Speakers

When mechanical and aerospace engineer Ben Single searched fruitlessly for a weed detection technology that suited his family’s broadacre farming business, he took on the challenge and developed Single Shot – a drone that can map up to 1,500 hectares a day and deliver a selective spraying solution for weeds that cuts chemical use and reduces environmental impact.

Cheryl is an economist who has made a career supporting decision making in the food, agriculture and natural resource sectors, and currently supports the strategic direction of Rabobank across the Australia New Zealand region.

She was a consultant to business and government for almost a decade in her early career followed by time as a lecturer at the University of Sydney, and as Trade and Economics Manager for GrainGrowers. In the latter role she was responsible for advocating, evaluating and negotiating global and regional trade agreements on behalf of the Australian grains sector.

Immediately prior to her current role, Cheryl was the Senior Commodities Analyst for Australia and New Zealand in Rabobank’s global RaboResearch team, where she supported rural and wholesale clients in the grains, cotton and sugar sectors with analysis, insights and forecasting for near term business decisions and strategic planning.

Cheryl has a PhD in Economics and grew up on a cropping property in central New South Wales, not far from her current home near Orange where she lives with her husband and three kids.

Duncan has 20+ years of global experience in commercialisation, IP management, research collaboration, and investment in the agrifood industry.He began his agribusiness career working in studstock, before establishing a career in agrifood commercialisation and research collaboration that has covered technologies across the supply chains of most animal and plant industries.

He has established new commercial roles and teams in research and investment organisations including CSIRO, UniQuest at University of Queensland, Sugar Research Australia/BSES, and Meat & Livestock Australia.At CSIRO, he established a team that built agrifood ventures with industry partners and investors, that raised over $225 million, and held founding board roles on these and other start-ups.

Duncan has delivered training and mentoring to the commercialisation sector, including through professional societies, such as the Licensing Executives Society, where he served as ANZ President and on the International board, and Knowledge Commercialisation Australia.

He holds a Bachelor of Agricultural Science from the University of Queensland, is a Registered Technology Transfer Professional (RTTP), a member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, and has completed postgraduate qualifications in various business fields.

As GRDC’s Senior Regional Manager – North, Gillian’s role revolves firmly around strengthening GRDC’s innovation RDE pipeline, through making connections and establishing collaborative and strong relationships with GRDC’s research partners and industry stakeholders. She leads GRDC’s Northern Grower and Stakeholder Engagement team and supports the Northern Regional Panel in their role as advisers to GRDC’s RDE portfolio, always working to ensure investment is grower directed and meets need. Gillian is a forward-thinking and leader that drives a positive innovation culture through a consultative communication style. In her role she is well placed to provide stakeholders with insight into GRDC’s current portfolio and opportunities for future partnership. She lists her favourite professional skill as “finding linkages where there are seemingly none and supporting and mentoring early career professionals.”

Jack is part of the fifth generation on his family’s merino sheep and cereal cropping property at Narrandera NSW. He holds a Bachelor of Laws and is a Solicitor at Farrell Goode, a rural-based law firm with a strong focus on commercial law and farm transition planning. Jack is also a Director and the current Chair of Narrandera District Investments Limited, the operating company of Bendigo Bank Narrandera & District.

Jack is passionate about rural and regional Australia and what it has to offer for the next generation.

James is a fifth-generation grower from the Northeast region of Victoria, on the outskirts of the town of Rutherglen. James recently completed a dual degree in Agribusiness and Farm Production. Following this, he has ventured into the world of corporate banking, embarking on a new career path in the rural finance sector. This transition has provided James with fresh perspectives on the agricultural industry, enriching his knowledge in anticipation of his return to the family farm in the coming decade. James’s personal fervour lies in the growth and prosperity of the agricultural sector. As a result, he has actively engaged with various agricultural extension organizations, immersing himself in advocacy, grower development, research, and extension to broaden his understanding of the facets of agriculture.

Dr Jana Phan is committed to harnessing scientific advancements for meaningful change. Formally trained as a researcher with experience in science-policy, she is currently the Director for Stewardship and Sustainability Policy at CropLife Australia. In this role she manages and develops a wide variety of stewardship initiatives aimed at promoting the responsible and sustainable use of products of the plant science industry.

A recipient of a Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC) Post-graduate Scholarship, Dr Phan pursued her doctoral studies in agricultural and plant science at the University of Adelaide. Transitioning from research to policy, she has collaborated with interdisciplinary teams at both national and international levels. Her expertise lies in synthesising, analysing, and crafting evidence-informed policy that drive impactful outcomes.

Jerome Leray is the Founder and Managing Director of InFarm and is committed to delivering solutions to farmers that increase productivity, resilience and sustainability.

