GTA chair Andrew Goyder delivers his welcome address at the opening of AGIC 2024. Photo: AGIC

THE Australian Grain Industry Conference is set to gather some of the brightest minds and most enlightening perspectives in the sector’s premier informative and social event.

Hosted annually by Grain Trade Australia and the Australian Oilseeds Federation and being held at Melbourne’s Crown Promenade on July 30-31, its theme this year is Driving Forward – Sowing Success.

GTA chief executive officer Pat O’Shannassy said the program has been designed to provide grain market participants and service providers with the latest insights into developments locally and globally.

“We’ve lined up speakers from a diverse range of backgrounds that highlight the scope ofmarkets AGIC delegates work across in these changing times,” Mr O’Shannassy said.

Global market insights will come from US-based analyst Emily French, who started with Cargill in 1996 before joining the US Grains Council and then World Perspectives, and in investment banking in the US and Australia, prior to founding Global Ag Protein.

Speaking about global trade impacts and facilitating trade is UK-based Grain and Feed Trade Association director general and Federation of Commodity Associations chair Jaine Chisholm Caunt.

“Both these speakers are leaders in their field, and as we come to terms with global unrest that is changing our trading environment, their insights will be invaluable.”

As always, domestic markets and their interface with international pricing are prominent in the AGIC program, and will look at everything from bread, courtesy of Bakers Delights founders Lesley and Roger Gillespie, to sustainable aviation fuel in the remit of Neste general manager James Williamson.

“Every tonne of grain processed locally, whether it’s for human consumption, feed, or biofuels, can add value to Australian economy.”

“To dive into what we are doing currently, and further opportunities that exist, our value-adding panel has a representative from each sector.”

Joining Mr Williamson on that panel will be Mauri head of commodity Michael Schmidt and Patrick Hutchinson, who has vast experience in the meat industry and is now principal of Gibraltar Strategic Advisory.

The latest on the Australian market, including the impact of drought in south-eastern Australia, will be covered by a panel facilitated by Mauri commodity price-risk manager Erin Burns, and comprising Louis Dreyfus Company Australia senior commodity trader pulses Simone Dax, Riordan Grains chief commercial officer Mark Lewis, and Cargill Australia trading manager Sam Napier.

Delegates are invited to register for AGIC at the early-bird rate by July 4, and growers have a subsidised rate available to them thanks to the Grains Research and Development Corporation.

Kate Gunn.

Of particular interest to the grower and others in the supply chain will be the panel looking at how growers are driving forward and sowing success.It will canvass the views and experiences of CBH Board chair Simon Stead, South Bunarba Agriculture general manager Sam Heagney, Mungindi, and Kate Gunn, who farms in her family’s Merrivale partnership on the Liverpool Plains, and chairs commercial and research organisation AMPS Agribusiness.

Two former federal politicians, Simon Birmingham and Warren Entsch, will also be taking the stage.

Now ANZ Banking Group’s head of Asia Pacific engagement and chair, South Australia, Mr Birmingham will touch on topics including trade policy, government finance, international relations, and regulated environments.

Expect Mr Entsch’s topics, under the heading of From Crocodiles to Cairns to Canberra, to be a little more free-wheeling, and enlightened by his 25 years representing Far North Queensland’s Leichhardt electorate.

Other speakers and panelists include:

• Grains Australia Trade & Market Access general manager John Ackerman;
• Cropify CEO and co-founder Anna Falkiner;
• Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries secretary Adam Fennessy;
• GrainGrowers CEO Shona Gawel;
• Champion swimmer and health advocate Michael Klim;
• Lowy Institute senior fellow for East Asia Richard McGregor;
• BASF senior global regulatory policy manager, seeds and traits Osman Mewett;
• Australian Crop Breeders CEO Narelle Moore;
• GrainCorp head of corporate affairs Jess Simons;
• ANZ senior economist Adelaide Trimbrell;
• War and Wheat author Dennis Voznesenski;
• National Farmers Federation CEO Troy Williams;
• Argus Media market analyst manager Julia Zhang; and,
• S&P Global Commodity Insights principal agricultural economist, head of APAC crops Vladimir Zinkovski.

Outside the formal AGIC sessions, delegates can catch up on the latest in services and technology offered by exhibitors in the adjacent area.

AGIC offers delegates the chance to network outside sessions. Photo: AGIC

Around the program are organised networking opportunities, namely:

• Tuesday evening: AGIC Young Professionals Social Evening;
• Wednesday morning: StoneX Gains for Grains Run Club;
• Wednesday evening: Welcome reception sponsored by Port of Melbourne;
• Thursday morning: HFW Women in Grain breakfast; and,
• Thursday night: CBH AGIC gala dinner.

To register or find out more about AGIC 2025 and book while early-bird rates are on offer, click here.

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