CRDC has appointed Georgina Pengilley as its managing director.

• CRDC appoints new managing director
• Porter named new QFF CEO
• New Loam Bio CEO
• Varshney named a 2026 Top Agri-food Pioneer
• New VFF grains leaders
• Neale honoured at Agritech Awards
• McCluskey named NFF trade rep
• Schilling wins Farrer Mid-Career Award
• New Cotton Aus regional manager
• New APVMA appointment
• Crop Consultants board elected
• Mygrain kicks off
• Young Cotton Achiever of the Year Award finalists

CRDC appoints new managing director

Cotton Research and Development Corporation has appointed Armidale-based agricultural industry leader Georgina Pengilley as its managing director, bringing a unique end-to-end perspective to the role through a 25-year career spanning research investment, on-ground delivery, and her own experience as a farmer.

“Georgina is an experienced agricultural research leader, having operated at key parts of the system: as an investor in research, as a deliverer of it, and as a grower with skin in the game,” CRDC chair Richard Haire said.

Mr Haire paid tribute to outgoing executive director Allan Williams.

“Allan grew up in the Australian cotton industry and has committed his career to it – the CRDC Board and Australia’s cotton growers are deeply grateful for his service,” Mr Haire said.

Dr Pengilley, who co-owned and operated an 8300ha farming enterprise in Tasmania, holds a PhD in Plant Physiology from the University of New England and is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

She will take up the CRDC role on July 27, joining from Rice Breeding Australia where, as chief executive, she established a national breeding organisation and led the development of a $10-million facility that reduced variety development timelines by nine years.

Kylie Porter.

“CRDC is the engine room of that work for the cotton industry, and I am privileged to be the next person to lead it,” Dr Pengilley said.

“Every dollar invested in research must deliver real, measurable outcomes on the ground – that is, and will continue to be, CRDC’s mission.”

Porter named new QFF CEO

The Queensland Farmers’ Federation has announced the appointment of Kylie Porter as its new chief executive officer from July 27.

QFF president Aaron Kiely said Ms Porter’s deep experience in regional economic development, industry advocacy and stakeholder engagement would be invaluable to QFF’s future success.

“Kylie is a fantastic appointment for QFF, bringing with her a deep understanding of the opportunities and challenges facing regional Queensland, a strong track record with government at local, state and federal levels, and a genuine passion for the future of Queensland agriculture,” Mr Kiely said.

Since 2017, Ms Porter has held leadership roles with Greater Whitsunday Alliance (GW3), an independent economic development organisation spanning the Mackay, Isaac and Whitsunday regions, and was a founding director of C-Res, one of Australia’s largest social enterprises delivering local procurement solutions in remote and regional communities across Australia in partnership with BHP.

“Agriculture is a sector full of ambition and innovation with a long legacy and QFF plays a vital role in making sure that story is heard loud and clear by government, industry and the community,” Ms Porter said.

“I look forward to building on the exceptional foundations that have been laid and working alongside QFF’s Board, peak body members, and corporate and industry partners to deliver real outcomes for Queensland farmers.”

New Loam Bio CEO

Australian agricultural biotechnology company Loam Bio has appointed Rob Hranac as chief executive officer, effective July 1, as the company accelerates its global expansion.

Rob Hranac.

Co-founder Guy Hudson will move into the role of executive chairman, allowing him to dedicate more of his time to Loam’s long-term growth strategy, fundraising and major investor relationships, while continuing to shape the company’s direction.

“Rob is exactly the right person to lead the company through this next chapter,” Mr Hudson said.

“His experience with agricultural technology businesses in the US, combined with his deep understanding of the industry, makes him a natural fit.”

Mr Hranac brings more than a decade of senior leadership experience across soil carbon and agricultural technology businesses in the United States, having served as having served as CEO, chief operating officer and chief technology officer at companies focused on soil biology, soil measurement and enhanced rock weathering.

He holds a Master of Science in Civil and Environmental Engineering from the University of California, Berkeley.

“Working in the world of soil science, agriculture and carbon, I’ve admired Loam and what they were doing in the space for years,” Mr Hranac said.

“I’m thrilled to be joining at this moment and excited to work with the team to get Loam’s products into the hands of farmers globally.”

