People on the move

People on the Move in the grain industry

Grain Central January 20, 2025

CQ research and extension agronomist Darren Aisthorpe has established his own agronomic research and development business based in Emerald.

  • Aisthorpe establishes CQ agronomic R&D service
  • Hoskings named VFF president
  • New ACSA chair
  • Inghams CEO to retire, Alexander to takeover
  • Marriott named GSF Steering Group chair
  • New GGA chair, vice chair
  • CRDC to take over CottonInfo operations
  • New GPSA Young Grain Producers Committee
  • New Basin leader appointed
  • Hill appointed WAARC independent chair
  • Bodiam named Impact Ag COO
  • NFF leadership program participants
  • Changes in Qld trading
  • Pacific Fertilisers team expands

Aisthorpe establishes CQ agronomic R&D service

Respected Central Queensland research and extension agronomist, Darren Aisthorpe, has exited the Queensland Department of Agriculture after 17 years and established his own agronomic research and development business based in Emerald.

DTM Ag provides agronomic cropping research services to support both commercial and research entities wanting to validate products, systems, or ideas.

Mr Aisthorpe said there was enormous potential in the use of state-of-the-art sensors and geographic information systems technology to provide near real-time updates on crop performance, soil variability, and plant-available water.

“Our aim is to combine advanced technology with on-the-ground agronomic knowledge to gather robust, repeatable data and insights for clients,” Mr Aisthorpe said.

Mr Aisthorpe worked in a commercial cropping enterprise west of Roma for 10 years before his career with the Queensland Government.

He has been a long-term advocate of using technology to help inform management decisions and capture productivity gains.

“Broadacre growers are among the most innovative producers in Australian agriculture.

“However, there is still more we can do to assist them to validate in-field observations and have the confidence to invest in improved agronomic practices,” Mr Aisthorpe said.

Hosking named VFF president

Quambatook grain grower Brett Hosking has been elected the new president of the Victorian Farmers Federation with Tallangatta livestock farmer Peter Star named vice president.

Brett Hosking.

Mr Hosking served as VFF vice president from 2016-18 and the VFF Grains Group president, as well as holding other industry leadership roles, including as former chair of GrainGrowers Australia.

He is currently a director of the Birchip Cropping Group and Farmers for Climate Action, and chair of the Grains Market Access Committee for Grains Australia.

Mr Star has been the VFF Livestock vice president since 2022 and is also the current VFF representative to the National Wild Dog Action Plan Stakeholder Consultative Group.

“I congratulate both Brett and Peter and look forward to working with them and the wider VFF team to help deliver for farmers and regional Victorians in the coming years,” VFF returning officer Brendan Tatham said.

“The VFF also thanks all outgoing office bearers for their contributions over the years and helping to facilitate succession in the VFF to the next generation of VFF leaders.”

The VFF also announced other uncontested positions including: United Dairyfarmers of Victoria president – Bernie Free; livestock president  Scott Young; livestock vice president – Peter Miller; and the Livestock Commodity Council of Graeme Mahar (Wimmera), Trent Anderson (East Gippsland), and Bradley Venning (additional councillor).

New ACSA chair

Cliff White has been elected the new Australian Cotton Shippers Association chair, taking over from outgoing chair Tony Geitz.

Cliff White

Appointed at the organisation’s AGM in November, Mr White is the general manager of trading firm Omnicotton Australia, a subsidiary of US-based Omnicotton Inc.

He joined the company at its United States location in September 2012 before returning to Australia the following year to establish the new operational hub.

Before this, Mr White spent five years as the senior vice president of Olam Americas and 15 years as the general manager of Queensland Cotton.

ACSA also confirmed the re-appointment of Arther Spellson from ADM as senior vice chair and Josh Zarco from Australian Food & Fibre as vice chair.

Mr Geitz from LDC will remain on the executive committee for another year, serving as past chair.

Inghams CEO to retire, Alexander to takeover

ASX-listed agribusiness Inghams Group has announced that chief executive officer and managing director Andrew Reeves will retire from the role in mid-2025.

Andrew Reeves

The board has endorsed the chief executive of its New Zealand business Edward Alexander as his replacement.

Inghams Group chair Helen Nash thanked Mr Reeves for his exceptional leadership of the company over the past four years.

“After an extraordinary 40-year executive and board career, we understand his decision to retire from full-time executive life,” Ms Nash said.

Mr Reeves said it was time to “hand over the reins to the next generation of leaders to take Inghams forward”.

Mr Alexander joined Inghams in 2015 and has held several key leadership roles, culminating in his appointment as chief executive, New Zealand, in June 2022, with responsibility for all aspects of the New Zealand business.

“I am honoured by the appointment and excited by the opportunities that we have in front of us as a business,” Mr Alexander said.

