AGIC 2026 speakers
Ole Houe, Chair, Grain Trade Australia
Ole is currently the Director of Advisory Services at IKON Commodities Pty Ltd. He has been involved in International Trading and Risk Management for more than 15 years in various roles, with experience in grain, sugar, and steel.
Ole has held international trading roles in both the steel and grain industries, and has lived in the UK, Hong Kong, and Australia. Most recently, he was Senior Manager with FCStone Australia Pty Ltd, heading up their advanced risk management division in Australia. Before that, Ole was employed by GrainCorp for 7 years in various trading roles.
Ole was elected Chair of Grain Trade Australia Board in October 2025.
Hon Julie Collins MP, Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries & Forestry
Julie Collins was elected as the first female representative for Franklin in 2007.
Julie entered politics because she deeply believes quality education, decent health services and fairness in the workplace should be available to everyone.
Throughout her career in politics, Julie has worked tirelessly to help improve the lives of others.
In the previous Labor Government, Julie held the portfolios of Community Services, Indigenous Employment and Economic Development and the Status of Women and Minister for Housing and Homelessness.
Julie is currently the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry. She has also served as Minister for Small Business in the Albanese Government.
Julie lives on Hobart’s Eastern Shore with her husband Ian and has three children.
Pat O’Shannassy, CEO, Grain Trade Australia
Grain Trade Australia is the leading trade organisation in the Australian grains industry, and provides an industry driven self-regulatory framework to the grains industry. Pat has vast industry experience in trading, risk management, policy and government relations, having spent more than 25 years in the grains industry in Australia and USA. He has a diverse experience across the entire value chain, gained from working for trade houses, financial institutions as well as customer service and information businesses. Pat currently serves as President of the International Grain Trade Coalition.
Stephen Thompson, Partner, HFW Sydney – MC for AGIC 2026
Stephen is a Partner at global law firm HFW, based in Sydney. Stephen specialises in international trade with a focus on soft commodities. His commercial practice includes advising on sale and purchase contracts, charterparties, bills of lading and other sea-carriage contracts, as well as storage, warehousing, and distribution agreements. He also advises on structured trade contracts and project documentation for use in shipbuilding projects. Stephen’s contentious practice covers international arbitration, both ad hoc and arbitrations under the ICC, GTA, LMAA, GAFTA, FOSFA, PORAM, SIAC and UNCITRAL Rules, as well as through the Australian and English Courts. He has worked in the Australian grains industry since 2003 starting with AWB and, since deregulation, many of the national and international participants in this trade. Stephen is ranked in Chambers and the Doyles Guide.
Ranjani Sundar, Partner, HFW – MC for AGIC 2026
Ranjani specialises in fraud, insolvency and contentious matters, including advising on corporate restructurings, cross-border insolvencies, counterparty insolvency risk, formal insolvency procedures, preservation of rights under the Personal Property Securities Act, enforcement remedies, and all aspects of commercial litigation. Ranjani has experience in complex litigation led in the state Supreme Courts in South Australia, Western Australia and New South Wales, and in the Federal and High Courts of Australia. Ranjani also advises on the negotiation and drafting of commercial documents, specifically focusing on the contractual protections available to her clients, including but not limited to warranty, indemnity and limitation of liability provisions.
Ranjani’s clients include secured and unsecured creditors, financial institutions, mining companies, property developers, insolvency practitioners (receivers, administrators and liquidators), company directors, yacht owners and insurers, and debtor companies and individuals.
Alex McKellar, Partner, HFW – MC for AGIC 2026
Alex is a Partner in HFW’s Construction team, advising clients on contract strategy, project risk allocation and dispute resolution across major infrastructure, industrial and agribusiness projects.
He has extensive experience supporting clients through all stages of project delivery, from contract preparation and risk management to resolving complex disputes through negotiation, adjudication, arbitration and litigation.
Alex has advised on a wide range of processing and manufacturing facilities, including stockfeed, biodiesel and pharmaceutical operations, as well as major infrastructure and resources projects across Australia. He is particularly passionate about helping businesses manage project risk effectively and achieve practical, cost-efficient outcomes when disputes arise.