With a BCommerce and postgrad qualifications in Mineral Exploration and GeoScience, Jerome founded InFarm in early 2017 off the back of a highly successful aerial surveying and remote sensing business.

Jerome is a recognised industry leader, having been awarded the Agricultural Ministers Emerging Leader Award in 2020, as well as representing Australia at the Entrepreneurship World Cup. For his contributions to technology and agriculture Jerome received a QLD Community Achievement Award and led InFarm to be awarded the Australian Food and Agribusiness of the Year in 2019.

Kelsey founded Bass Capital a traditional search fund in 2024. Her funded is focused on sourcing SMEs in the Australian market who do not have a designated successor and are looking at exit opportunities. Kelsey is a charted accountant, holds a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Melbourne and an MBA from IESE University of Navarra. She recently returned to Australia after seven years working in Europe in the Fine Art Industry and consulted to the Banking sector.

Kelsey’s family live on a small cattle farm in Victoria and she is an avid Rugby Union fan.

Lisa is a force of nature. A vibrant and powerful speaker and world record holding sailor. In 2017, Lisa Blair made history. Just seven years after discovering sailing at the age of 25, Lisa became the first woman to sail solo around Antarctica with only one stop. After surviving a dramatic dismasting at sea, Lisa demonstrated her resilience and determination. An extraordinary feat aboard her yacht named Climate Action Now. This symbolic name reflected her commitment to a sustainable future and inspired others to take action through her post-it note campaign.

On May 25th, 2022, Lisa achieved her latest milestone by becoming the fastest person to sail solo, non-stop, and unassisted around Antarctica, shaving 10 days off the previous record.

Lisa has sailed over 110,000 nm and holds an RYA Yacht Master offshore. Lisa is a proud Australian adventurer, Author of Facing Fear, and Speaker on Resilience and Mental Agility. As a passionate Climate Activist she continues to develop projects that allow her to further her sustainability work while inspiring future generations to take on Climate Action Now.

Luciano Mesiti has been the CEO of Primary Industries Education Foundation Australia (PIEFA) since 2020. PIEFA’s aim is to develop, promote and advocate for food and fibre education in schools nationally, through the support of industry research and development corporations. Prior to his appointment he was a high school teacher, teaching agriculture, and design and technology, and president of the NSW Agriculture Teachers Association. Luciano has extensive experience in curriculum development in food and fibre and technology and is very passionate about helping schools and teachers to integrate food and fibre into their programs and increase interest in careers in food, fibre and agriculture.

Lucy is a professional storyteller and master of stakeholders. She draws on her experience working across media, government, and industry to be a passionate advocate for the Australian ag industry.

Lucy leads the Communications team for Nutrien Ag Solutions, one of the world’s largest providers of ag inputs and services. In her role she is responsible for public relations, brand management, stakeholder engagement, crisis communications, and other strategic communications activities.

Lucy believes your personal brand is key to the success of any professional or personal pursuit and says this quote sums it up nicely:

“Your smile is your logo, your personality is your business card, and how you leave others feeling after an experience becomes your trademark” – Jay Danzie.

Also describing herself as a ‘marriage-maker’, Lucy spends weekends across the country as a Commonwealth Registered Marriage Celebrant.

Raised in the suburbs of Wollongong, NSW, Lucy's career has led her from coast to capital, to country. From her first job in a local butcher shop, to the diverse roles with industry, government and NGOs, Lucy’s experiences in the ag sector are as remarkable and inspiring as the individuals she’s worked with along the way.

Currently pursuing her PhD with the Australian National Centre for the Public Awareness of Science, the ANU Research School of Biology and the ARC for Accelerated Future Crops Development, Lucy is exploring the 'promise' of agricultural biotechnology by investigating the dynamics between actors and the assumptions that shape technology development and drive innovation processes. She is particularly interested in the role that scientists play in conditioning knowledge production and discourse, which in turn influences how we come to define problems, justify interventions, and speculate about the future of agriculture and food systems.

Lucy’s previous work spanned industry development, operations management, policy research, advocacy, and technical advisory for organisations such as The Australian Farm Institute, GrainGrowers, CropLife Australia, and Kalyx Australia.

Beyond her academic pursuits, Lucy is dedicated to connecting those interested in working in and with the agriculture sector. She continues to support the next generation of agricultural leaders through her role as a sessional academic and tutor in Sustainable Agricultural Systems at ANU, and through her connection to the Agrifood Innovation Institute.

Responsible for the execution of the John Deere Precision Ag strategy for John Deere, Max’s role focuses on customer adoption and utilisation of technology in the Australian and New Zealand markets.

Starting his career with John Deere as part of the Graduate Program in January 2016 he has held roles as Solutions Specialist, Harvesting Product Specialist and Territory Business Manager, working across a wide range of products and technology.