Marriott named GSF Steering Group chair

Australian agribusiness professional Catherine Marriott OAM has been appointed to the position of chair of the Grain Sustainability Framework Steering Group.

Catherine Marriott

Grain Sustainability Framework independent chair Tess Herbert welcomed the appointment and said the position was an important component of the GSF.

“Ms Marriot will provide strong leadership and ensure the GSF operates effectively and in line with its objectives,” Ms Herbert said.

Ms Marriot has far-reaching experience at the board and executive level, having more than 15 years of involvement in Australian and international agribusiness, focusing on business growth, sustainability, strategy, and partnerships.

“Having spent 12 months as a Nuffield scholar, I believe this is a pertinent issue to get right, and it is crucial to have farmers work cooperatively across the sector to lead the accompanying change management process,” Ms Marriot said.

The GSF’s role is to strengthen industry sustainability credentials by using defensible data to measure and track industry performance across key sustainability priorities.

Members of the Steering Group will be determined under the direction of Ms Marriott and the group is expected to commence work in February.

New GGA chair, vice chair

Erin Gorter

Western Australia’s Grower Group Alliance board has appointed Erin Gorter as its new chair and Marie Fowler as vice chair.

Ms Gorter replaces Peter Roberts, who has served as chair for the last five years, and will continue his valued work with the GGA, as an independent director on the board.

She has served as an independent appointed director and vice chair of the GGA board since December 2018 and is a respected rural industry consultant with a wealth of experience in agricultural leadership.

“With her extensive experience and commitment to the agriculture sector, we are confident Erin will continue to lead GGA towards achieving its mission of supporting and empowering grower groups,” Mr Roberts said.

A grain, beef and lamb farmer from east of Esperance, Ms Fowler was elected to the GGA Board as a member director in September 2023 and has served on numerous councils and committees, including the South East Premium Wheat growers Association.

Ms Gorter thanked Mr Roberts for his service to GGA noting that “under Peter’s leadership, GGA has made significant progress in delivering on its strategic plan and advancing key initiatives in collaboration with DPIRD”.

CRDC to take over CottonInfo operations

CottonInfo regional extension officers (REO) Annabel Twine, Andrew McKay and Kieran O’Keeffe will remain with the team following management of the program being transferred to the Cotton Research and Development Corporation on January 1.

Janelle Montgomery

CottonInfo will continue to be a partnership of CRDC, Cotton Australia and Cotton Seed Distributors, with CRDC leading the program and managing the REOs and technical leads, Cotton Australia supporting through myBMP, and CSD as an investor.

Highly experienced REOs Emma Chorley and Kim Stevens will join CSD as extension and development agronomists.

CRDC will now start recruiting for a full complement of REOs, with positions open for Macquarie Valley, Namoi Valley, Gwydir Valley and CQ.

“CottonInfo is considered a leader in extension not just in cotton, but in agriculture more broadly, so it’s essential that we continue to lead, create impact and strengthen what we deliver to Australian cottongrowers and the industry as a whole,” CottonInfo program lead Janelle Montgomery said.

New GPSA Young Grain Producers Committee

Grain Producers SA has announced appointments to its newly formed Young Grain Producers Committee.

They are: chair Deanna Paech, Murraylands; Andrew Hunt, Mallee; Cameron Longbottom, Mid North; Dili Schoenberg, Mid North; Matthew Cadd, Yorke Peninsula; Dion Trezona, Eyre Peninsula; Matthew Howell, Upper South East; and Penny Roberts, South East.

The first meeting of the GPSA New GPSA Young Grain Producers Committee was held last month.

GPSA chief executive officer Brad Perry said the committee was designed to foster leadership, policy engagement, and development opportunities for the next generation of grain producers.

“The Young Grain Producers Committee reflects GPSA’s commitment to ensuring a vibrant and sustainable future for South Australia’s grain sector,” Mr Perry said.

“This diverse group of passionate and driven individuals will bring fresh perspectives to the challenges and opportunities facing our industry.”

The inaugural meeting of the committee was held December 12, and the group will meet at least three times a year to discuss issues impacting young growers and identify opportunities to strengthen the youth voice.

New Basin leader appointed

The Federal Government has announced the appointment of new Murray–Darling Basin Authority Board chair Daryl Quinlivan AO following the retirement of Air Chief Marshal Sir Angus Houston.

Daryl Quinlivan

Mr Quinlivan has extensive experience in public service governance and water resource management, including as a former member of the Murray–Darling Basin Commission, secretary of the former Department of Agriculture and NSW Agriculture Commissioner.

His four-year term commenced on December 23.

Joining as chair in 2020, Sir Angus has spearheaded the next stage of water management in the Murray Darling Basin via an inclusive approach that united stakeholders and helped bring trust back to the plan.

