Mungindi grower Andrew Earle has been appointed to the GRDC Board. Photo: GRDC
- Earle named new GRDC director
- New APVMA board members
- VFF Life Membership awarded
- Fletcher joins Mort & Co
- Jan Cathcart Memorial Scholarship winner
- CottonInfo welcomes new team members
- McGrath presented ACB Recognition Award
- WA regional soil coordinator appointed
- Rabobank names new Qld manager
- Abbo named Worral Creek GM
- Hancock reappointed to lead PIF Committee
- Passing of first GRDC chair
Earle named new GRDC director
South Queensland farmer and grain grower Andrew Earle has joined the board of Grains Research and Development Corporations as a non-executive director.
Mr Earle has previously served as a Board member of Grains Australia, and as deputy chair of Grain Producers Australia.
He has also served as a presiding member of the GRDC selection committee from 2017-2022.
Mr Earle brings a depth of knowledge on the inner workings of the grains industry from his more than 20 years’ experience.
Andreas Clark
Mr Earle joins the GRDC Board along with chairperson Sharon Starick and deputy chairperson Bob Nixon and directors Kellie Benda, Shaun Coffey, Richard Heath, Natalie Sommerville and Bindi Turner.
New APVMA board members
The Federal Government has appointed three board members to the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority.
Rebecca Billings and Andreas Clark are new appointments and will serve a two-year term from March 29, while Dr Steve Jefferies AM, has been reappointed for three years also from March 29.
The appointees join incumbent chief executive officer, Scott Hansen, and chair, Catherine Ainsworth.
Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Julie Collins said the appointments will further strengthen the APVMA, continuing the Government’s reforms to the regulator.
“The board members are exceptionally well-qualified,” Ms Collins said.
“They possess a wealth of expertise and board experience and were appointed through a nation-wide open selection process.
“I would like to thank outgoing inaugural board members Dr Jeremy Burdon and Mrs Maree Gooch for their service to APVMA over the past three years.”
VFF life member Eileen Jorgensen (centre) with VFF grains group president Ryan Milgate, VFF life member Meg Parkinson, VFF life member Ian Hastings and VFF president Brett Hosking. Photo: VFF
VFF Life Membership awarded
Victorian Farmers’ Federation member Eileen Jorgenson has been awarded VFF Life Membership in front of a packed house at the 2025 VFF Grains Conference in Horsham.
Ms Jorgenson’s contribution to the VFF and wider agricultural industry has been profound and built upon decades of hard work and dedication.
Having been involved with the VFF in various capacities since the early 1990s, she has been the heart of and soul of her local branch.
Her passion for a member-first approach has seen her take a leading voice on the pressing issues facing local farmers.
More recently, the impacts of the Fire Services Protection Levy, land access and biosecurity has been of critical importance.
Fletcher joins Mort & Co
Shawn Fletcher.
Experienced stockfeed manager Shawn Fletcher has joined Mort & Co, Australia’s largest lotfeeder, in the new role of general manager stockfeeds.
Based in Toowoomba at Mort & Co’s head office, Mr Fletcher will be responsible for the commercial roll-out of Mort & Co’s Predictor Plus grazing-management, and a new lick block.
Mr Fletcher started in the stockfeed sector in 1994, and his time in the industry includes 21 years with George Weston Foods, and three with Corson Maize Food Ingredients.
He was most recently Qld general manager for Ridley.
Jan Cathcart Memorial Scholarship winner
Alexandra Hatty from Tocumwal has been announced as the recipient of the SunRice Group’s 2025 Jan Cathcart Memorial Scholarship.
The scholarship, offering up to $10,000 per year, will support Ms Hatty in her academic pursuits as she enters her second year of a Bachelor of Development Studies and Bachelor of Social Science at The University of Newcastle.
SunRice Group chair Laurie Arthur and Alexandra Hatty. Photo: SunRice
“Alexandra demonstrates a deep commitment to both the rice industry, her studies and her communities, through the pathways she has chosen,” SunRice Group chairman Laurie Arthur said.