Bonnie Baker, Grains and Protein Meal Procurement, JBS Pork
Bonnie is part of the purchasing team at JBS Pork Feed Mill, where she is responsible for procuring grains and protein meals. Her role includes analysing grain markets to establish cash and contract prices, working closely with growers and trade vendors to source commodities, and managing contracts and deliveries. She also analyses and reports on costs and market outlooks.
Having worked across several divisions within the JBS business, Bonnie has developed a broad understanding of the organisation, strengthening her passion for her current role and for a long-term career in the grain industry.
Bonnie is completing a Bachelor of Business (Agribusiness) while continuing to work full-time. Outside of work, she coaches the Corowa Rutherglen United Hockey Club Under 16 girls team.
Mr Sam Birrell MP, Shadow Assistant Minister for Agriculture
Sam Birrell is the Shadow Assistant Minister for Agriculture, Shadow Assistant Minister for Regional Education, and Federal Member for Nicholls
Professor the Hon George Brandis KC, Professor – Practice of National Security – ANU’s National Security College.
George practised at the commercial bar in Brisbane, specialising in equity and competition law, and lectured in Jurisprudence at the UQ Law School.
In 2000, he became a Liberal Senator for Queensland, serving for 18 years and holding ministerial positions in the Howard, Abbott and Turnbull Governments. As Attorney-General, he was responsible for domestic national security, reforming Australia’s anti-terrorism laws and leading the development of Australia’s foreign interference legislation.
From 2018 to 2022, George served as Australia’s High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, overseeing the consular response to COVID-19, supporting negotiations for the AUKUS agreement and contributing to the Australia–UK Free Trade Agreement, signed in 2021.
Alongside his role at ANU, Professor Brandis is Chairman of the State Library of Queensland, Honorary Legal Advisor to the Queensland Liberal National Party, a member of the Advisory Board of The Council on Geostrategy, and writes a fortnightly column for the *Sydney Morning Herald* and *The Age*.
Karen Braun, Chief Market Analyst – Zaner Ag Hedge
Karen is a highly trusted voice in global agricultural markets. A trained meteorologist with degrees from Cornell University and the University of Oklahoma, she brings a disciplined, scientific lens to market analysis, producing objective, actionable insights.
Karen spent nearly a decade as Global Agriculture Columnist for Reuters, earning a reputation for explaining complex market dynamics in an easy-to-follow format. Her clean, widely referenced visuals are a defining feature of her work.
Now publishing her own market newsletter, Karen provides clear, data-driven commentary for participants across the agricultural sector defining what matters, why it matters, and what comes next.
Don Campbell (GAICD), General Manager of Nutrition & Energy, GrainCorp
Don is the General Manager of Nutrition & Energy at GrainCorp, Australia’s largest publicly listed agribusiness. With 38 years of experience in trading and management across key commodity sectors – including grain and oilseed, cotton, and vegetable oils – he has worked with both regional and multinational organisations. Don holds a Bachelor of Applied Science with a focus on Agricultural Marketing and Trading.
Nick Carracher, Chief Executive Officer, Lachstock Consulting
With over 25 years of experience in trading and sales, Nick brings deep expertise in derivative markets, with a particular focus on options and over-the-counter (OTC) products. His strong understanding of the roles played by producers, consumers, and traders enables him to anticipate challenges and manage risk effectively. Nick began his career as an agricultural adviser. He spent six years trading physical grains and oilseeds both domestically and internationally before relocating to Singapore to lead ANZ’s Asian agricultural trading desk and then joining Goldman Sachs in Singapore.
Since January 2019, Nick has served as CEO of Lachstock Consulting, where he works with corporate clients to enhance their understanding of risk management and develop strategies for sustainable, profitable growth. A skilled communicator, Nick is a regular presenter and educator, having worked with organisations including GIAV, GRDC, AGIC, and GTA to develop training resources on grain marketing and the role of data in commercial decision-making.
Josh Connell, Head of Supply Chain, Grains, GrainCorp
Josh joined GrainCorp in 1998; since then, he has built extensive expertise across merchandise and inputs, grain trading, operations, and supply chain logistics. Now part of the Commercial team, he leads the efficient movement and storage of grain and non-grain products across GrainCorp’s 160+ receival sites and 7 ports. With deep expertise in supply chain management and logistics, he plays a key role in driving innovation, efficiency, and sustainability in agribusiness.
