Speakers at Agribusiness Outlook Australia 2015
Michael Baker
Chief Certification Officer
Australia Certified Organic
Michael has spent most of his career immersed in the organic industry. He worked in Denmark studying organic agriculture as part of an exchange program scholarship for four years before moving back to Australia to work in quality assurance with wholesaler Eco-Farms.
In 2009 he moved to Brisbane to work as a certification officer with Australian Certified Organic and became chief certification officer in 2010. Michael maintains accreditation requirements for Australia’s Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, the United States and the European Union. This means he prepares audits and is available when Australian Certified Organic is inspected by accreditation bodies. He also looks after quality assurance for Australian Certified Organic.
He says, “Organic certification is in a transition phase as organics moves from a small to medium sized industry.” Despite the growth in the industry Michael doesn’t foresee the word organic being regulated domestically anytime soon, predicting it could be another five or 10 years until Australia catches up with more “organically advanced” markets such as the United States and European Union.
Reflecting on a decade in organics Michael says, “The organic industry has become a lot more commercial in the last five years.” He enjoys inspecting and reviewing companies that have been certified for 15 or 20 years because it gives him an understanding about where the industry has come from.
Peter Batt
Principal
Peter J Batt and Associates
Dr Peter J Batt is Principal of Peter J Batt and Associates, an international agribusiness marketing and rural development consultancy that was established in April 2014. Prior to the establishment of Peter J Batt and Associates, Peter was employed by Curtin University in Perth, Western Australia, initially as foundation lecturer in Australia’s first Bachelor of Agribusiness Horticulture. Over the next 28 years, Peter was promoted to Senior Lecturer, Associate Professor and ultimately to the position of Professor of Food and Agribusiness Marketing and Head of the Agribusiness discipline. With over thirty years experience in marketing agribusiness products, Peter has facilitated the establishment of numerous collaborative marketing groups, linked those groups to markets, implemented quality management systems and identified market opportunities for a broad range of agribusiness products in high value markets. From a marketing perspective, Peter will examine the emerging demand for sustainable and ethical food products. Working backwards to the farm gate, this workshop will explore the implications of climate change at the farm level.
David Blackmore
Managing Director
Blackmore Wagyu
David Blackmore is a fifth generation farmer and the founder of Blackmore Wagyu. He has studied Japanese genetics and methodology for breeding, raising and farming Wagyu animals. His passion and dedication to all areas of the production life-cycle has led to the creation of a premium Wagyu product. Since 1988 he has developed a herd of over 3,000 fullblood Wagyu cattle. His goal has been to develop a sustainable production process and has created a unique on-farm feeding program with small mobs of 20-25 Wagyu cattle in a series of 70 five acre (2.3ha) grassed paddocks all joined by graveled lane-ways. Each paddock has access to their own feed-bunks and water, just as they would in a more intensive feeding system. The big difference is in the stocking rate, with paddock densities of around 930sq m/animal. The intention is that the paddocks will remain fully-grassed. Lane-ways provide access for daily feed deliveries. The project required the installation of a feed mill, mixing track and trailer and a commodities shed, just as in a conventional feeding system. The feeding farm area totals 100ha, with a further 80ha under permanent irrigation from the Goulburn River and natural lagoons.
Blackmore Wagyu beef is exported to fine dining restaurants to more than 20 countries.
Anna Campbell
Senior Livestock Policy Director
AgForce Queensland
Regulatory affairs, public policy, communications and advocacy professional with proven track record in delivering outcomes across a range of sectors.
Currently working as a Senior Policy Director for Queensland's premier rural business advocacy group representing thousands of members and the state's largest agricultural industry.
Noel Campbell
President
Australian Dairy Farmers
Noel Campbell was elected President of Australian Dairy Farmers in November 2012 and is also the Chair of the Australian Dairy Industry Council. Mr Campbell is a dairy farmer from Yannathan in south east Victoria and has been a Director of Australian Dairy Farmers since 2007, holding the position of Vice President from August 2011 until his election as President of Australian Dairy Farmers.
Noel has a Diploma of Mechanical Engineering and is a Fellow Australian Institute of Company Directors. Noel is married to Ann and they have four adult children.
