Three new directors are set to strengthen the Grains Australia Board’s combination of grains expertise, corporate capability and strong connections with growers.
Joining the Grains Australia Board in April 2026 are grain grower John Woods (NSW), leading governance specialist Rob DiMonte (SA), and farmer Sally Morgan (NSW).
Exiting the Board are outgoing Chair Andrew Young (WA) and Rebecca Reardon (NSW), who have been with Grains Australia since its inception in late 2020.
John Woods is the new Grains Australia Chair.
Mr Young said he was pleased to welcome the new directors.
“It has been a privilege to contribute to the establishment of Grains Australia alongside such highly capable directors and staff,” Mr Young said.
“I welcome John, Rob and Sally to the Board and wish them every success in their roles. I am very confident that Grains Australia is well placed to move forward with a clear focus on delivering even greater value on behalf of growers and industry.”
Grains Australia CEO Richard Simonaitis thanked Mr Young and Mrs Reardon for their strategic guidance during the organisation’s formative years.
“Andrew and Rebecca have both played key roles in positioning Grains Australia as the leading body delivering vital functions for the grains industry,” he said.
“We are very pleased to welcome John Woods as the new Grains Australia Chair. John has very strong farming connections and a deep understanding of our industry.”
Mr Simonaitis said he was excited to continue working with Grains Australia’s Board and Commodity Councils to deliver even more value for growers, industry and customers.
Grains Australia delivers key functions critical to the success of the Australian grains industry, comprising trade and market access, classification, market insights, market education, and technical market solutions. As an initiative of the Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC), Grains Australia leads a Team Australia approach, collaborating across the grains value chain to prioritise initiatives and deliver maximum value for growers, industry and customers.
Grains Australia’s skills-based Board consists of a broad cross section of growers, industry leaders and governance experts. Directors are selected for their grains expertise, strategic capabilities and focus on grower value. This wide range of skills allows the Board to effectively guide Grains Australia’s strategic priorities.
Grains Australia Board
John Woods (Chair), northern NSW/southern Qld (appointed April 2026)
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.
Rob DiMonte, SA (appointed April 2026)
Rob 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, NSW (appointed April 2026)
Ms 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.
Catherine Cooper, SA (appointed August 2020)
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.
Stuart Richardson, Vic (appointed August 2020)
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.
About Grains Australia
A stronger, more competitive grains industry
Grains Australia delivers key functions critical to the success of the Australian grains industry.
- Trade and market access
- Classification
- Market insights
- Market education
- Technical market solutions
Grains Australia leads a Team Australia approach, collaborating across the grains value chain to prioritise initiatives and deliver maximum value for growers, industry and customers.
Grains Australia is an initiative of the Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC).
Media contact – keir.tunbridge@grainsaustralia.com.au