VFF president Charlie Thomas.
- VFF appoints new CEO
- AM for Lush
- Grain Sustainability Framework appointments
- SA Drought Commissioner named
- Australian Agritech Award recipients
- New award for agricultural education
- New QRIDA board members
- Ridley CFO transition
- Metha joins DDT Holdings
- New Pioneer Seeds Territory Sales Manager
VFF appoints new CEO
The Victorian Farmers Federation (VFF) has appointed Charlie Thomas as its next chief executive officer, following the resignation in April of Brendan Tatham.
VFF president Brett Hosking said he was excited to welcome Mr Thomas, who will start on July 7.
“Charlie’s experience and reputation representing farmers and rural Australians over the past 15 years is second to none and we’re incredibly excited for him to hit the ground running,” Mr Hosking said.
He said Mr Thomas’ expertise would be invaluable as farmers face prolonged drought, a looming state election, and other critical challenges.
Raised on a farm near Condobolin in central New South Wales, Mr Thomas has held held senior positions in policy and corporate affairs at the Property Council of Australia and the NSW Farmers ’Association, and is currently the National Farmers’ Federation deputy CEO.
He holds legal qualifications from the University of Sydney and a Master of Business Administration from the Melbourne Business School.
“From day one, I’m looking forward to meeting key stakeholders and the government to help ensure farming communities are a priority and a legitimate focus for decision makers,” Mr Thomas said.
AM for Lush
South Australian grain grower John Lush has been appointed a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) in the King’s Birthday Honours, recognised for his contribution to the grains industry, local government and his community.
Announced on June 9, the honours recognised achievements of 830 Australians in areas including community service, science and research, industry, sport, and the arts.
SA grain grower John Lush has been appointed a Member of the Order of Australia. Photo: Grain Producers SA
Mr Lush has held key leadership roles in the grains industry, including president from 1998 to 2000 of the Grains Council of Australia, interim chair and founding member of Grain Producers SA and Primary Producers SA, and president of the South Australian Farmers’ Federation.
He has represented Australia internationally at World Trade Organization negotiations, international grains conferences and trade talks, and served on numerous industry boards and steering committees, such as Pulse Australia, the Wheat Breeding Steering Committee, and the South Australian Durum Growers Association.
Beyond agriculture, he has contributed widely to his local community through local government roles, founding and leading community associations, and serving as a long-time member of the Mallala and Districts Lions Club, earning recognition including the Spirit of Excellence Award from the Agricultural Bureau of SA in 2010.
Earlier this year, Mr Lush was inducted into the SA Grain Industry Hall of Fame for decades of leadership and advocacy in the grain sector.
Grain Sustainability Framework appointments
The Grain Sustainability Framework (GSF) has announced appointments to the Steering Group, drawing together a wide range of experienced industry experts to commence work on the initiative.
Chaired by agriculture leader Catherine Marriott OAM, the GSF Steering Group consists of the following people:
- Lachlan Evans – Grains Australia, Trade and Market Access manager
- Dr Mark Farrell – CSIRO, principal research scientist
- Graham Page – Terragen Holdings, manager of plant bio-stimulants ANZ
- Steph Schmidt – Grower and psychologist
- Ruth Sommerville – Grower and consultant agro-ecologist
- Ash Wiese – Grower and owner of the Three Farmers quinoa brand
- Toby Wright – CBH Group head of strategy and sustainability
Catherine Marriott OAM
Appointments to the skills-based group were made based on experience in the grain value chain, proficiency in the relevant issues facing the sector and the ability to collaborate.
As work begins to design the GSF, the next phase of work will involve consultation with key stakeholders to inform and refine the framework with the first annual report to be released in early 2026.
Ms Marriott welcomed steering group members and said they were looking forward to getting on with the job.
“I’m thrilled with the appointments; the depth of experience across the steering group is remarkable,” Ms Marriott said.
The group is responsible for defining what sustainable grain production means in the Australian context, developing the vision and operating principles of the GSF and structuring the framework to reflect priority topics.
SA Drought Commissioner named
The South Australian Government has appointed Alex Zimmermann as the Commissioner for Drought Support in SA to assist with managing the drought response, including monitoring the progress of drought support and addressing any issues or barriers.
Alex Zimmermann.
A former chief inspector with SA Police, Mr Zimmermann has also previously served to assist communities impacted but other disaster events.
“Work on funnelling support to those affected by drought right across the state remains ongoing, and we will continue to back in our farmers through this difficult time,” Premier Peter Malinauskas said.
“We’ve now appointed a drought commissioner, and we are getting money out the door and into the hands of farmers as quickly as possible.”
Primary Producers SA CEO Caroline Rhodes said she welcomed the appointment of Mr Zimmermann and looked “forward to working collaboratively with him”.
“The scale and persistence of this drought demands formal coordination and strong partnership with industry to ensure support measures remain timely, targeted and responsive to the needs of South Australian producers,” Ms Rhodes said.
Australian Agritech Award recipients
SwarmFarm Robotics stole the show at the 2025 Australian Agritech Awards Gala in Brisbane on June 3, taking home four major awards.
Founders of the pioneering autonomous farming platform, Jocie and Andrew Bate, won the Best Founders, Best in Broadacre, Agritech of the Year, and Hall of Fame awards.