Chris Carter
Economist
Australian Export Grains Innovation Centre (AEGIC)
Dr Chris Carter is an economist with AEGIC. Dr Carter has 10 years experience in economic analysis, modelling and policy development within most sectors of the grains industry. This includes working with farmers in production sector, through to analysis of quality management policy, international supply chains and development of innovative market structures.
Senator Richard Colbeck
Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Agriculture
Australian Government
Richard Colbeck has been a Liberal Senator for Tasmania in the Australian Parliament since 2002.
Prior to entering politics, Senator Colbeck worked in the construction industry, was an Alderman on the Devonport City Council and a Director of the Tasmanian Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
Senator Colbeck has a strong affinity for regional communities – which he credits to spending his younger years on a dairy farm at Wilmot – and he enjoys working with primary industries to achieve better outcomes for rural and regional Australia.
Senator Colbeck is the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Agriculture with responsibilities for Fisheries and Forestry and Agriculture in Tasmania.
http://twitter.com/richardmcolbeck
http://www.richardcolbeck.com.au/
Les Copeland
Professor of Agriculture, Faculty of Agriculture and Environment
The University of Sydney
Les Copeland is an agricultural biochemist with interests at the interface between food science and human nutrition. He joined the academic staff in 1974 after completing his undergraduate and postgraduate studies in the University of Sydney and postdoctoral research in the USA. Les is a member of the Research Advisory Committee of the Australian Farm Institute, Foundation Editor of the open access journal Agriculture, President of the University of Sydney Association of Professors, and a Research Integrity Advisor of the University of Sydney. He is a former Head of Department and Faculty Dean, a Fulbright Alumnus, and he was the Foundation President of the Australian Council of Deans of Agriculture. Les has extensive experience in international projects and capacity building.
Ben Copeman
General Manager
NASAA
From a background in beef cattle and cropping, Ben Copeman’s career has moved from finance to risk management to sustainability. He has held senior management positions in a number of different industries including finance, agriculture, aged care, the environment and now, organic certification. Ben has worked internationally on projects located in Cyprus, the Pacific Islands, South America and China.
In addition to his own beef cattle and cropping background, Ben has been involved in consulting projects with a 45,000 head beef cattle operation; a risk and sustainability plan for an $85m aged care organisation; CEO of a national wetlands conservation organisation and is currently General Manager of the National Association for Sustainable Agriculture, Australia (NASAA) Limited.
Incorporated in 1986, NASAA is Australia’s first Organic Certification organisation. Located in Stirling in the Adelaide Hills of South Australia, NASAA has operations in 13 countries affecting the lives of some 13,000 farmers globally. With in excess of 7m hectares certified, NASAA is widely regarded as the largest certifier of agricultural land in the world.
Theresa Craig
President
Agribusiness Association of Australia
Dr Theresa Craig (PhD) is a highly qualified professional passionate about regional Australia. Australia is her chosen home. With international and Australian experience, she has worked in the agriculture industry her entire career in roles ranging from business woman to scientist. In addition, her experience has allowed her to work with complementary industries (food industry and medicine).
Theresa is currently the President of the Agribusiness Association of Australia, a national professional body crossing all sectors of the agribusiness sector. She also serves on the Charolais Society of Australia Committee for Queensland as the Vice President.
For the past 18 years, she has owned and operated her Australian based research and consulting firm, TARA - Technical Assistance and Research Analysis Pty Ltd. Through her company, she has been intimately involved in the production management of feedlots, dairies, dairy beef, pastoral companies, feed mills, and abattoirs throughout Australia and internationally. She understands production, management, and economic principles across many different facets of the agricultural sector.
Theresa, along with her husband, own and manage a small Charolais stud and commercial Red Brahman operation in South East Queensland. In addition, she is part of the Australian American Association-Brisbane Committee and Queensland Schools Animal Ethics Committee.