With a strong family connection to cropping and a Bachelor of Commerce, majoring in accounting, Max’s passion and enthusiasm for the industry is born from his early involvement in agriculture.

Melissa Clark-Reynolds ONZM became a Futurist and Professional Director after 25 plus years' experience as an entrepreneur and CEO of several technology companies. She was awarded the ONZM for Services to Technology in 2015. She is widely recognised as a leading-edge thinker on strategy and the future of business models, particularly for the food sector. She recently made a podcast with NASA on what to eat in space. Melissa is a director of Atkins Ranch Lamb, AoFrio Ltd, Wētā Workshop, and Alpine Energy, and was the first independent director on Beef and Lamb NZ. She is a sought-after speaker globally, on the Future of Farming and Food.

Rebecca is Head of Commercial Sustainability for Nutrien Ag Solutions.

Rebecca has over 20 years’ experience in Australian agribusiness, starting her career as an agronomist and having since held various senior commercial agribusiness roles, including as the National Seed Manager for Nutrien.

Rebecca holds a Master of Agriculture and a Graduate Certificate in Commerce and has completed the Leading Sustainable Corporations course through Oxford University. Rebecca is also a graduate from the Australian Institute of Company Directors and is a current director of AuctionsPlus and Landcare Australia.

In her role as Head of Commercial Sustainability for Nutrien Ag Solutions, Rebecca and the team are working with their farming customers to not only improve their on-farm sustainability metrics but also to increase farm productivity and profitability.

Shane
Webcke
is
a
farmer,
family
man, businessman,
author,
news
presenter, safety
ambassador,
speaker
and
former professional
footballer.
At
the
peak
of his
rugby
league
career
he
was renowned
as
one
of
the
best
front rowers
in
the
world.

Shane
represented
Queensland
on
24 occasions
and
represented
Australia
in 26
tests
he
played
for
the
Brisbane Broncos
for
12
years
and
was
named
the Daly
M
Prop
of
the
Year
3
times. Shane
has
taken
his
work
ethic
from
the football
field
to
his
farm
in
Southern Queensland.
He
balances
family
life
with his
wife
and
3
children,
with
his professional
career
behind
the
news desk
at
Seven. Shane
released
his
bestselling autobiography
'Warhorse'
in
2006
and has
since
gone
to
add
to
his
illustrious career
by
sharing
his
knowledge passion
and
experience
with
many audiences
across
Queensland
and Australia
as
a
professional
speaker.

Tragically
Shane's
father
was
killed
in
a Queensland
workplace
incident
in
1994. Shane
was
only
18.
He
had
just
started his
professional
football
career
under the
guidance
of
Wayne
Bennett
when he
received
the
news
that
his
world
had been
ripped
apart.
Shane's
direct experience
with
the
horrific
outcome
of his
father's
workplace
fatality
has
led him
to
his
role
as
a
safety
ambassador. He
shares
his
message
in
the
hope
it will
motivate
others
to
put
safety
first, always. Shane
Webcke
is
still
a
Bronco
through and
through
and
has
a
few
tales
to
tell about
football
life,
retirement, managing
a
farm
through
drought,
and remaining
grounded
through
it
all.

Observations over 30 years within the grains industry crystalised a belief that the way we do things is not sustainable. Stuart Tighe created PURE Grain Network in 2019 to provide a fully traceable, data driven platform which connects growers to end users, equitably sharing the value created across the entire supply chain.

Utilising grower partners that cover over 180,000 ha of cropping land, PURE Grain is an established provider of premium malting barley within domestic and export markets serving the needs of major brewers such as Asahi, CUB and Lion through malthouses operated by United Malt and others throughout Australia. Providing “grain to glass” information, brewers and maltsters have access to a direct connection with the raw product producer and a clear line of sight of their product throughout the entirety of the value chain.

Stuart has wide-ranging experience in broad acre cropping having previously been CEO of Boolah Farms for a period of over 20 years. During this time he and his wife Lyndall developed a diverse, vertically integrated enterprise which encompasses farm management, farm services contracting, earth moving, storage and handling, marketing and logistics. With a footprint of over 30,000ha Boolah Farms, services both domestic and international clients; and is renowned for their customer centric agile market responses. During the most recent drought, his actions assisted in reversing an export orientated supply chain to “import” over 1.5million tonnes of grain through the Port of Brisbane to fulfill demand in South East Queensland.

Stuart, Lyndall and their 4 children live on Dimboola, the family property outside of Pallamallawa approximately 50km north east of Moree in far northern NSW.

Tegan is a Co-founder and COO of one of Australia’s fastest growing agritech companies, Loam Bio, which was founded in 2019 and now has over 70 team members across offices and labs in Australia, Canada, and the US.

