Australia
November 28, 2024

Grains Australia has announced the appointment of 11 industry representatives to its newly established Oilseed Council.

Council members have been appointed for a period of three years and include people from across the Australian oilseed supply chain.

Members of the new Grains Australia Oilseed Council are:
•    Andrew Freebairn – trader, Victoria
•    Dan Morgan – trader and processor, Victoria
•    Grant Pontifex – grower, South Australia
•    Jared Meredith – trader, Western Australia
•    Jon Slee – processor, WA
•    Lachlan Herbert – grower and adviser, New South Wales 
•    Luke Strudwick – trader, SA
•    Maryann Salvetti – grower and Chair of Soy Australia, Queensland
•    Michael Lamond – agronomist/consultant, WA
•    Rob Hall – seed business manager, Victoria
•    Tom Mac Smith – processor, NSW.

Grains Australia Chief Executive Officer Richard Simonaitis said there was a significant response from industry participants to Grains Australia’s Expression of Interest (EOI) process for the Council.

“Selections were based on applicants’ skills, experience and the diversity of the group,” Mr Simonaitis said.

“The new Council collectively brings a broad range of skills and background across the industry.”

The new Oilseed Council will join Grains Australia’s existing Commodity Councils for barley, wheat, oats, and pulses, as well as the Grains Market Access Council. The Commodity Councils represent specific commodities and provide strategic advice to the Grains Australia Board. 

Grains Australia, an initiative of the Grains Research and Development Corporation, is responsible for vital industry services and functions that improve the industry’s competitiveness and profitability. 

Grains Australia’s Oilseed Council will have responsibility for overseeing the implementation of classification frameworks for Australian oilseed crops and providing expertise and advice in identifying oilseed trade and market access priorities, and requirements for market information and market education relevant to oilseeds. 

The EOI process and selection of the new Oilseed Council members was carried out with the support of the Australian Oilseed Federation (AOF), with which Grains Australia has a Memorandum of Understanding.
 

Published: November 28, 2024