As a seventh-generation farmer, Josh brings deep industry knowledge to his role, supported by degrees in Agricultural Economics and Sustainable Grain Production from the University of New England.
With a lifelong passion for agriculture and a commitment to operational excellence, Josh is a driving force behind GrainCorp’s industry leadership.
Lucy Darragh, Future Crops Centre, ANU
Lucy is a PhD candidate, Science Communication, Australian National Centre for the Public Awareness of Science (CPAS) & ARC Training Centre for Accelerated Future Crops Development at The Australian National University.
Lucy has over 17 years’ experience across diverse roles in the agricultural sector. She has held positions with CropLife Australia and GrainGrowers where she managed a broad portfolio spanning biotechnology, crop protection, biosecurity, and grain classification and standards. Alongside her PhD, she remains actively engaged in the sector through industry collaboration and policy-focused work.
Lucy enjoys working with a broad network and contributes to teaching in Sustainable Agricultural Systems, Agricultural Innovation, and Methods in Science Communication. She has also provided technical analysis and consultancy on policy and agricultural innovation systems with industry and government partners, including the Agrifood Innovation Institute and CSIRO.
Drawing on both industry and academic perspectives, Lucy’s research explores the complex dynamics that shape biotechnological research and innovation in agriculture and food production. Her work focuses on how meaning, values, and diverse perspectives are communicated across scientific, policy, and industry settings, with the aim of supporting more nuanced and inclusive conversations about emerging technologies.
Mick Daw, Chief Operations Officer, CBH Group
Mick Daw was appointed Chief Operations Officer in February 2022, after acting in the role since July 2021. In this role, Mick leads CBH’s world-class storage and handling, logistics, engineering and shipping services.
Mick brings extensive operational leadership experience to the role, having served as Esperance Zone General Manager for 15 years. He previously held Zone Manager roles in both Albany and Geraldton.
Mick holds a Diploma in Business Management and is a graduate of the Australian Rural Leadership Program.
Simon Gellert, Senior Director Trading Wheat & Barley ANZ, Bunge
Simon leads trading activities across Australia and New Zealand and is a member of the regional leadership team.
Originally from a family farm in Western Victoria, Simon began his career in the Australian grains industry in 2006 and has built extensive experience across accumulation, logistics, and both domestic and international trading.
Simon is actively engaged in industry development and governance, with a strong focus on wheat. He has actively served on various industry bodies and is currently a Director of Grain Trade Australia.
Bridie George, Origination Manager, Marina Commodities
Bridie has worked in the Agribusiness industry for over 10 years, across cotton, grains/oilseeds and pulses. Her current role as Accumulation Manager for Marina Commodities (Australia) sees her accumulating pulses and wheat across the East Coast of Australia. Leveraging on the industry knowledge and market exposure of Marina Commodities’ Canadian pulse business and her network across the industry, Bridie enjoys the dynamic nature of pulse markets and creating strong relationships with both the trade and Grower base. She has multi-faceted experience spanning the pulses supply chain; including bulk handing, container trade, logistics and marketing
Dr Jared Greenville, First Assistant Secretary, Trade and International Division, DAFF
Jared leads the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry’s Trade and International Division. Prior to his appointment in April 2026, he was Executive Director of ABARES from 2020, overseeing national economic and scientific analysis across agriculture, fisheries and forestry sectors. Jared has represented Australia at OECD and G20 forums on sustainable agricultural production, global food security and climate policy. He previously worked at the OECD on agri-food trade and the Productivity Commission on trade, drought, infrastructure and ageing. He holds a PhD in agricultural and natural resource economics from the University of Sydney.
Mike Guerin, CEO, National Farmers’ Federation
Mike is an experienced executive and agri-industry leader with a strong background in corporate governance, capital markets and stakeholder engagement. His career began with more than two decades in banking, culminating in senior leadership roles in corporate agribusiness, including Managing Director of Elders Rural Services.
Mike subsequently served as Chief Executive Officer of AgForce, where he built a strong reputation across the NFF federated family and played a central role in national reform workshops, advocacy and policy development. Most recently, he served as Acting CEO of NSW Farmers, further strengthening his understanding of member-based organisations and farmer representation at both state and national levels.