Varshney named a 2026 Top Agri-food Pioneer

WA’s Professor Rajeev Varshney has been recognised as a 2026 Top Agri-food Pioneer by the World Food Prize Foundation.

Professor Rajeev Varshney.

Professor Varshney FRS FAA, Director of the Centre for Crop and Food Innovation (CCFI), the WA State Agricultural Biotechnology Centre (SABC), and the University’s International Chair in Agriculture and Food Security, is one of just four Australians named to the list since its launch in 2024.

The 2026 cohort comprises 40 innovators from 30 countries across six continents, from scientists and policymakers to farmers and entrepreneurs.

Prof Varshney was recognised for his innovation in genomics-assisted breeding, which has transformed a theoretical promise into an operational tool for national programs in Asia and Africa.

As principal investigator of the Gates Foundation-backed Tropical Legumes Project, he contributed to the delivery of 266 improved legume varieties and nearly 500,000 tonnes of certified seed to farmers in South Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa.

The Gates Foundation also highlighted his work to lower one of the biggest barriers to genomics-assisted breeding in low-income countries: developing high-throughput genotyping platforms that modern breeding relies on at a fraction of their usual market cost, putting methods once confined to well-funded research institutes within the reach of breeders in the developing world.

TAP honourees will be recognised at the Norman E. Borlaug International Dialogue in Des Moines, Iowa, in October 2026.

New VFF grains leaders

The Victorian Farmers Federation has appointed Jason Mellings as its grains president, Dusty Pascoe as VFF grains vice-president and Avril Hogan as its special skills director on the VFF Board.

Jason Mellings.

As the newly elected president of VFF Grains, Mr Mellings will lead the commodity group at a critical time for Victoria’s grain industry, advocating on behalf of grain growers and driving policy priorities that support the sector’s long-term success.

Joining him as vice-president, Mr Pascoe brings strong industry experience and a deep understanding of the opportunities and challenges facing grain producers across Victoria.

Ms Hogan’s appointment adds significant expertise and strategic insight to the VFF’s governance and will have a particular focus on commercial growth and marketing.

VFF President Ryan Milgate said the appointments will hit the ground running and look forward to delivering for farmers.

“Jason, Dusty and Avril each bring invaluable experience, fresh perspectives and a strong commitment to advancing the interests of Victorian farmers,” Mr Milgate said.

“Their leadership will be instrumental as we continue advocating for policies that strengthen farm businesses, support regional communities and ensure agriculture remains a cornerstone of Victoria’s economy.”

Neale honoured at Agritech Awards

The Australian Agritech Association held its 4th Annual Australian Agritech Awards Gala at Brisbane on June 11 and attended by 200 guests.

Ian Layden, Tim Neale, Phil Tickle and Pete Scarth. Photo: Qld Government

The 2026 award winners were:

• Emerging Innovation: Pairtree Intelligence;
• Future Food: PostHarvest;
• Industry Impact: Optiweigh;
• Visionary: Phil Tickle and Dr Peter Scarth, Cibo Labs;
• Climate Catalyst: Number 8 Bio;
• Collaborator: Pairtree Intelligence;
• Excellence in Digital Agriculture: Cibo Labs;
• Sector Builder: Gatton AgTech Showcase 2025;
• Liz Alexander Ecosystem Supporter Award: Oli Madgett;
• Agritech of the Year: Pairtree Intelligence;
• Hall of Fame: Tim Neale.

As the highest-scoring company across all judged categories, and winner of The Emerging Innovation and The Collaborator awards, Pairtree Intelligence was recognised as a company building the infrastructure on which all generations of Australian agritech will stand.

The event recognised DataFarming co-founder Tim Neale by naming him the 2026 Australian Agritech Hall of Fame inductee.

Mr Neale has spent more than 30 years in agritech and agriculture, including 25 years building DataFarming into a business delivering satellite imagery to more than 55,000 farms across 50 countries, all from regional Queensland.

He is a former AusAgritech president, 2023 Agritech of the Year, and one of the sector’s most consistent advocates for structural reform in how the sector is funded and supported.

AusAgritech president Rob Hulme said the depth of this year’s entrants reflected a sector that had found its confidence and its voice.

“Four years ago, agritech was more of a footnote in Australian agriculture,” Mr Hulme said.

“Today it is recognised as a distinct, significant and growing sector; that did not happen by accident, it happened because everyone in this room showed up.”

