO, Geoff Honey, on June 10 while cycling to work.

Mr Honey had a background in the wool industry and in grain marketing risk management before joining GTA in 2003.

He worked in various strategic positions advising government including the Wheat Industry Expert Group that assisted with providing advice on transitioning towards market deregulation in 2008.

Over his 13 years with the organisation, he was instrumental in expanding the membership base and developing standards for grain trading and marketing in the post-AWB single desk era.

Applicants for the new CEO position should make inquiries to: David Compton, 02 9006 1214, or Mick Hay, 07 3878 3411, or apply via www.rimfireresources.com.au

 

New exec director for Tractor and Machinery Association

THE Tractor and Machinery Association (TMA) has appointed Gary Northover as executive director, replacing Richard Lewis who has stepped down after more than six years in the role.

Mr Northover comes from a lengthy construction industry background having served 15 years as general manager of rental business for Caterpillar dealer, William Adams.

This incorporated the Cat Rental Store brands in Victoria and Tasmania and the Max Hire business in NSW and Queensland.

Prior to this he filled roles within Brambles Industries Wreckair Hire business and most recently has been operating as a management consultant.

 

Haire takes helm at Cotton Research Development Corporation

RICHARD Haire has been appointed the new chair of the Cotton Research and Development Corporation (CRDC).

Mr Haire has held many leadership positions within the cotton sector. Most recently, he was managing director and regional head of Olam International, and prior to that, CEO of Queensland Cotton.

He is a member of the Rabo Australia Food and Agribusiness Advisory Board, and a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and the Australian Institute of Management.

Mr Haire is also a former CRDC director, having served on the CRDC board from 2011 to 2014.

GrainGrowers Ltd CEO steps down

ALICIA Garden stepped down from the role of chief executive officer of GrainGrowers in early August.

Ms Garden started with GrainGrowers as an information technology specialist before being appointed as general manager – products and services. She was appointed to the position of CEO in 2014.

The operations of the organisation are now being jointly managed by the company’s general manager – technical, Michael Southan, Sydney, and general manager – policy, David McKeon, Canberra.

 

GIWA interim chair appointed

THE Grain Industry Association of Western Australia (GIWA) in July elected the managing director of GroIQ, Richard Williams, as interim chair to lead GIWA through to its annual general meeting on Wednesday, October 5, 2016.

Dr Williams has over 25 years’ experience in customer relations, quality management and operations in the grain supply chain.

He replaces outgoing chair and chair of the GIWA Wheat Council, Sean Powell, a grower from Quairading.

 

RIRDC appoints new chair

FORMER Nationals minister and Federal member for the NSW seat of Riverina, Kay Hull, has been appointed the new chairwoman of the Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation (RIRDC).

Ms Hull will replace Professor Daniela Stehlik who has been in the position since April 2010.

RIRDC relocated from Canberra to Wagga Wagga in southern NSW in February.

 

GTA operations manager appointed

MARY Raynes has been appointed the new operations manager for Grain Trade Australia (GTA) where she is primarily responsible for the management of the GTA Technical Committees and Dispute Resolution process.

Ms Raynes has been involved in all aspects of the grain industry, and is particularly known for her work with the Victorian Department of Primary Industries and Pulse Australia. She is a graduate of the Australian Rural Leadership Program.

 

John Minogue new GRDC northern panel chair

THE Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC) has appointed NSW grain grower and agricultural consultant John Minogue to the role of northern panel chair.

Mr Minogue operates a mixed broadacre farming business and an agricultural consultancy, Agricultural and General Consulting, at Barmedman in south-west NSW and is a former GRDC southern panel member.

He replaces outgoing panel chair, James Clark, a long serving GRDC northern panellist.

Mr Clark was a northern panel member since 2005 and panel chair since 2008.

 

Farmers Edge names new general manager

PRECISION agriculture and independent data management solutions company, Farmers Edge, has appointed Scott McKinnon as general manager of its Australian operations.

Mr McKinnon is a former Syngenta executive and has been involved in global agriculture technologies for more than 20 years.

He will lead the market development and expansion of Farmers Edge beyond its current base in NSW to meet the demand for integrated precision agriculture solutions across Australia.

 

GTA life membership for Chris Kelly

CHRIS Kelly has been awarded life membership of Grain Trade Australia (GTA) in recognition of his outstanding contribution to the Australian grain industry and its development.

Mr Kelly is managing director of grain trader and storage operator KM & WM Kelly & Sons, which operates from the NSW southern Riverina.

He was the first chairman of GTA when it transitioned from NACMA in 2008 and has been active within merchant organisations in NSW and Victoria, and at a national level since the late 1990s.

 

Charles DuBourg joins Agworld

PRECISION agriculture specialist, Charles DuBourg, has joined agricultural technology provider, Agworld, as its east coast account manager.

Mr DuBourg has nearly 20 years’ experience in agribusiness, including the past 14 years as technical services manager with rural services provider, IK Caldwell.

 

Vic Plague Locust Commissioner retires

VICTORIA’S Plague Locust Commissioner, Gordon Berg, has hung up his boots, taking leave from the end of August and set to officially retire in January.

Mr Berg started working for the government in 1973, when he took a job as an agricultural scientist in Burnley. He has been chasing locusts ever since.

In 2009 he became Victoria’s Plague Locust Commissioner, and was instrumental in managing the response to the 2010 locust plague.