Grains Australia is pleased to announce the appointment of 12 industry representatives to the newly established Grains Australia Wheat Council. Council members include wheat growers from Eastern and Western Australia, grain traders, processors and handlers, quality and technical experts, wheat breeders, and consumers.
The new Grains Australia Wheat Council members include:
- Alastair Falconer, Falconer Grain at Coorow, WA
- Alex Onus, GrainCorp
- Bruce Watson, Kebby & Watson at Parkes, NSW
- Claire Shadbolt, CBH Group
- Darryl Borlase, ADM Trading
- Haydn Kuchel, Australian Grain Technologies
- Julie Alvaro, Windsor Hart Enterprises at Merredin, WA
- Dr Kirsty Germaine, MAURI
- Larisa Cato, Australian Export Grains Innovation Centre (AEGIC)
- Matthew Madden, Fairfield Farming at Moree, NSW
- William Reid, CBH Group
- William Syers, Bunge Agribusiness
Interim CEO of Grains Australia, Andrew Young said the Wheat Council will play a critical role in guiding Grains Australia’s strategic direction by providing advice to the Board on behalf of the Australian wheat industry.
“The new Grains Australia Wheat Council takes over from the previous Wheat Classification Council with expanded responsibilities. The Council will assist Grains Australia to not only oversee Australia’s wheat classification system but also identify wheat industry trade and market access priorities and requirements for wheat market information and education.”
Appointments to the Grains Australia Wheat Council were made following an open expression of interest process and review of all applications by a Selection Panel which considered skills, knowledge and experience as well as diversity in terms of gender, background, supply chain understanding, geography, and understanding of the Australian wheat industry.
The Wheat Council is one of several Commodity Councils being established by Grains Australia to advise the Board on behalf of individual grain commodities including barley, oats, oilseeds, pulses and wheat. Grains Australia’s Barley Council is already in operation following the merger of Barley Australia and Grains Australia in early May 2022.
Appointments to Grains Australia Commodity Councils are for a period of two years, with the option to be extended for consecutive terms for a maximum of three terms.