Theresa has a PhD from University of Missouri, in nutrition across all species with a minor in business, and has specialized in large animals, specifically cattle and sheep. Theresa received her bachelors of Science from Texas A & M University in Animal Science. Originally from Canada, Theresa grew up on a ranch / feedlot operation near Crossfield Alberta, Canada
Theresa makes a contribution to agriculture in Australia everyday. She is passionate that agriculture and the food industries need to attract the best and brightest. She strives to bridge the gap in awareness between the urban and rural community. She has the scientific background, broad business experience, and international knowledge that give her insight on the domestic and international issues facing Queensland and Australia.
Dom Figliomeni
General Manager Commercial
NSW Ports
Dom is responsible for all container, dry bulk and property services across the NSW Ports business.
Dom was appointed Chief Executive Officer of the Port Kembla Port Corporation in February 2005 and on 1 June 2013, following NSW Port’s acquisition of the 99 year lease of Port Kembla, he was appointed to his current position. Prior to this appointment Dom was Chief Executive Officer of the Bunbury Port Authority, a position that he held for 12 years. Previous work includes the Fremantle Port Authority, Hamersley Iron in the Pilbara, Western Australia and Darwin.
Dom is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport, Fellow of the CPA, Fellow of Edith Cowan University and a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. Dom is a director of the University of Wollongong and a member of the Wollongong City Council Economic Development Advisory Board
Alicia Garden
Chief Executive Officer
Grain Growers
Alicia joined GrainGrowers in 2009, and most recently held the role of General Manager, Products and Services. She holds degrees in Information and Technology and Engineering from the Australian National University. Alicia’s broad understanding of all aspects of information services, coupled with her technical background gave her a solid foundation for her previous roles managing Grower Products and Services projects. Alicia is currently on the Executive Committee of the Australian-Sino 100 Year Agriculture and Food Safety Partnership (ASA 100).
Trish Gleeson
Senior Economist
ABARES
Trish Gleeson is a Senior Economist in the Agricultural Commodities and Trade Branch of ABARES with a major focus on livestock commodities and markets. She has recently worked on an assessment of food and fibre supply chains in northern Australia in collaboration with CSIRO and, prior to this, worked on a strategy for the northern Australian beef industry, assessing the risks and opportunities for the industry. This year she has turned her research attention to ABARES’ long term projections of global food supply and demand to 2050, with a particular focus on Indonesia.
Prior to her current role in agriculture, Trish managed ABARES’ program of energy research where her team was responsible for the production of Australia’s energy statistics and projections for the International Energy Agency. Between 2004 and 2008 she worked on trade issues in the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and prior to this spent a period of time in ABARES as a livestock commodities analyst covering the meat, wool and dairy industries. Trish spent five years in the late 1980s on the personal staff of the then Federal Minister for Primary Industries and Energy, the Honourable John Kerin MP.
Luciano González
Associate Professor
The University of Sydney
Associate Professor Luciano González has a BSc in Agronomic Engineering (Universidad Nacional de La Plata, Argentina), and MSc and PhD in Animal Production (Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona, Spain). Luciano held positions in the University of Manitoba (Assistant Professor in Sustainable Grasslands and Livestock Production Systems, Canada)and Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona (Lecturer in Animal Production, Spain).
Research interests:
A/Prof González is interested in improving profitability and productivity of livestock systems along with animal welfare, sustainability and rural life. Luciano believes this can be achieved with the development of new and innovative technologies and methodologies to improve farm management.
A/Prof González is a key member of The Livestock in Future Landscapes Program which seeks to understand how livestock interact with the environment and how these interactions determine the efficiency of production (growth, reproduction), both of individual animals and groups. New information on livestock in landscapes will be used to select animals and develop management systems that optimise the efficiency of resource utilisation and adapt to climate variability and climate change. The ‘landscape’ includes extensive grazing systems (range, pastoral), intensive high-rainfall grazing systems, mixed crop-livestock systems, and intensive feeding systems (feedlot). The Livestock in Future Landscapes Program aims to contribute new knowledge on natural resource management, sustainability, and adaptation and mitigation to climate change. Luciano also works towards improving animal welfare of production animals in relation to pain mitigation during castration and transport, and automatic detection of disease and animals under stress.