The scholarship will enable Ms Hatty to focus on addressing the social dimensions of agriculture through improving education, communication, and knowledge-sharing within the rice industry and broader farming communities.
The Jan Cathcart Memorial Scholarship was established to provide recipients with financial support and practical industry experience to help them achieve their career goals.
“I am incredibly honoured to be part of Jan Cathcart’s legacy, and I am grateful for the opportunity to be part of a network that values sustainability, collaboration and education,” Ms Hatty said.
Denis McGrath
McGrath presented ACB Recognition Award
Denis McGrath has been named the recipient of the Australian Crop Breeders’ Recognition Award in recognition of his leadership and service to the Australian grains industry.
Mr McGrath was presented with the award, alongside 2024 Farrer Memorial Medal winner Andrew Barr, at the ACB Breeders Week event held in Melbourne on March 3-6.
The award highlighted Mr McGrath’s ongoing work in the industry, in particular dedication and invaluable contribution to the success of the end-point royalty system.
ACB CEO Narelle Moore said the influence of both Mr McGrath and Mr Barr on Australian cropping was profound.
“It was incredibly pleasing to celebrate the positive impact that both Andy and Denis have had on our industry, surrounded by their peers and colleagues,” Dr Moore said.
“It was a great reminder of the contributions that these individuals have made to the betterment of Australian grains.”
WA regional soil coordinator appointed
The South-West WA Drought Resilience Adoption and Innovation Hub (SW WA Hub), in partnership with SoilsWest at Murdoch University, has welcomed the appointment of environmental biologist Bridget Watkins as the new regional soil coordinator.
Bridget Watkins
Commencing in the role on February 6, Ms Watkins will play a key role in supporting WA farmers and land managers with best-practice soil management strategies to enhance soil health, sustainable agriculture, and drought resilience.
Ms Watkins brings over 15 years of experience in environmental science, including her recent role as an agricultural officer at CSBP, where she managed field trials, data analysis, and stakeholder engagement.
SW WA Hub Director Jo Wisdom highlighted the importance of Ms Watkins role in fostering long-term sustainability in WA’s ag sector.
“Her experience in environmental science and agriculture, combined with her strong communication skills, will help drive key partnerships and ensure farmers have access to the best soil management advice,” Dr Wisdom said.
CottonInfo team: Program manager Janelle Montgomery, communications lead Megan Woodward, Macquarie REO Rochelle Field, Southern NSW REO Kieran O’Keeffe, CQ REO Tami Buranda, Namoi REO and soil health tech lead Blake Palmer, Namoi REO Bob Ford, Darling Downs REO Annabel Twine, Border Rivers, St George, Dirranbandi REO Andrew McKay and Gwydir REO Greg Bramley.
CottonInfo welcomes new team members
After a period of change and renewal, the Australian cotton industry’s extension program, CottonInfo, has welcomed five new regional extension officers (REOs) to the team.
The new team members, Macquarie Valley’s Rochelle Field, Bob Ford and Blake Palmer for the Namoi, Gwydir’s Greg Bramley and Central Qld’s Tami Buranda join CottonInfo’s existing REOs Annabel Twine on the Darling Downs, Andrew McKay for Border Rivers, St George, and Dirranbandi, and Kieran O’Keeffe in southern NSW.
Ms Field is an agronomist who joins CottonInfo as the Macquarie REO after honing her technical skills for the past nearly five years with Elders in Dubbo.
A well-known cotton industry figure, Mr Ford joins CottonInfo from a regional manager role with Cotton Australia and will service the Namoi as an REO four days a week and devote one day a week to the myBMP program.
Mr Palmer has a solid knowledge of the Namoi cotton landscape and will support CottonInfo as an REO and the CottonInfo Soil Health Technical Lead while also completing his soil health PhD.
He joins the team from NSW DPI’s soils team, where he has been working on CRDC-supported research.