Across his career, Mike has demonstrated a capacity to lead complex organisations, work constructively with diverse stakeholders and deliver outcomes in challenging operating environments. He brings deep commercial acumen and a collaborative leadership style to his role with the National Farmers’ Federation.
Anna Harouni, Associate Editor, Agriculture, Argus
Anna has recently moved to Singapore, to focus more on grains, oilseeds and vegetable oils, after four years of reporting on European and Black Sea agriculture markets from London.
Anna launched a delivered cfr Indonesia multi-origin low-protein milling wheat price nearly three years ago, and continues to focus on southeast Asia’s import market, and export markets in the Black Sea region, Australia and other major global agricultural producers.
Andrew Henderson, Principal, Agsecure
Andrew believes the strength of rural and regional Australia is inseparable from the strength of the nation. As a leading strategic policy specialist, he works to build its prosperity, its resilience and its recognition as a pillar of national security.
He is an experienced independent chair and committee member across food security, biosecurity, traceability, food safety and research and development. He has shaped and championed Australia’s national food security preparedness arrangements and led reform of the country’s red meat and livestock integrity systems.
Andrew is a Senior Fellow at the Australian Strategic Policy Institute and a non-executive director of End Food Waste Australia and Sheep Producers Australia. He has advised the Commonwealth on biosecurity, red meat and live animal exports, Northern Australia development and climate change.
A published author on biosecurity, food security, agricultural and food system supply chains, Andrew is reframing how Australia values its agriculture sector and the vital role rural and regional Australia plays in the security and stability of our nation and our region.
Quinton Hildebrand, Managing Director & Chief Executive Officer
Quinton joined Ridley’s in 2019 with more than 25 years of experience in the agribusiness and food industries across Australia and in South Africa. He has extensive experience in general management, commerce, marketing, sales, supply chain and logistics, planning and operations.
In his most recent role, which started in 2015, Quinton was Chief Commercial Officer and Operations Excellence Director at Ingham’s Group Limited. In 2018, Quinton was appointed as Interim Chief Executive Officer (CEO).
Prior to joining Ingham’s Group Limited, Quinton was CEO of Mackay Sugar Limited, General Manager Marketing at Illovo Sugar in South Africa and International Marketing Director at South African Sugar Association.
Harry Jobberns, Head of Climate Advocacy, Qantas
Harry is a sustainability professional with a background in corporate strategy, aviation, energy transition, and investment. Currently, Harry is the Head of Climate Strategy at the Qantas Group where he is responsible for driving decarbonisation and nature strategy and supports the deployment of the Qantas Climate Fund – a $400 million fund that invests in climate solutions. Before joining Qantas, Harry worked as a strategy consultant at Strategy & PwC (formerly Booz & Co.), where he worked across the telecommunications, financial services, government, and resources sectors.
Harry holds a Bachelor of Law with First Class Honors and a Bachelor of Business (Finance) from the Queensland University of Technology.
Khalid Khan, Vice President & Head – Procurement & Supply Chain, ITC Limited
Khalid is Vice President and Head of Procurement & Supply Chain at ITC Limited and a member of the Agri Business Management Committee. With over 19 years at ITC, he has led large-scale operations, business turnarounds, and strategic growth initiatives. He played a key role in scaling ITC’s Aashirvaad brand, India’s leading whole wheat flour brand.
Known for his strategic leadership, Khalid fosters a customer-centric culture and drives supply chain optimisation through data-driven decision-making. He holds a B.Tech in Electronics and Communication Engineering and an MBA from IIFT, New Delhi. He is also a member of the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) – National Trade Policy Council.
George Laurie, Junior Trader, LDC
George is a Junior Trader on the Pulse platform at LDC, where he works alongside senior traders to support daily pricing, contract execution and market analysis, while continuing to develop his trading and leadership capabilities.
Before moving into trading, George held logistics roles at LDC, including Logistics Coordinator, where he managed freight allocation, port accumulation, freight rates and domestic contract execution. He also worked as a Control Room Operator and Leading Hand at LDC Melbourne Port Terminal.
George brings practical farm experience together with a strong background in grain logistics, providing valuable insight into the Australian grain supply chain.
Ben Macnamara, CEO, CBH Group
Ben started as CBH Group’s Chief Executive Officer in December 2021. Previously, he was Chief Operations Officer from February 2019, during which he led CBH’s world-class storage and handling, logistics, engineering, and shipping services.
