VOTING has opened for the election of two southern region directors for the Board of GrainGrowers Ltd ahead of the organisation’s 2016 Annual General Meeting in Albury, NSW, at 1pm (AEST) on Tuesday, September 27.

There are two vacancies and five candidates for election for the southern region.

The 2016 southern region candidates are:

• Daniel Cooper, Pullabooka, NSW
• Julia Hausler, Warracknabeal, Victoria
• Brett Hosking, Oakvale, Victoria
• Mark Hoskinson, Kikoira, NSW
• Robert McCormack, Old Junee, NSW

Members can vote online; by post or fax; or at the AGM. Voting online or by post or fax closes at 1pm (AEST) Sunday, September 25.

 

Candidates:

 

Robert Lindsay McCormack

Our enterprise is 2500 acres of mixed farming 60 kms north of Wagga and a pump business called West End Water specialising in farm water systems in NSW and northern Victoria.

I have been a member of AFIA since its start in 1995 and was a Director for five years and Chairman for three years. While chairman I led a trade delegation to China on behalf of the Australian Government to investigate the export of cereal and lucerne hay for the Chinese cattle industry.

I was a financial director on the Wagga RLPB for six years and vice chairman for three years.

Whilst chairman of the Temora West School Council the school became the first in NSW to install a recycled watering system on their playing fields.

I was a foundation member of the Hard and Soft Wheat Growers Association, a member of the Committee of Advice, a member of the Regional Policy Group and a member of the National Policy Group for GrainGrowers.

I see GrainGrowers taking a major leadership role in the grains industry rather than a political one:

• With the total deregulation of the wheat industry many essential services that were once provided by the AWB have gone, leaving a void that GrainGrowers could fill.
• Acquisition and amalgamation of organisations for the benefit of growers in the short or long term.
• Taking a position in the industry to benefit and encourage young people as growers and future leaders.
• A supportive role in guiding the direction of Research and Development toward grower interest.

I would bring to this role my business experiences, problem solving skills, leadership ability and expertise as a Director.

I believe I would be a strong and invaluable representative for this region.

 

Mark Charles Hoskinson

I am a family farmer offering you my 30 years of experience in grower representation and the skills I have acquired as well as skills from the military and community leadership.

I am determined that GGL focus and address solutions to real policy issues facing members.

To do this requires dedicated leadership and a strong connection with its grass root member base.

For 10 years I served on the Committee of Advice representing GGL members.

I received a huge amount of support to stand as chairman of the Reform group that forced, with the support of an overwhelming amount of members, massive change to GGL.

Those changes allowed the newly elected Board and consecutive Boards since then to rebuild the Association into what it is today, financially strong and focused on building skills, service and

advocacy for its members. To now jointly hold the Responsible Organisation role. This was all achieved through team work and consultation.

For 10 years I served on the NSW Farmers Executive Council sharing with other EC members the work load in progressing members’ policy and concentrating my efforts on grain related policy as well as the chairman of the Grains Committee for 4 years until reaching the constitutional maximum of 4 years.

Over those 10 years I gained an enormous amount of knowledge and skills especially in negotiations on small and large policy issues like ADM Graincorp takeover.

I have also been in a leading role rebuilding our national peak grains body.

If elected to GGL I can cooperatively work with the Board to guide GGL into the future maximising tangible benefits and advocacy for our members.

Continued development of grass root policy direction is essential as well as retaining the financial security.

Growers have lost a lot and deserve strong focused leadership.

 

Daniel James Cooper

I have nominated for the position of a southern board director because I believe GGL has the potential and capacity to deliver industry good functions lacking in recent years.

There are opportunities to develop resources needed by growers and to partner with the rest of industry to advocate on policy concerns.

As the immediate past chair of NSW Farmers Grains Committee, I have worked hard and delivered policy for the betterment of our industry at both State and Federal levels since 2013.