Some of the technologies under development by Luciano include:
- Remote weighing stations to measure animal production (live weight and growth rate) and welfare
- 3D scanners and lasers to measure body condition in relation to animal welfare, meat quality and reproduction
- Sensors to remotely monitor animal location and behaviour in the landscape to study animal-environment-management interactions important for grazing land management and animal welfare
- Infrared thermography to measure body temperature
Data collected by these sensors and others that monitor the environment are integrated through models to improve the precision of decision making processes and the efficiency of utilization of natural resources. Environmental sensors include weather stations, soil and water sensors, satellite imagery and optical sensors to measure vegetation type and abundance. These technologies also help Luciano to understand underlying mechanisms and function of livestock production systems.
Cameron Hall
General Manager - Live Export
Elders
Cameron is responsible for the day-to-day management, performance and development of: Management of operations of Elders Live Export divisions; Elders International Australia P/L (long haul exports) & North Australia Cattle Company P/L (short haul exports) for international livestock exports of beef and dairy cattle to various countries including China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Indonesia, Japan, Pakistan, Vietnam and Malaysia.
With more than 20 years’ experience in the livestock industry, and having performed senior appointments with Landmark (National Agency Director), Livecorp (Chief Executive Officer) and Elders International Trading (Manager Corporate Operations, and Strategy Development Manager), Cameron has extensive industry knowledge including having been heavily involved with the Elders feedlots (Charlton-VIC & Killara-NSW) in Australia and Indonesia.
Andrew Higgins
Principal Research Scientist
CSIRO Land and Water
Andrew is a Principal Research Scientist at CSIRO, based in Brisbane. He joined CSIRO in 1996, with a passion in developing novel methods to optimise agriculture logistics to increase profitability across the supply chains. Andrew worked closely with various Australian agriculture industries (including sugar, beef) for over 15 years, improving seasonal and operational planning across all segments between farming and marketing. From 1997 to 2007, Andrew’s team developed computer based tools for the Australian sugar industry to: optimise harvest schedules to maximise sugar production; optimise the logistics between harvesting and transport to improve efficiencies; and improve the distribution of refined sugar between mills, port storage and shipping.
He recently led the development of TRAnsport Network Strategic Investment Tool (TRANSIT), which is a spatial model for simulating transport cost benefits from infrastructure investments (road upgrades, use of rail versus road, processing and storage facilities) and policy interventions in agriculture logistics. It holistically estimates the transport benefits across the freight network, by analysing every possible vehicle and rail trip, and optimising routes between all enterprises in the supply network. His application to northern Australia has shown significant transport cost savings at some locations. Andrew has a background in operations research and received his PhD from Queensland University of Technology on the topic of optimising freight schedules.
Erizal Jamal
Director Indonesian Institute for Agriculture Technology Transfer, IAARD
Indonesian Ministry of Agriculture
Prof. Erizal Jamal, Ph.D. in Agricultural Economics (Major in Resources Economics and Minor in Environmental Science), University of The Philippines Los Banos, Philippines, 2005. He is Director of Indonesian Institute For Agricultural Technology Transfer, IAARD, Ministry of Agriculture.
During His 25 years working experience in the Indonesian Agency for Agricultural Research and Development (IAARD), his most significant achievement is some policies brief about Natural Resources Management (Controlling Land Conversion and Realization of Permanent Agricultural Land in Indonesia), Agrarian Reforms and Rural development. These policies brief as a result from two networking groups which involved around 70 government and non-government researchers from across the country. He already produce more than 75 articles that publish in National and International Journal.
Murray de Jong
General Manager – Strategy & Business Development
Emerald Grain Australia
Murray joined Emerald Grain in 2007 and has spent time in numerous roles across the business. In his current role as General Manager – Strategy and Business Development, Murray is responsible for the development of growth opportunities for Emerald.
Previously, Murray has held the roles of Acting CFO during the 12 month transition to 100% Sumitomo ownership; General Manager – West Coast where he was responsible for Emerald’s grain activities in Western Australia and the Eyre Peninsula; and General Manager – Corporate Services, where he was responsible for Company Secretary, legal, HR strategy, communication and compliance functions of Emerald.
