AGIC Asia 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.
His Excellency, Mr Scott Dewar, Australian Ambassador to the People’s Republic of China, in Beijing
H E Mr Scott Dewar commenced as Australian Ambassador to China in January 2024. Prior to taking up this role, he was Deputy Secretary International and Security in the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet.
Previously, Scott has served in the Department of Defence and the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. He has also worked in the Office of the Prime Minister and the Office of the Minister for Defence. His previous diplomatic postings were to Seoul, Beijing and as Consul-General in Honolulu.
Emma McDonald, Senior Trade and Investment Commissioner to Vietnam and Cambodia, Austrade
Emma McDonald is Austrade’s Senior Trade and Investment Commissioner to Vietnam and Cambodia, located in Ho Chi Minh City. Emma leads Austrade’s work program for trade, investment, education and tourism and is responsible for progressing work on the resources and energy sectors across southeast Asia.
Prior to this role, Emma was the Head of Investment for Europe, the Middle East and Africa, and led the agency’s work on Critical Minerals. This followed a short-term posting to London as Senior Trade and Investment Commissioner to the United Kingdom, Ireland and the Nordics, where she represented Austrade, the High Commission and Australia in high-level corporate and government settings at one of Australia’s largest, busiest and high-profile foreign offices.
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.
Suzanne Meiklejohn, Partner, HFW Singapore – MC for AGIC Asia in Vietnam
Suzanne, a Partner in Singapore since relocating from HFW’s London office in 2013, specialises in advising clients involved in the international trading, transportation and financing of a wide spectrum of commodities.
She handles complex multi-jurisdictional disputes in international arbitration and national courts, representing and advising various entities, including commodity traders, shippers, ship owners, banks, insurers, and end-users. Suzanne has broad experience in diverse dispute resolution fora such as the English High Court, Court of Appeal, and Supreme Court, as well as EU Courts of Justice, as well as in several arbitral institutions, including the SIAC, ICC, LCIA and in trade body arbitrations such as GAFTA and FOSFA.
Stephen Thompson, Partner, HFW Sydney – MC for AGIC Asia in Vietnam and China
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.
Nick Poynder, Partner, HFW Shanghai – MC for AGIC Asia in China
Nick is a Partner at global law firm HFW and is head of the firm’s Shanghai office. Nick specialises in shipping matters including in charterparty, bill of lading, MOA and shipyard disputes, acting for both Mainland Chinese and overseas clients. He has a strong international arbitration practice with cases under ICC, LCIA, LMAA, SIAC and HKIAC. Nick also regularly advises on insolvency issues and security for finance leasing matters as well as handling disputes over international trade, logistics and commercial matters. Nick is ranked in Chambers China 2024 for Shipping Litigation. Chambers quotes clients as saying, “Nick is a very professional lawyer who has the clients’ interests in his mind” and “he is our preferred counsel for cross-border dispute resolution”. Nick is also listed as a Shipping expert in Who’s Who Legal and named a Leading Individual in the Legal 500 Asia Pacific Guide 2024.
Adam Richardson, Partner, HFW Singapore – MC for AGIC Asia in Vietnam
Adam is a Partner in the Commodities department of HFW’s Singapore office with a focus on international trade, commodities and shipping matters. Adam’s area of expertise is international arbitration, both ad hoc and arbitrations under the GAFTA, FOSFA, LMAA, ICC, SIAC and UNCITRAL Rules. He also advises on non-contentious matters such as physical commodities contracts (including storage, warehousing, marketing and distribution agreements) and structured trade finance.
Adam has completed 3 client secondments: 2 as in-house legal counsel at international trading companies and a further secondment as in-house legal counsel supporting the physical commodity trading desk of an international bank, specialising in structured trade transactions. Adam was recognised in Asian Legal Business’ annual ‘40 Under 40’ list for 2022, which profiles the 40 most accomplished lawyers in Asia under the age of 40.
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.
Larisa Cato, General Manager, Market Education and Training, Grains Australia
Larisa is a cereal chemist and grain researcher, well versed in the wheat quality requirements of Australia’s grain markets. Larisa is internationally recognised as an expert in the field of wheat quality and end-product requirements. Larisa possesses a unique set of skills combining scientific, technical and market expertise. Prior to joining Grains Australia, Larisa worked as an Asian Product Specialist with AWB Ltd. and with the Department of Agriculture and Food WA.