McCluskey named NFF trade rep

The National Farmers’ Federation has appointed Su McCluskey as its Australian agriculture trade diversification representative.

Su McCluskey.

Funded by the Federal Government’s Accessing New Markets Initiative, the Australian Agriculture Trade Diversification Representative role will run for 12 months from July 1 to promote agrifood trade opportunities in new and existing markets.

“Su brings extensive international experience, a strong understanding of the NFF, deep credibility and invaluable network,” NFF CEO Mike Guerin said.

“Given this is a short-term project, the selection panel put great weight in selecting someone who could hit the ground running,”

“She’ll provide a whole-of-sector voice in global engagements, share strategic advice to the Trade Diversification Network members, and communicate trade mission intelligence and government feedback,” Mr Guerin said.

The NFF established a three-person selection panel to advise on the appointment for the role, comprising senior representatives from the Australian Trade and Investment Commission (Austrade), the Council of Rural Research and Development Corporations and the NFF board.

“I am really pleased to be appointed as the Australian Agriculture Trade Diversification Representative, an exciting 12-month project to ensure Australian agriculture is active promoting trade internationally,” Ms McCluskey said.

“The global trading environment is facing increasing pressures and volatility, and it is important that we work hard to support Australian producers to diversify into new export markets and capitalise on growth opportunities in established markets.”

Schilling wins Farrer Mid-Career Award

The Farrer Memorial Trust has named Associate Professor Rhiannon Schilling as the 2026 recipient of the annual Farrer Memorial Mid-Career Award.

Associate Professor Rhiannon Schilling.

This award recognises Prof Schilling’s outstanding contributions to Australian agricultural science and leadership in drought resilience, agronomy and climate-smart farming systems.

Farrer Memorial Trust chair Kate Lorimer Ward said the award acknowledged exceptional achievement by a mid-career professional who has made a significant contribution to the Australian agricultural sector through research, innovation, adoption, extension or policy.

“The award recognises professionals who have already made a significant contribution to Australian agriculture and are well placed to continue that impact throughout their careers,” Ms Lorimer Ward said.

“Rhiannon’s work demonstrates not only excellence in ag science, but a clear vision for how research, innovation and adoption can support farming systems to adapt to a changing climate.”

Prof Schilling holds the position of Associate Professor in Agricultural Sciences (Agronomy) at Flinders University.

She previously served as program leader of agronomy at the South Australian Research and Development Institute, leading 40 research and technical staff across SA, and has held postdoctoral positions at the University of Adelaide.

Over the past decade, she has played a central role in strengthening drought resilience in Australian ag, founding the SA Drought Resilience Adoption and Innovation Hub and the SA Climate Resilience Discovery Farms network initiatives that bring together researchers, farmers, agribusinesses and government to accelerate the adoption of research and trial climate-resilient farming practices.

New Cotton Aus regional manager

Cotton Australia welcomes Abaigh Gleeson as its new regional manager, Northern Australia.

Abaigh Gleeson

Based in Kununurra for the past three years, Ms Gleeson has worked across both commercial and research agronomy, building strong knowledge of northern farming systems and the opportunities and challenges facing growers in the region.

Her experience extends beyond agronomy, with a professional background spanning policy, biosecurity, law and fisheries, providing a broad understanding of northern Australia’s agricultural landscape.

Having grown up in northern Australia, Ms Gleeson has a longstanding connection to the region’s primary industries and is looking forward to working closely with growers and industry stakeholders.

Outside of work, Ms Gleeson is active in the Kununurra community, serving as commodore of the local sailing club and volunteering with local organisations.

She will join Cotton Australia on July 13, and said she is looking forward to contributing to the continued growth and sustainability of the northern cotton industry.

New APVMA appointment

The Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority has appointed James Deller as its new executive director cience and assurance.

James Deller.

Mr Deller has a national and international reputation for his expertise on residue risk assessment, monitoring and considerations of impacts on trade.

Before joining the APVMA on secondment in March 2026, Mr Deller was director of the residue chemistry, plant and business teams in the National Residue Survey, the Australian Government’s monitoring program for residues of pesticides, veterinary medicines and environmental contaminants in agricultural commodities of export significance.

International engagement is also an area of strength for Mr Deller, through his involvement in OECD working groups as well as CODEX committees on pesticides residues and on residues of veterinary drugs in foods.