Prior to joining Emerald, Murray worked at a number of law firms and in the family fertiliser business in Gippsland.
Shareef Khan
General Manager Group Operations
The a2 Milk Company Australia
Shareef Khan has over 15 years’ senior management experience as a supply chain and operations professional.
He has spent the last 9 years working in the dairy industry. Prior to joining The a2 Milk Company in June 2012, Shareef was Director of Supply Chain with Nutricia (Danone) Australia / New Zealand. He has experience in various other industries, including office products, construction and FMCG.
Shareef is a CSCP (Certified Supply Chain Professional), has a Bachelor of Science degree (University of Wollongong) and a Post Graduate Certificate in Management (Macquarie Graduate School of Management).
Mark King
President
Dried Fruits Australia
Mark has over 25 years experience in the horticulture industry. As a landholder he has experience in producing citrus, dried fruit and wine grapes. Mark is the current Chair of Dried Fruit Australia (formerly the Australian Dried Fruits Board).
His experience covers catchment and natural resource management, business management, community programs and conflict resolution, media and public relations.
Mark has been actively involved in issues relevant to the horticulture industry through a period of time that has seen increasing demands for water efficiency, market rise and fall, international competition, pressure on environmental management and accountability, increased responsibility for regional communities in managing their own future, and changes in state and federal agriculture and natural resource management policy and investment.
Mark is a previous Chair of the the Lower Murray Darling Catchment Authority and currently a Councillor of Wentworth Shire Council.
Hugh Maginnis
Counselor for Agricultural Affairs
United States Department of Agriculture
Hugh Maginnis is currently the Agricultural Counselor with the Embassy of the United States of America in Canberra, Australia, where he serves as the direct representative of both the Ambassador and the Secretary of Agriculture on all agricultural matters with Australia as well as New Zealand. As Counselor, Hugh provides overall leadership to promote and facilitate exports of U.S. agricultural and food products, to reduce trade barriers and to enhance the overall U.S. bilateral agricultural relationship with both Australia and New Zealand.
Before his current assignment Mr. Maginnis served as Western Hemisphere Director in the Office of Foreign Service Operations at USDA headquarters in Washington DC, where he directed overseas personnel and resources for USDA offices in 26 embassies throughout the Western Hemisphere region. Hugh also served as Director in the USDA Office of Scientific and Technical Affairs, where he coordinated USDA policies concerning phytosanitary and food safety issues having a direct impact on U.S. trade interests worldwide. He was also a Director with the USDA Dairy, Livestock and Poultry Division and the Multilateral Trade Negotiations Division, where he helped develop U.S. negotiating strategies in preparation for the Doha round in the WTO.
Hugh has been an officer with the U.S. Diplomatic Corps for over 23 years, serving as the U.S. Agricultural Representative to Spain, Portugal, and Canada before his assignment to Australia and New Zealand. Prior to his government service, Hugh was an Economist with Wharton Econometric Forecasting Associates in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He holds a Bachelor's degree in Economics and a Master's degree in Applied Economics, both from the University of Minnesota.
Stephen Morrow
Managing Director
Buderim Ginger
Executive Employment Summary
* 2004 – 2006 Chief Executive, Golden Circle Limited
* 1998 – 2003 General Manager Agribusiness, Suncorp Bank
* 1995 – 1998 Managing Director, Primac Holdings
* 1991 – 1995 Managing Director, ConAgra Wool LTD
* 1985 – 1991 Managing Director, ConAgra Australia LTD
* 1984 – 1985 Director Asian Marketing, Farmland World Trade Inc (Kansas City, USA)
* 1980 – 1984 Assistant Marketing Manager, Queensland Grain Growers Association.
Non-Executive Director Employment Summary
* 2014 – present Chairman, Priestley’s Gourmet Holdings
* 2013 – 2014 Chairman, Hydrasyst Pty Ltd
* 2012 – present Non-Executive Director, Horticulture Innovation Australia Ltd
* 2010 – present Chairman, Buderim Ginger Ltd
* 2009 – present Board member, CEFN Pty Ltd
* 2009 – 2013 Chairman, Multitrode Pty Ltd
* 2008 – 2013 Chairman, IHD/Aglink Pty Ltd
* 2006 – 2012 Non-Executive Director, Gardner Smith Group.