“Mr Quinlivan brings a wealth of experience in water resource management and water markets to this critical role,” Minister for the Environment and Water, Tanya Plibersek said.

Ms Plibersek also thanked Sir Houston for his “excellent service” and wished him “all the best”.

Inaugural First Nations member Rene Woods has been appointed for another four years, while Allison Mudford will join the board, replacing Susan Madden who has served for the maximum eight-year term.

Terry Hill

Hill appointed WAARC independent chair

The WA Agricultural Research Collaboration has appointed Terry Hill as the inaugural independent chair of its steering committee.

He is an independent appointment among six other leaders on the steering committee, each representing one of WAARC’s member organisations: WA Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development; CSIRO; Grower Group Alliance; Curtin University; Murdoch University, and The University of Western Australia.

Most recently, Mr Hill was appointed a director of the Australian Export Grains Innovation Centre and is also the current chair and former CEO of the Pilbara Development Commission.

In 2022, he was acting director general of WA DPIRD and previously held several senior positions within the department.

“Terry will bring invaluable leadership and expertise to the role to guide WAARC forward, raise our profile, and further establish WAARC as a collaborative hub set up to tackle WA’s most pressing agricultural challenges through impactful, industry-led research,” WAARC director Kelly Pearce said.

Mr Hill said he had always been strongly focused on working with “ industry, community and businesses to support their success”.

“I’m excited to leverage my strong industry relationships, both within WA and nationally, to support the growth and ongoing success of WAARC,” Mr Hill said.

Bodiam named Impact Ag COO

Agriculture investment firm Impact Ag Australia has announced that Shane Bodiam has joined the company as its new chief operations officer.

Shane Bodiam

Mr Bodiam has over 30 years of experience in Australian agriculture, most recently serving as the managing director of Manulife Investment Management Agricultural Services Australia, where he oversaw $1 billion of investments, including broadacre cropping, almonds, macadamias, and premium wine grapes.

Impact Ag said Mr Bodiam’s strategic insight and hands-on approach will be instrumental in driving value creation for its managed assets.

Based in Armidale, Impact Ag has more than 200,000ha under management across Queensland, NSW, Western Australia and in the United States.

NFF leadership program participants

The National Farmers’ Federation has welcomed nine new faces to its National Agricultural Leadership Program.

The 2025 cohort will undergo the policy making and leadership program under the guidance of industry mentors.

The 2025 NALP cohort includes: Andrea McKenzie, Cunnamulla, Qld; Elliott Apel, Brisbane, Qld; Georgia Beecraft, Darwin, NT; Marion Lewis, Corrigin, WA; Meleva Thorn, Perth, WA; Paris Capell, Cobar, NSW; Samuel Turner, Brisbane, Qld; Tom Winter, Moree, NSW; and William Lyon, Blessington, Tas.

NFF president David Jochinke congratulated the passionate emerging leaders.

“It’s great to see applicants from different states, commodities, and sectors stick their hand up for this six-month initiative,” Mr Jochinke said.

“I’m excited to see their ideas develop, skills grow, and networks blossom in the program this year.”

The 2025 NALP cohort will come together in Canberra for a three-day workshop focusing on agricultural advocacy and then embark on a mentoring program, before graduating in August.

Changes in Qld trading

Brisbane-based trader Metha Praphakorn has replaced Shayne Clarke as Export Trading Group Australia’s head of chickpea trading ahead of Mr Clarke’s retirement at the end of this month.

Mr Praphakorn has years of experience trading pulses, most recently with Riverina, and earlier with GrainCorp. 

Downs-based commodity trader Jaco van der Mewe has joined Horizon Commodities at Dalby.  

Mr van der Mewe was formerly with GrainCorp, and was most recently a trader with Norco in Toowoomba.

Experienced commodity trader Geoff Shirtcliff has this month joined Riverina Australia.

Based in Riverina’s head office in Brisbane, he will primarily be dealing with cottonseed and proteins including meals.

Mr Shirtcliff has worked for a range of companies, including Viterra Australia, Louis Dreyfus Commodities, Norco, Brighann Cotton Marketing, and Namoi Cotton, where he was cottonseed trading manager from 2014 to 2021.

Pacific Fertilisers team expands

Pacific Fertilisers has expanded its team with the appointment of Rachael Dunn as territory manager.

Rachael Dunn.

Ms Dunn is based near Orange in the Central West of NSW.

She has a background in broadacre and cotton agronomy and has been working in the agtech sector for the past five years.

This included a considerable period with Farmbot, a leader in remote water monitoring.

“She is well educated, connected and has extensive experience dealing with large producers and corporate farms,” Pacific Fertilisers said in a statement.

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