Ben joined CBH in 2014, serving as Commercial and Business Development Manager, before becoming General Manager Planning, Strategy and Development.
Before joining CBH, Ben worked for an investment advisory firm and an international professional services firm. He holds a Bachelor of Business, is a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants Australia and is on the board of the Business Council of Co-operatives and Mutuals (BCCM).
Annabel Mactier, Policy Manager, Trade & Supply Chains, GrainGrowers
Annabel is the Policy Manager, Trade and Supply Chains at GrainGrowers. Previously, Annabel worked at the Victorian Farmers Federation in grain, transport and infrastructure policy. She has completed a Bachelor of Arts majoring in Political Science from the University of Melbourne, as well as post graduate studies in European and International Studies from Monash University.
Annabel sits on the GTA Transport, Storage & Ports and the Trade and Market Access Committees.
Fiona Marshall, Director, GrainGrowers
Fiona farms with her family at Mulwala in the Southern Riverina of NSW and is a strong advocate for Australian agriculture, with a focus on improving the profitability, sustainability and profile of the grains industry.
She combines hands-on farm management experience with senior industry leadership, underpinned by a background in applied science and education. Fiona is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, the NFF Diversity in Ag Leadership Program, and the Grains Social Leadership Program, and was awarded a Climate Smart Agriculture Scholarship by Farmers for Climate Action.
Fiona holds significant governance experience across the agricultural sector. She is Chair of Riverine Plains Inc, a major farming systems group across the Southern Riverina of NSW and North Central Victoria, and Deputy Chair of AgBiz Assist, which provides rural financial counselling and business education services. She has also served on the GrainGrowers National Policy Group, contributing to national policy development and advocacy, and previously served on the GRDC Southern Panel.
Su McCluskey, Australian Agriculture Trade Diversification Representative, National Farmers’ Federation
Su is a beef cattle farmer near Yass, NSW and a highly experienced senior executive and non-executive director. She has long been an advocate for sustainable agriculture and trade and is currently the National Farmers’ Federation’s Australian Agriculture Trade Diversification Representative. In this role she provides an authoritative whole-of-sector voice for Australian agriculture across trade missions, markets and global engagements, promoting the benefits of agricultural trade.
Su is also Chair of the Crawford Fund for Food Security, a Director of LiveCorp, a member of the National Food Council and CSIRO Food and Agriculture Advisory Group. Previously, she was the Special Representative for Australian Agriculture, Commissioner for International Agricultural Research, Interim Chief Executive of the National Farmers’ Federation Commissioner, CEO of the Regional Australia Institute, CEO of the Council of Rural Research and Development Corporations and has held senior positions with the Business Council of Australia and the Australian Taxation Office.
Curtis McGrath OAM PLY, Athlete
Curtis served in the Australian Army as a combat engineer for six years, including deployments to East Timor, Indonesia and Afghanistan. In 2012, he lost both legs after stepping on an improvised explosive device (IED) while on patrol in Afghanistan.
Just 20 minutes after the explosion, Curtis famously declared, “I’ll be alright, I’m going to go to the Paralympics” – a goal he achieved only four years later. After becoming World Champion in 2014, Curtis made history at the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games, winning Australia’s first para-canoe gold medal.
Curtis successfully defended his title at the Tokyo Paralympics and added a second gold medal in the V1 Canoe. As co-captain of the Australian Paralympic Team at Paris 2024, he again defended his kayak title while leading the team on the world stage.
Away from competition, Curtis serves on the Paralympics Australia Athletes Commission and Board. His remarkable journey of resilience, leadership and determination demonstrates how challenges can be transformed into extraordinary achievements.
Todd Miller, Trade and Investment Commissioner, Mumbai, Austrade
Todd is the Australian Trade and Investment Commissioner for South Asia, based in Mumbai, India. Todd leads the agribusiness, food and wine sectors for the South Asia region, which incorporates India, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bangladesh, Bhutan and the Maldives.
Todd previously served as Australian Trade and Investment Commissioner in the Middle East. Based in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Todd led the markets of Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, Oman, Jordan, Bahrain and Egypt, and the Agribusiness Food and Infrastructure sectors for the Middle East African region.