* 2005 – 2010 Chairman, Brooklyn Park Olives
* 2008 – 2009 Chairman, Dingo Mini Diggers Pty Ltd
* 2007 – 2009 Chairman, BioProspect Pty Ltd
* 1999 – 2002 Non-Executive Director, Global Seafoods Pty Ltd.
Jim Pratley
Research Professor of Agriculture, School of Agricultural and Wine Sciences
Charles Sturt University
Jim is Research Professor of Agriculture at Charles Sturt University and Secretary of the Australian Council of Deans of Agriculture. He graduated with BSc and PhD degrees from the University of NSW and took up an academic position at Wagga Wagga where he has been since 1972. He was Foundation Dean of Science and Agriculture at Charles Sturt University from 1990 until 2006. Jim has taught courses in agronomy and related areas and has published widely in conservation farming, weed management, herbicide resistance, allelopathy and agricultural education. He is a former President of the Australian Society of Agronomy and former Vice President of the International Allelopathy Society. He has served on the Boards of the Cooperative Research Centres of Viticulture, Sustainable Rice Production, Weed Management Systems and Plant Based Management of Dryland Salinity. He is a member of the Research Advisory Committee of the Australian Farm Institute, the NSW Primary Industries Ministerial Advisory Council and the National Council for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food of the Australian Academy of Science. He recently completed a Ministerial Review into Agricultural Education and Training in NSW
Elise Ramsey
Managing Director
AussieMite
I started working in the family business in 2007. I rebranded and launched into the UK market in 2012 - it's been nothing but an uphill battle every step of the way, however, my vision remains, for AussieMite to be a global brand and Australia icon which proudly supports and puts back into Australia.
David Sackett
Managing Director
Growth Farms Australia
David is the Managing Director of Growth Farms Australia, a company that specialises in the acquisition and management of agricultural investments in Australia on behalf of separate account and pooled fund investors. The business currently manages over $380m of assets across a diverse range of sectors including broad-acre cropping, sheep, beef, cotton and sugar. Growth Farms has recently had first close of a Fund which invests in Australian agriculture. Prior to joining Growth Farms, David was a founding partner of Holmes Sackett and Associates, committing over twenty years to the business as it developed into the leading agricultural consulting business in South East Australia. He was also a board member of two Australian Co-operative Research Centres (Sheep and Future Farm Industries) and a number of other company boards related to agriculture.
Jason Shearer-Smith
Managing Director
Smithfield Cattle Company
Born and raised on our family cattle property located at Proston in the South Burnett. This property has been in our family since 1928 when our grandfather Alf Smith established the property along with Butcher shops and a small slaughter house. Jason attended the University of Queensland Gatton attaining a Bachelor of Applied Science in Rural Technology. The Smithfield feedlot was established in 1986 and Jason has worked at this facility as the managing director since 1991. This feedlot has grown from humble beginnings to a start of the art feedlot feeding 20,000 head of cattle at any one time turning of over 70,000 grain fed cattle per year. Jason spent 8 years on the board of the Australian Lot Feeders Association and has held other industry positions. Jason is a director of Allied Beef a company managing and marketing in excess of 100,000 head of cattle annually. The Smithfield Cattle company is involved in all facets of the supply chain delivering grain fed beef to export markets.
Brooke Summers
Project Lead - Cotton to Market
Cotton Australia
Brooke Summers is currently leading Cotton Australia’s international marketing strategy, Cotton to Market. She has worked in marketing, communication and community engagement for Australia’s agriculture sector for over 20 years including with Landcare Australia, the vegetable and rice industries, Catchment Management Authorities and the Australian cotton industry, where she’s spent most of her time for over a decade.
Brooke runs a small consultancy business, Step Communication, that most recently has developed and overseen the implementation of a new strategy to position Australian cotton in the world textile market. This has included domestic industry engagement, the development of international partnerships with the U.S. cotton industry and the Better Cotton Initiative and a number of marketing and promotional initiatives with brands, retailers and manufacturers.