SwarmFarm founders Andrew and Jocie Bate.
Presented by DataFarming founder and former AusAgritech president Tim Neale, the Hall of Fame Award honours individuals whose long-term contributions have helped shape the trajectory of Australian agritech.
The event also marked the establishment of a new honour, the Liz Alexander Ecosystem Builder Award, which honours the late Liz Alexander, who played a foundational role in building Queensland’s agritech ecosystem.
It will recognise individuals and organisations who embody Ms Alexander’s spirit centred on building networks, removing barriers, and advancing the agritech sector for collective impact.
Other award recipients included:
- Best in Climate Tech – Agscent
- Best Early Stage – HiveKeepers
- Best in Horticulture – Bitwise Agronomy
- Best in Livestock – Agscent
- Best Scale Up – Agronomeye
- Best in Food Tech – Froff
New award for agricultural education
The Primary Industries Education Foundation Australia (PIEFA) has launched the Jim Pratley Award, honouring a national leader in agricultural education and a lifelong advocate for food and fibre learning.
Presented last month at the 2025 PIEFA Conference in Canberra, the inaugural award was bestowed on Professor Jim Pratley, after whom the award is named, in recognition of his remarkable five-decade contribution to education, research, and sector leadership.
Prof Pratley, who began teaching in 1972 at what is now Charles Sturt University, has shaped generations through his leadership in science and agriculture, influential research and national work on agricultural education policy.
In 2019, he was made a Member of the Order of Australia for his significant contribution to agricultural science, education and industry.
“Jim Pratley’s legacy in agricultural education is unmatched. His influence has shaped generations of educators and how food and fibre is taught across Australia,” said PIEFA board chair Dr Cameron Archer.
Prof Pratley said he had been fortunate to spend his career in a field he cared deeply about — helping young people understand the vital role that agriculture plays in our lives.
The Jim Pratley Award will be presented biennially at the PIEFA Conference, recognising an educator who has made an outstanding contribution to food and fibre education in Australia.
New QRIDA board members
Qld Minister for Regional and Rural Development Dale Last has announced four new appointments to the Qld Rural and Industry Development Authority (QRIDA) Board, including the organisation’s first female chairperson, Caitlin McConnel.
Caitlin McConnel.
Ms McConnel, a sixth-generation farmer and senior lawyer, joins new directors Bruce Vandersee, Danica Olsen and Ari McCamley, each bringing valuable private sector and agricultural expertise to the board.
Mr Vandersee, Ms Olsen and Ms McConnel have been appointed for three-year terms, while Mr McCamley’s initial term will run for approximately 16 months to ensure board continuity.
“Strong leadership at QRIDA is vital to support our long-term disaster recovery efforts, particularly after the recent flooding in Western Queensland and in North Queensland,” Mr Last said.
“These board appointments will bring new perspectives and help the organisation explore new opportunities in developing Queensland’s rural and industry sectors.
“I sincerely thank outgoing chair John Corbett and directors Belinda Turner and Dr Beth Woods for their commitment to QRIDA and to rural Queensland.”
Ridley CFO transition
Ridley Corporation has announced a planned chief financial officer transition as the company prepares for the announced acquisition of the Incitec Pivot Fertilisers distribution business.
Chris Opperman
Current CFO Richard Betts will step back from full-time executive roles, giving a year’s notice to ensure a smooth handover and support IPF’s integration.
Chris Opperman will take over as CFO and join Ridley by the end of 2025 once he leaves his role as CFO at Energy Australia.
Mr Opperman brings extensive experience, including 14 years in senior positions at Incitec Pivot Limited (now Dyno Nobel), with direct knowledge of the IPF business.
Ridley CEO Quinton Hildebrand thanked Mr Betts for his contribution and said Mr Opperman’s appointment would support Ridley’s growth as a diversified agricultural services company.
Metha joins DDT Holdings
Experienced pulse trader Metha Praphakorn has joined DDT Holdings, a relative newcomer to the grain space.
DDT Holdings has built up its presence in Australia as a trader of other commodities, including paper, cardboard and metal for recyling.
The company is based in Sydney, but Mr Praphakorn is working from his base in Brisbane.
DDT Holdings is also trading wheat, barley, and cottonseed, primarily handled by part-time employee Kurt Wilkinson from his base in Dubbo.
New face for Pioneer in Esperance
Rhiannon Fleming
Pioneer Seeds has appointed Rhiannon Fleming as its new territory sales manager Esperance WA to support growers and rural suppliers in the region in their efforts to achieve the best possible results from their hybrid canola crops.
Ms Fleming takes over from Kim Mayfield, whose focus will turn to the adjacent Great Southern and South West regions of WA.
Raised on a broadacre farm in Kulin in WA’s Central Wheatbelt, Ms Fleming brings with her a wealth of knowledge, experience and skills developed while working in logistics and export planning with CBH Group.
She has lived in the Esperance area for several years with her husband and their son, and shares many connections in the local area through community engagements and sporting clubs.
“Rhiannon has developed a vast network of relationships as she provides solutions, service and positive outcomes to those in the WA agriculture industry. Her experience in logistics and planning will be an asset to growers in the area,” Pioneer Seeds western region sales manager Erinn McCartney said.
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