Prior to this appointment, Todd enjoyed a seven-year career with the South Australian Government’s Trade and Investment Department, leading South Australia’s overseas office network from 2018-2021.
Wayne Murphy, Trade & Supply Chain Manager – NSW, Port of Melbourne
Wayne works in collaboration with transport and logistics partners across the Port of Melbourne’s regional catchment. His role is to identify and facilitate opportunities for an efficient supply chain to enable the export of our valuable agricultural commodities, including grains, hay and fodder, cotton, meat and citrus.
Wayne has 15 years as an international trade advisor, including, as a member of Austrade’s TradeStart network.
His activities included assisting businesses across the Riverina, Murray and Southwest regions of NSW to successfully do business in international markets by developing their export readiness and capabilities, introducing qualified potential trade opportunities and providing guidance and assistance during attendance at international trade shows or buyer delegation visits.
Richard Perkins, Managing Director, Greenoaks Agriculture & GTA Director
Richard has been working in the Australian grains industry for a range of Australian and international trading companies for over 20 years. Richard hails from Walgett in Northern NSW and began his career with Agracom before moving to Melbourne with a European company managing the export trading of grains and oilseeds. He then helped set up the Australian trading arm of US-based Co-op CHS, where he finished as the Trading Manager before moving to Market Check, where he oversaw the grower advisory team and growth strategy of the business. Richard is currently the Managing Director of Greenoaks Agriculture, a grain marketing consultant and broker working with a range of participants along the grain supply chain.
Richard has a Bachelor in Agricultural Systems, a Graduate Certificate in Applied Finance and has completed the Australian Institute of Company Directors course.
Dr Carl Ramage, Managing Director, Rautaki Solutions
Carl is a specialist consultancy supporting the assessment, authorisation, and commercialisation of genetically modified and gene-edited products across agriculture and grains. Carl translates complex biosafety and regulatory requirements into practical, auditable pathways to market, with experience spanning more than 25 intentional release licences under Australia’s Gene Technology Act and Regulations, including commercial and limited and controlled release programs in broad-acre crops such as wheat, safflower and canola. His work covers licence application preparation, FSANZ dossier development for GM food crops, OGTR compliance management and contingency planning, and trial site logistics for field-released grain varieties.
Carl also advises on positioning gene-editing technologies against evolving Australian regulatory definitions, helping grain industry stakeholders navigate the path from R&D through to commercial release. He is the sole Excellence Through Stewardship and Plant Breeding Innovation Management Program auditor in the South Pacific, supporting product stewardship and quality management across the grain technology life cycle.
Rosemary Richards, Chair, Australian Oilseeds Federation
Rosemary is Chair of the Australian Oilseeds and is the principal of Bowman Richards & Associates, a consulting firm specialising in providing strategic support to the agribusiness, food and technology sectors. Rosemary undertakes a range of strategic planning, market analysis and trade policy activities for the grains and food industry and has led work on non-tariff trade measures for both sectors. She also has extensive experience across innovation and sustainability, including frameworks, impact evaluation and advocacy.
Michael Rowland, Former Senior Journalist and Presenter, Australian Broadcasting Corporation.
Michael co-hosted the ABC’s flagship national breakfast TV show for 15 years, interviewing everyone from Prime Ministers to Hollywood stars. Michael is a former ABC Washington correspondent and has returned to the US to cover the last five presidential elections as a network anchor. Back home, Michael spent five years covering federal politics in Canberra and has reported on state politics around the nation. He also has extensive experience in covering economics and business. Michael serves as a proud Ambassador for the Western Bulldogs Community Foundation and is a former President and director of the Melbourne Press Club.
John Southwell, General Manager, Trade and Market Access, Grains Australia
John leads Grains Australia’s Trade and Market Access function, drawing on more than 20 years’ experience across the Australian public sector. He engages across the grains value chain and with governments in Australia and overseas to strengthen and maintain market access for Australian grains.
John has held senior executive, trade commissioner and ministerial advisor roles, with deep expertise in agricultural trade and investment policy. He has extensive experience in South Asia, including as Senior Trade and Investment Commissioner in Mumbai and Counsellor (Agriculture) in New Delhi, where he advanced market access and strengthened commercial relationships for Australian grain and agricultural exporters, contributing to significant growth in trade with the region.