Starting her career in farming on the family property at Bogan Gate, NSW, Tegan has qualifications and experience in agricultural sciences. In her role at Loam, she has built one of Australia’s largest microbial product development teams - including establishing global R&D programs, specialist soil analysis laboratories and an international microbial library boasting over 2,500 strains of fungi.

Tegan and the Loam team explore how the world’s smallest organisms - microbes - can solve the world’s biggest problems and have developed ground-breaking microbial products that enable farmers to build significant levels of soil carbon in cropping systems.

Connecting world-class microbiologists with real-world farming challenges, Tegan is a leader in agritech driving high-impact solutions for farming systems and climate change.

Tim Dellit covers Rabobank’s Country Banking Sustainability Finance activities and works closely with our Rural Account Managers and clients in support of client transition, carbon farming finance and transaction structuring.

Tim joined Rabobank in 2018, and has previously held senior positions covering Major Agribusiness and Wholesale credit risk as well as leading Country Banking’s Major Agri Client credit analyst team. His 31 years in finance has spanned business and institutional banking, financial restructuring and investment banking.

Bridging the gap between business risks and how these are impacted by climate and nature risks is key to Tim’s focus on supporting clients to focus on linking sustainability outcomes with their business strategic goals.

Vitor is a Grains and Oilseeds Analyst based in Sydney and a member of Rabobank’s team of over 100 research analysts dotted across the world. He is passionate about opportunities stemming from the linkage of global grain demand and supply fundamentals to local farmer insights and decisioning.

Prior to his role with RaboResearch, Vitor was based in South America where he managed a small beef enterprise and worked as a farm input sales manager in the soybean and corn producing belt of Brazil, and as an agronomist for a major global brewing company.

Vitor is a honours graduate (Agriculture Science) from the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre/Brazil.

Chris works with the media on behalf of GrainGrowers to ensure the industry voice is heard consistently across the country. He has over 30 years of experience across rural industry, undertaking communications and media roles for various industries, including meat and livestock, wool, horticulture, dairy and mushrooms.

Chris grew up on a dairy farm in southeast Queensland, and while he has left the farm, he remains firmly grounded in agriculture. He enjoys the hard-working nature of the rural industry, where people are prepared to give their opinions and respect open discussion.

Constantine assists the policy team at GrainGrowers. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture from the University of Sydney, focusing on Entomology and Horticulture. Through his studies, Constantine was given the opportunity to travel throughout Australia and learn about Australian agriculture first-hand. He is also an amateur beekeeper, backyard gardener and has worked on family and friends’ farms in rural Greece, where he was raised.

Shona is GrainGrowers' CEO. Shona has over 20 years of experience working in the areas of marketing, communications, membership services, media and public relations.

Shona's experience includes roles in Australia and the United Kingdom, working on projects that have spanned digital technology, infrastructure, the charity sector and industry associations.

Passionate about local communities and the champions who make them special, Shona loves being a part of the team that gets to share the stories and experiences of growers across the country.

Sarah is the Acting General Manager, Major Projects at GrainGrowers. She has worked in manufacturing, technical research, innovation, market research and sustainability over the course of her career in the Australian food and agriculture industry. Before coming to GrainGrowers, Sarah led the development, launch and management of the world-first Sheep Sustainability Framework. Sarah has qualifications Applied Chemistry, Cereal Chemistry and Sustainability.

Bec has a Bachelor of Agriculture from UNE and has worked as an agronomist, consulting direct to growers, managing field trials and providing extension activities across northern NSW for seven years. Bec also has a background in relationship building across many areas of agriculture, including most recently as Regional Sales Manager (NSW & QLD) for an ag chem company, and previously as a Territory Sales Manager for a seed company.

Bec is based in Northern NSW in Narrabri, and developed a strong connection to agriculture growing up in the area. Outside work, Bec is actively involved in agricultural shows and is a director with the Agricultural Societies Council of NSW.

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.

As the Major Projects Manager, Vince is responsible for the development and implementation of critical major projects delivering tangible outcomes for Australian growers. Following a career journey as a political staffer across State and Federal Parliaments, he felt a strong desire to return to the industry he was raised in, agriculture. Vince has joined GrainGrowers having previously worked as the Grains Manager at the Victorian Farmers Federation. He brings with him a Bachelor of Agricultural Science with a focus on sustainability and is in the process of completing his Master of International Business.

Zach is the General Manager, Policy and Advocacy at GrainGrowers. He manages GrainGrowers’ policy and advocacy efforts working to ensure the right policy settings for Australia’s grain growers. Previously, Zach has worked for the Department of Agriculture and most recently was the Grains Policy Director at AgForce Queensland Farmers. He has qualifications in International Relations and Public Policy and is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Zach is from Merriwa in rural New South Wales, where his family remains involved in agriculture.