Mr Bramley brings significant experience to the Gwydir REO role thanks to his background in rural business and agronomy, a Masters in Cotton Production and an overall love of cotton.
The new CQ REO, Ms Buranda is a research agronomist from Zimbabwe who has a strong background in field research, agronomy and extension.
Pollyana Saraiva.
The full CottonInfo REO team met in Narrabri last week for training and induction sessions.
Rabobank names new Qld manager
Rabobank has announced the appointment of Pollyana Saraiva as state manager country banking for Qld, responsible for Rabobank’s rural banking operations across the state.
Ms Saraiva replaces Brad James, who has been acting in the position, and is retiring after more than 20 years with the bank.
She joins from Rabobank’s Latin American business, where she has been head of rural banking, based in São Paulo, for the past six years.
“Pollyana brings nearly 30 years’ experience in financial services and food and agribusiness to the role,” Rabobank group executive for country banking Australia, Marcel van Doremaele said.
“She comes from an agricultural background and has extensive experience in supporting family farming enterprises that are active in a number of commodities including cotton, grains, soy and beef cattle.”
Ms Saraiva joined Rabobank in 2007 and has worked in a variety of roles, including regional manager, Rabobank International Brazil, and previously spent nine years working for a large agribusiness corporation in credit roles.
“I’m excited to continue the journey in Australia of adding value for our clients, and ultimately agribusiness, by helping contribute to strong farm businesses,” Ms Saraiva said
Abbo named Worral Creek GM
Solterra Agriculture has appointed Mitch Abbo as the new general manager of Worral Creek.
Mitch Abbo
Warakirri Asset Management launched Solterra last year to manage the 26,000ha Worral Creek cropping portfolio in southern Qld for Alkira Farms, a subsidiary of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints agricultural investment arm.
Mr Abbo brings a wealth of experience to the role, having held senior leadership positions with respected corporate agriculture organisations over many years.
He will work closely with the Solterra senior leadership team, including Stephen Buchanan, who has held various leadership roles with Warakirri Asset Management since 1998, and is currently the operations manager for Solterra.
Both men have a strong background in both irrigated and dryland farming, excellent leadership and development skills, and are passionate about farming and building high quality teams that execute to an exceptional standard.
Nathan Hancock
Their values align strongly with Solterra Agriculture and the company looks forward to their contribution to the success of Worral Creek and Solterra more broadly.
Hancock reappointed to lead PIF Committee
Citrus Australia CEO Nathan Hancock, has returned as chair of the Plant Industry Forum Committee.
With his extensive experience in biosecurity, industry leadership, and market access, Mr Hancock plays a key role in strengthening collaboration and advocacy across Australia’s plant industries.
As PIFC chair, Mr Hancock will oversee the governance and strategic direction of the Plant Industry Forum, ensuring it remains an effective platform for industry members of Plant Health Australia to collaborate on biosecurity priorities.
The committee plays a critical role in advocating for plant industries, facilitating discussions on emerging biosecurity issues, and connecting industry leaders with the PHA executive team.
The committee comprises: deputy chair Colin Bettles, Grain Producers Australia; Johnathon Davey, Melons Australia; Paco Tovar, Australian Forest Products Association; Jenny Treeby, Australian Table Grape Association; and Zarmeen Hassan, AUSVEG.
Passing of first GRDC chair
Described as a visionary, mentor and bridge-builder in both his professional life and community relationships, inaugural GRDC chair Don Blesing died recently in Adelaide.
Don Blesing.
From a farm upbringing, Mr Blesing attended Urrbrae Agricultural High School in the 1950s, he served on local council, aided inland welfare, and provided advice on strategy to CSIRO Division of Soils.
He chaired the Wheat Industry Research Council from 1986, a role which included wheat industry R&D planning, coordination and investment.
Mr Blesing’s abilities saw him appointed in 1990 as GRDC’s first chair.
He will be remembered for his inquisitive mind, his motivation to bring about positive change, his pursuit of best governance, and excellence in management.
He is survived by his wife and three children.
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