David Cui, General Manager, GrainCorp China
David Cui holds an MBA from The National School of Development at Peking University and is the General Manager of GrainCorp Operations Limited China. David’s focus is on building, maintaining, and developing local Chinese demand for Australian, Canadian, and Ukrainian grains and oilseeds that GrainCorp originates directly from farmers. With more than 30 years working in international trade and marketing of major agricultural commodities, David has gained extensive experience in the import & export of major bulk commodities, including malting barley, wheat, corn, and rice. David has presented and been a panel member of grain & oilseed forums in China and abroad with his keen insight of supply and demand, policy, price trend of major agricultural commodities and upstream Chinese demand. Previously to GrainCorp David worked for COFCO, ADM, and Toepfer International Asia Pte Ltd.
Jenna Garwood, Assistant Director, National Residue Survey (NRS) Plant Programs
Jenna leads the strategic management of plant and grain residue monitoring for the Australian Government Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry. Her work is dedicated to maintaining Australia’s high standards for chemical residue compliance, ensuring the safety and integrity of agricultural exports. By collaborating with industry partners, Jenna helps secure vital global market access for Australian producers through rigorous testing and stewardship initiatives. With a focus on chemical residue compliance and market access, Jenna collaborates closely with industry stakeholders to support the long-term sustainability and integrity of Australia’s grain and plant industries.
Michael Jester, Asian Trading Director, GrainCorp
Michael is the Asian Trading Director for GrainCorp Australia based in Singapore. He joined the industry more than 35 years ago and has extensive experience in the grain and feed markets worldwide with special focus on Asia.
Kristian Just, National Sales Manager, Symbio Laboratories
Kristian Just is the National Sales Manager for Symbio Laboratories and also the Head of Inspections for their subsidiary company Australian Inspection Services Group. Kristian has over 20 years’ experience in the agriculture industry working on farms, manufacture of stock feeds and in the grain export sector.
From his background, Kristian has an extensive understanding of grain quality and food safety associated with international grain trade.
Michael Wood, Principal – 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.
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.
Richard Simonaitis, CEO, Grains Australia
Based in Perth, Richard brings a breadth and depth of industry experience to the role of Grains Australia CEO, having worked for several years in senior management roles in the grains industry and in export-commodity industries.
Most recently, Richard led the Australian Export Grains Innovation Centre (AEGIC) to significant accomplishments including research to support the commercialisation of new oat rice and noodle products, developing soft and cookie wheat supply chains, and delivering valuable business insights into the future outlook for Australian grain.
William Syers, Senior Manager Marketing Wheat & Barley Asia, Bunge
William joined Bunge in 2007 and brings more than 30 years of experience to his role, managing the marketing of wheat and barley into Asia. He helps to set the standard for port machinery and design as a member of Bunge’s global bulk handling expert group, and led the design team for Bunge’s West Australian port construction.
William is a sixth-generation flour miller, working as a Technical Miller for over a decade, involved in mill commissioning and design throughout the world, but particularly in Asia. This includes working as AWB’s Asian Technical advisor and the Prima Milling Group’s Technical head before joining Bunge.
Rhys Turton, Chair, GrainGrowers
Rhys Turton is a grain grower from York, Western Australia, where he grows a range of crops including cereals, pulses, canola and hay. Rhys is a grower director of GrainGrowers. Rhys has worked in agricultural organisations both in Australia and internationally, giving him a thorough understanding of international trade and market access.
Andrew Vroland, Director Trading Asia – Wheat & Barley
Andrew has over 30 years of grain industry experience, holding senior positions in Australia, Hong Kong, the Netherlands, and for the last 8 years in Singapore. In his current role, Andrew’s focus is on grain marketing in Asia a largely in wheat and barley.
Andrew’s business experience is supported by his time growing up on a family’s farm, a graduate degree in Agricultural Science and a post-graduate Master of Agribusiness.
Gia Tue, Vuong, CEO, Thiet Lap and Golden Wheat
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.
Casey York, Logistics Key Accounts Manager, CBH Group
Casey York is the Logistics Key Accounts Manager for CBH Group in Western Australia. In his role, Casey is responsible for managing a team of customer-facing professionals who play a key role in handling all interfaces between the CBH Operations division and the external grain market. This includes engaging with all exporters that own shipping capacity in the CBH supply chain and overseeing a commercial function that manages significant revenue and negotiates, contracts and operates services agreements associated with transacting in the CBH supply chain.