Jointly formed by the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization and the World Health Organization, CODEX committees draft international food standards, guidelines, and codes of practice to protect consumer health and ensure fair global food trade.

The APVMA’s Science and Assurance Branch manages a range of challenging and complex projects and provides critical advice on the safety of agricultural chemicals and veterinary medicines in Australia.

The appointment of Mr Deller follows a competitive selection process which attracted a strong field of high-calibre candidates.

The new CCA board: Paul Grundy, Albert Gorman, Olivia Bange, Charlie Wells, Nellie Lawson, Cate Wild and Tony Lockrey. Not in the photo but on the board is Tessa Dimond.

Crop Consultants board elected

Crop Consultants Australia held its annual general meeting and seminar at Narrabri recently with Tony Lockrey stepping into the role of president.

Cate Wild (MCA Goondiwindi and Cotton Australia) and Nellie Lawson (B&W Mungindi) were elected as new directors with Tim Richards, Dean Hamblin and Alex Wicks stepping down after serving multiple terms.

The other 2026-27 CCA Board members are Paul Grundy (QDPI and CottonInfo), Charlie Wells (CFM, Griffith), Tessa Dimond (Nuffield Australia), Olivia Bange (Crop Capsules, Wee Waa) and Albert Gorman (AgGrow Agronomy and Research, Griffith).

More than 180 people registered to attend the two-day CCA seminar with 20 speakers covering a range of agronomic, business and personal development topics.

Warren Davies, The Unbreakable Farmer, presented the keynote address on day one followed by a panel of CCA members and professional consultants, chaired by Tony Lockrey, with Greg Rummery and Nellie Lawson discussing industry challenges, opportunities, how to have difficult conversations with clients, and persist through the hard seasons, as well as the future of agricultural consulting.

For the consultant updates, OrdCo’s Kasey Ward spoke about cropping diversity in northern Western Australia, Tom Garnsey from Outlook Ag gave insights from Agritechnica 2025 held in Germany and Kate Lumber of Polle Ag shared her Nuffield Scholarship learnings on managing semi-irrigated cotton.

Mygrain kicks off

Victoria has a new brokerage business in Mygrain, founded this month by Andy Brown.

Mygrain’s Andy Brown.

Based in Horsham, Mr Brown was formerly with Pinion Advisory, and prior to that ran the Viterra container-packing facility at Dooen.

Mygrain’s client base is in the Wimmera, Mallee, and Western District, and Mr Brown said the promising season has made it the right time to start his own business.

“We’re looking at a pretty big year this year, and as it stands, we’re going to have a lot of grain; we’ve still got a lot of grain from last season,” Mr Brown said.

“Growers are really upbeat.”

Mr Brown has been encouraged by support from existing and new contacts in Mygrain’s first weeks of operation, brokering wheat, barley, canola and pulses into domestic and export markets.

Young Cotton Achiever of the Year Award finalists Natalie Aquilina, Alexandria Doyle and Lauren Roellgen.

Young Cotton Achiever of the Year Award finalists

Three emerging leaders who are making a significant contribution to the Australian cotton industry have been named as finalists for the 2026 Cotton Research and Development Corporation Chris Lehmann Young Cotton Achiever of the Year Award.

The 2026 finalists are:

• Natalie Aquilina – Cotton Seed Distributors technical agronomist for Namoi Valley, Narrabri, NSW;
• Alexandria Doyle – Louis Dreyfus Company Grower Services Representative for Central Queensland, Emerald, Qld;
• Lauren Roellgen – Cotton grower, Darling Downs, Qld.

Cotton Australia CEO Adam Kay said the award highlights the depth of talent, commitment and leadership emerging across the industry.

“The judging panel was humbled by the opportunity to engage with such a wonderful cross-section of applicants for this award,” Mr Kay said.

“Natalie, Alexandria and Lauren are all highly capable young professionals who are already contributing through leadership, innovation, community involvement and a genuine commitment to the long-term success of our industry.

“These three young women go beyond their day-to-day roles to help build a stronger industry for the future.

“Their professionalism, expertise and approach to the industry left the judging panel inspired and very confident in the future of Australian cotton.

“They are excellent ambassadors for Australian cotton and very deserving finalists for this award.”

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