The Board of Grains Australia sets strategic direction and monitors ongoing performance. The Board is governed by a Charter which outlines the Board role, responsibilities, and governance procedures. It defines the Board’s obligations and its relationship with members, employees, and stakeholders. Board Committees, including the Audit and Risk Committee and Commodity Committees, review, advise and make recommendations to the Board on matters within their jurisdiction.
Proposed 2026 Annual General Meeting Date: 8 October
Board Members
John Woods - Chair
John Woods is a grain grower based near Goondiwindi on the Queensland–New South Wales border, with extensive experience in broadacre cropping and agribusiness.
He currently serves as Chairman of Lawson Grains, one of Australia’s leading corporate grain producers, and brings a strong focus on operational performance, governance and long-term sustainability.
John previously served as Chair of the Grains Research and Development Corporation, where he played a key role in guiding national investment in grains research, development and extension.
His experience spans production, industry leadership and board governance, contributing to a deep understanding of the opportunities and challenges across the Australian grains sector.
Catherine Cooper
Based in South Australia, Catherine Cooper is an experienced Non-Executive Director with a portfolio of approximately 50 Board positions over 20 years. She is a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (FAICD).
In addition to her background as a corporate lawyer, Catherine has had a senior management career in agribusiness (Elders and Foster’s Brewing Group) both domestically and internationally.
Catherine brings a wealth of experience in strategy, R&D, and achieving commercial outcomes. Her strategic governance and risk management skills are well established.
Catherine’s roles include Chair of the Environment Protection Authority SA and a director of the Australian Composites Manufacturing CRC. She is also a former Deputy Chair/Commissioner of the Australian Fisheries Management Authority.
Rob DiMonte
Rob DiMonte is based in South Australia, with a professional career spanning 45 years in accounting, management consulting and non-executive directorships.
His career has included; Partner and Managing Partner of Deloitte where he specialised in strategy, finance and operations consulting in Australia and overseas.
He is a past non-executive director and Chair of Australian Grain Technologies spanning 10 years and currently Chairs Junction Australia, the South Australian Tertiary Admissions Centre and PIRSA’s Risk and Performance Committee.
Rob is a Fellow of Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand, a past National President (2007) and a member of AICD for over 30 years.
Sally Morgan
Sally Morgan is a non-executive director and owner-manager of a farming enterprise in Trangie, New South Wales, with over 25 years’ experience across cotton and grain production.
Her career spans research, development and extension (RD&E), policy, biosecurity and sustainability, including senior roles with Cotton Australia and CottonInfo.
She currently serves as a Non-Executive Director of the Cotton Research and Development Corporation, where she chairs the Investment Committee.
Ms Morgan holds a Bachelor of Systems Agriculture from the University of Western Sydney and is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
Stuart Richardson
Based in Victoria, Stuart Richardson has over 30 years’ experience in the grains industry.
A former Director of Grain Trade Australia and former Head of Trading at AWB, Stuart developed and executed expansion strategies for AWB Limited global markets, as well as managing domestic activities.
Stuart also has experience in the horticulture sector through investments in turf genetics and marketing company Turfbreed Pty Ltd which focusses on provision of advanced turf grass varieties for growers in Australia.
He is currently one of the leading physical grain brokers in Australia and is affiliated with the McDonald Pelz Global Commodities group globally, and has board roles with AEGIC and is the Chair of Turfbreed Pty Ltd.
Women in Leadership Development Program
The Board of Grains Australia supports the Women in Leadership Development (WILD) Program, a Federal Government-supported program that helps women attain senior leadership roles and company directorships.
Part three of the WILD Program is a board observership experience providing participants with real-world board experience. A WILD Program participant may attend Grains Australia Board meetings and de-briefing sessions to consolidate learning and help prepare them for working closely with boards and senior management.