Sharon Starick, Chair, GRDC
South Australian grain and pork producer Sharon Starick was announced as GRDC’s new board chair in September last year. Sharon has been on the GRDC board since 2018 and has an in-depth understanding of both the business and the grains sector.
Sharon has a degree in Agricultural Science from the University of Adelaide and is currently a Director of Animal Health Australia (past Chair) and Director of the Regional Investment Corporation. She is also a past Chair of the South Australian Murray-Darling Basin Natural Resources Management Board and independent Chair of the South Australian Future Drought Fund Advisory Group.
As a grower, Sharon understands the challenges facing Australian agriculture and is passionate about sustainability and natural resource management. She is also a staunch believer in the value of RD&E when it comes to supporting Australian farming businesses.
Naomi Stevens, Global Policy Advocacy Seeds & Traits, Bayer
Naomi is the Global Policy Advocacy Manager for the CropScience Division of Bayer, responsible for global policy engagement and advocacy in plant breeding innovation, intellectual property rights and biodiversity.
With more than three decades of experience in the plant science industry, Naomi has held global leadership roles across Australia, France and Germany. Her expertise spans crop protection, biotechnology and seeds, with leadership in regulatory affairs, communications, strategy, public and government affairs, policy advocacy and market acceptance.
Naomi represents Bayer on the Board of the International Seed Federation and chairs its Plant Breeding Innovation Coordination Group. She also serves on several global industry committees, including the CLI Global Industry Coalition Steering Committee, CLI Biodiversity Expert Group, ICC Biodiversity Committee and CLI Plant Breeding Innovation Expert Group, and leads Bayer delegations at the Convention on Biological Diversity negotiations.
Michael Wood, Managing Director, Rural Logic & Deputy Chair, Grain Trade Australia
Michael Wood has been an active member of the Australian Grains Industry for 30 years. He is the Managing Director of Melbourne-based grain trading and logistics company, Rural Logic. Michael is a Deputy Chair of Grain Trade Australia Board.
Founding Manager (1990) of Stockfeed company James & Son for 10 years. Aust Barley Board Victorian State Manager (5 years) and Grains Manager IMCA Malting Company (2005/2006). Former President of Grains Industry Association of Victoria and has remained on the Committee since 2005.
Gia Tue, Vuong, CEO, Thiet Lap and Golden Wheat JSC
Gia Tue, Vuong began his journey as CEO of Thiet Lap and Golden Wheat flour mill in 2017, having been involved in the flour industry since 2012.
Under his leadership, Gia Tue has expanded Golden Wheat from a local mill to the leading wheat importer for the flour industry and a major player in commodity trading in Vietnam.
Gia Tue has a Master of Biotechnology, Stem Cell Biology and graduated from the Swiss Milling School in 2014 as a Milling Technologist.
Craig Young, Senior Global Engagement Manager, Ag, Food & Consumer Products, Austrade
Craig joined Austrade in March 2021 in the Agribusiness, Food & Consumer Products trade team, assisting exporters with advice, connections and support through their export journey. As the Austrade lead for several agribusiness sub-sectors, including Grains, Pulses & Feed, Craig engages with industry bodies to align priorities and co-design export development activities.
Craig has more than 25 years of commercial experience in international marketing with high-profile organisations in the food, wine and spirits industries. This includes 12 years with SunRice, Australia’s leading rice food company in domestic and international marketing roles, developing new products and new markets. This was preceded by 6 years in the wine industry with Southcorp Wines, Australia’s largest listed winemaker at that time, in international marketing roles.
Isaac Zhao, Senior Principal Analyst Lead – China Fertilisers, S&P Global Energy
Isaac is responsible for research on the fertiliser market, primarily in China. He focuses on phosphates, potash, sulphur and sulphuric acid. He also has extensive experience and connections in related areas such as phosphate rock and industrial phosphates.
After graduating from university with a BA in International Economics, Isaac joined Mitsui & Co. (China) Ltd. as Manager, Risk Management, and Deputy Manager, Direct Investment. Isaac spent thirteen years with an international pricing agency (PRA) as a commodity analyst, where he began his research career in the metals and chemicals industry. From 2006, he became a dedicated fertiliser analyst with a focus on phosphate, sulphur and sulphuric acid. Isaac joined the Fertecon team in 2018, which is now part of S&P Global Energy.