During this time NSW Farmers’ Grains Committee has been an influential voice on matters Important to the grains industry, including advocating growers concerns over the proposed takeover of GrainCorp by Archer Daniels Midland (ADM), refining the NSW Grain Harvest Management Scheme and obtaining investment from industry and Government to increase rail efficiency.

A key focus that I will continue to bring to the industry is the opportunity to enhance farm gate returns through competition and efficiency across the supply chain.

Presently I chair an industry steering committee for a GRDC project looking at the grain supply chain across Australia.

The aim is to develop the economic & competition analysis required to support and guide investment and policy so that the supply chain can enable our industry to respond to opportunities.

The realisation of grain production in the Black Sea taking market share from Australia demonstrates that now, more than ever before, grain farmers need strong and unified representation.

If directed constructively and in collaboration with the rest of industry, GrainGrowers has the capital base and technical capability to help deliver strong outcome for producers.

If elected to the Board, I will use my experience in working collaboratively with state grains representative organisations to bring the unity the $13.5 billion grains industry deserves.

 

Brett John Hosking

I am a 5th generation grain grower from Quambatook in Victoria’s Mallee where I farm alongside

Jane, and our 4 daughters.

I am a strong advocate for local community leading to my involvement in local groups such as

cropping groups, school council, Lions, etc.

I am also the current President of the VFF Grains Group, where I have the privilege of representing and advocating for the growers of Victoria.

I believe passionately that growers must have a strong voice within our grains industry for us all to prosper, as ultimately it is the grower who feels most strongly the impact of any decisions along the supply chain.

My experience on the board of VFF has taught me the value of ensuring our members views are heard at the highest level and shape the decisions which are made about their organisations.

It is this approach I bring to GrainGrowers to ensure that every member has the opportunity to be heard and valued for their contribution.

Growers continue to tell me of their frustration with the fragmentation among various agricultural leadership organisations.

As your GrainGrowers Director I will ensure that GrainGrowers operates collaboratively with other industry organisations and brings far greater unification to this space.

A partnership between our growers and those organisations and individuals who lead on our behalf ensures a powerful force to represent our industry.

GrainGrowers has a proven track record delivering value to growers and our industry through their work in trade and industry good functions.

As your Director I will ensure that GrainGrowers builds upon these strengths and works with other

organisations to produce real outcomes to add value to us as growers.

With your support I will ensure a strong and prosperous GrainGrowers to serve our industry.

 

Julia Hausler B. Ec.; M.AgBus.; GAICD

Strong corporate governance, investment into the next generation of grains industry participants, and closer ties to members are vital to Grain Growers Limited (GGL) and will underpin its ability to deliver real value to members.

If elected as a Board Director I will ensure GGL meets these goals.

The needs and challenges of grower members must be understood, acknowledged and result in priority actions for our industry to be profitable.

I would work towards greater cross sectoral collaboration to ensure our grains sector will be robust

enough to support changing world demands for agriculture.

I have been involved in the grains industry for two decades and possess a strong knowledge of challenges and opportunities.

The skills I would bring to the Board are effective communication, strategic thinking, financial diligence and good governance.

I would use these to ensure balance between grower members, operational staff, the National Policy Group and the Board.

I have a Bachelor of Economics and a Masters of Agribusiness Marketing. My professional experience includes 16 years as a grain producer at Warracknabeal in the Victorian Wimmera region; 10 years as a grain accumulator for across four states, and five years in education as a lecturer of Risk Management at Longerenong Agricultural College.

I feel my professional experience has also been complimented by completing the Australian Rural Leadership program.

For the past three years I have represented the southern region on the GGL National Policy Group.

I represented the southern region medium rainfall zone for four years on the GRDC regional cropping solutions network.

I have also spent 18 months on the National Farmers Federation Competitiveness Council and am a recent graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

 

The content of the above statements has been reproduced as received from the candidates.

GrainGrowers Board statement: The Directors of GrainGrowers unanimously recommend that members vote in favour of the election of Brett Hosking and Julia Hausler as Directors for the Southern Region.

Further information: http://www.graingrowers.com.au/about/2016-agm

Source: GrainGrowers Ltd