Brooke has a BA in Communication, a Churchill Fellowship (Urban Conservation) and is a recent graduate of the Australian Rural Leadership Program.
“The Australian cotton industry is a very small player in the enormous world textile market. We have a story that the market needs, and we need to be clever about where we exercise influence and how we collaborate for long term success. This conference will allow us to share experiences with others in the sector and learn from them to strengthen our future work.”
Jan Vydra
Managing Director
Australian Fresh Leaf Herbs
Jan Vydra founded Australian Fresh Leaf Herbs (AFLH), a leading Australian garnish produce grower and distributor, in 2008 with business partner, William Pham. His keen interest in bringing his business acumen and food industry background to a traditional industry led him and Pham to provide a consistent, high quality product.
Using his entrepreneurial skills, Vydra successfully learnt the farming techniques required and developed a new supply chain process which has benefited all stakeholders involved including growers nationally to major retailers.
Since inception Australian Fresh Leaf Herbs has grown exponentially with year on year growth and its success is attributed to Vydra’s focus on driving innovation in all areas of the business, including incorporating innovative technology within the business process. Vydra ensures the smooth operation of the business with a focus on finance, business development and marketing in addition to upholding strong relationships with suppliers to provide a reliable supply through the winter months to consumers.
Vydra is dedicated to improving farming practices and is an advocate for the farming industry. He is involved on a number of boards including the Horticulture Advisory Committee for Consumer and Market Development (Horticulture Australia); South East Business Network for Innovation; and the Bunyip FoodBelt Primary Producers Advisory Group, where he has discussed his ideas about the farming industry and taken him from businessman / farmer to thought leader.
Vydra was recognised for his achievements in business and the industry in 2011 with the Young Farmer of the Year award and aims to use this respected title to educate more young Australians about the farming industry as a viable career option.
The innovative practices implemented at AFLH led to wider recognition in the farming industry enabling Vydra to develop the cloud based ordering system – Freshweb – into a spinoff company called Nucleus Logic. Although in its infancy the company is assisting many farming businesses to view their supply chain model differently.
Prior to AFLH, Vydra was Chief Operating Officer at Yarra Valley Farms where he also brought in changes that had a positive impact on the business. Similarly, Vydra had a fresh approach when working at MS (Multiple Sclerosis) Society when he developed ‘MS Fresh’, an initiative where MS patients had the opportunity to order fruit and vegetables online, and have them delivered to their home. It was seen as very progressive at the time with an unprecedented amount of awareness gained for MS from the media and key stakeholders.
Jan’s passion for business innovation and forward thinking makes him a standout entrepreneur, farmer and business professional at a young age.
Jan Vydra accolades:
Young Farmer of the Year, 2011
Australian Anthill 30 under 30, 2011
The Age Melbourne magazine – 20 trailblazers in their 20, 2011
Smart Company, Smart 50 (ranked 18), 2011
Peter Wilson
Chief Executive Officer
AGT Foods Australia
Peter Wilson is Chief Executive Officer of Australia Milling Group, which is wholly owned by Canadian based and TSX listed Alliance Grain Traders. Prior to joining Australia Milling Group, Peter held a range of senior management and trading positions in Australia and Canada.
He is also Chairman of Pulse Australia, which is charged with developing the Australian Pulse Industry by improving market access and improving supply chain efficiency.
Peter is passionate about the role pulses play in diversifying on farm agronomic rotations and cash flows. He is equally optimistic about the opportunities to grow customer markets by improving quality and supply reliability.
Peter holds a Post-Graduate qualification in Agribusiness from Monash University and he is a part time lecturer at the University of Queensland.
Peter maintains a keen interest in a family farming business on the Darling Downs in southern Queensland.
Peter White
Economist
Australian Export Grains Innovation Centre (AEGIC)
Dr Peter White is an supply chain specialist with AEGIC. Dr White has 25 years experience in basic and applied grains research, development and management in both Asia and Australia. Dr White recent work in AEGIC has involved the detailed analysis of Australian and international export grains supply chains.