Tuesday 22 July 2025
12:30 pm
Ag Tours
Limited places for ag tours to Quaker Oats, Little Creatures Brewery, InterGrain and the CBH Group Metro Grain Centre.
If you’d like to reserve a place, please email events@graingrowers.com.au
Please note that IG tours may be to businesses where commercial conflict of interests could occur with some participants and need to be accommodated. As such, GrainGrowers reserves the right to revoke participation if this is identified. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation!
6:00 pm
Welcome Drinks
The Old Courthouse
Join us at 6pm for Welcome Drinks and get to know your fellow attendees.
Wednesday 23 July 2025
8:00 am
Rego and expo open
Arrive bright and early to register and give yourself some time to check out the exhibition hall, where you will see what the latest industry supporters and suppliers have to offer.
8:55 am
Welcome to Country
IG is taking place in greater Walyalup area - the traditional lands of the Whadjuk people. Nick will be performing the Welcome to Country. Nick has a direct connection to Whadjuk, Yued, Ballardong, Wilmen, Wardandi and Binjerup People and Country. Born in Perth, Western Australia, Nick grew up in Perth and spent his teenage years in and around the Native reserves of the Great Southern region of Western Australia. Today Nick is a family man with his wife Charmaine, their 5 children, 25+ grandchildren and 9 great-grandchildren.
9:00 am
Welcome and introduction
Rhys Turton
Rhys Turton, Chair of GrainGrowers and WA grower from York, officially opening Innovation Generation 2025.
9:10 am
CBH Welcome
Ben Macnamara
Ben grew up in a farming family in the Western Australian town of Williams. As CEO of major sponsor CBH, he will be introducing the IG keynote speaker.
9:20 am
Keynote: Innovation in Mindset
Anna Meares OAM
Anna Meares, one of Australia’s most celebrated track cyclists, is not only known for her physical achievements but also for her innovative mindset, particularly around resilience, adaptability, and mental strength. Farming, like elite sport, involves uncertainty, risk, and tough seasons. Anna’s story of coming back from serious injury and personal loss mirrors the grit needed on the land. Hear how Anna applied innovative thinking to Australia’s most successful ever Olympic team, which conquered Paris. Anna's keynote address will cover Olympic resilience, mental strength, and adaptability under pressure.
From the track to the paddock —mindsets that matter. Don’t miss this chance to hear from one of Australia’s toughest and most inspiring voices.
10:20 am
From Sowing to Rowing
Anna Meares OAM
Laura Gourley OLY
Ian Gourley
Elite performance meets grassroots grit. Hear what it’s like to compete in the Paris Olympics from Laura Gourley, who hails from a cropping farm in Narrabri, NSW. Hear what it’s like to have an Olympian in the family from her father and grower Ian Gourley. What sort of innovation – in mindset, in training, in what happens on the farm has seen Laura from the brown vertosols of Narrabri to the waters of the Vaires-sir-Marne, Nautical Stadium at the Paris Olympics. Anna Meares, who was Laura’s Chef de Mission, will also be joining in the discussion.
10:35 am
Morning tea & trade stalls
Connect with other IG attendees and check out some of the fantastic trade stalls!
11:00 am
Cleared for Take-off: Rod Birch’s Flight to Success at Catalina Farms
Rod Birch
Rod Birch is the Managing Director of Catalina Farms, a family-owned, 12,500-hectare cropping operation located near Coorow in Western Australia’s northern wheatbelt. Rod will share the story of how he took over Catalina Farms in 1980 and led its journey to success.
11:30 am
Safety First and Last
Stevi Howdle
Farm safety doesn’t begin and end with rules — it starts with real people and real decisions. In this powerful session, Stevi Howdle kicks things off with the launch of Second Chances, a new campaign for National Farm Safety Week. The message is simple but vital: surviving a near miss isn’t luck — it’s a chance to do things differently next time.
12:30 pm
Networking lunch - Supported by Farmsafe Australia
It's time for lunch! Get mingling and check out the exhibitors at the trade stalls.
1:25 pm
Grain Gains: Mastering the Market from Paddock to Profit
Nic Sewell
Grain marketing isn’t just about selling — it’s about strategy, timing, and knowing how to work the system to your advantage. In this session, Nic unpacks the tools and tactics that smart growers use to stay ahead in a volatile market.
From market analysis and price discovery to parcelling, brokerage, swaps management, and contract nominations, Nic will show you how to optimise grain sales and maximise your returns through informed decision-making.
2:10 pm
What I’d Tell My 20-Year-Old Self
Julia Hausler
Frank O’Hare
Judith Foss
Brett South
If you could go back, what would you do differently — or double down on? In this honest and inspiring session, a panel of experienced and successful growers reflect on the lessons they've learned the hard way. From big wins to close calls, and mistakes that shaped them, they’ll share what they wish they knew at 20 — about risk, resilience, relationships, and running a farm business.
Powering Profits with Data
Dr Julia Easton
The grains sector moving quickly from gut feel to data-based decisions. This session unpacks Analytics for the Australian Grains Industry (AAGI), a bold new GRDC investment using machine learning, advanced statistics, data fusion and analytics to convert raw data into valuable insights.
Find out how this cutting-edge approach is speeding up R&D and delivering outcomes for Australian growers.
2:55 pm
Advocacy in Action: Learn from the Best, Lead the Next
Tyson Cattle
Caroline Rhodes
Claire Taylor
Zach Whale
What does advocacy really look like in grains? In this interactive panel, three seasoned advocates will share how they get things done for growers. You’ll get to vote on the biggest issue facing growers and hear how each panellist would go about tackling it.
Landing Well: Conversations About Change, Place, and Belonging
Richard Konzag
Rebecca Kelly
Hannah Watson
Ryan Konzag
In this discussion, panellists share their experiences of coming onto the land—whether returning after time in the city or arriving for the first time. They explore what it means takes to acclimatise to the change.
3:40 pm
Afternoon tea & trade stalls
Take a well-earned break and explore the trade exhibition.
3:55 pm
Launch of National Alumni Network
Kate Concannon
Renae Piggott
Have you got what it takes to be a leader? We think you just might, which is why GrainGrowers is excited to announce the launch of two upcoming programs for emerging and established leaders in this session! Learn about how these GrainGrowers' capacity building programs can support you to level up your leadership and access unique opportunities to grow your skills, spread your wings and find your influence towards a better grains industry.
4:10 pm
Growing Innovation in Regional Australia
Lisa Birrell
Lisa Birrell will take you behind the scenes of one of northern Victoria’s most dynamic agri-food innovation hubs. She’ll unpack how NorVicFoods acts as a collaborative gateway—bringing university training to real-world and food businesses and connecting industry challenges with cutting-edge solutions. You’ll hear how the initiative has already created regional jobs, designed internship pathways, and supported PhD research.
5:00 pm
Close of Day One
Zach Whale
6:30 pm
Activity night - Sponsored by John Deere
Flight Club Fremantle
Join us at Flight Club Fremantle for the 2025 Social Function brought to you by John Deere and test your dart skills with other IG attendees.
Activity theme: Sportswear! After being inspired by Olympic greatness all day, come dressed in your favourite sporting attire!
Thursday 24 July 2025
8:00 am
Rego and expo open
Arrive bright and early to give yourself some time to check out the exhibition hall, where you will see what the latest industry supporters and suppliers have to offer. Get yourself a fresh cup of coffee and have a wander around.
9:00 am
MC opening & recap
Zach Whale
A quick run-down of all the learnings from day one.
9:10 am
Distilling Success: From Local Craft to Global Shelf
Stuart Gregor
Four Pillars Gin is an Australian craft distillery based in Melbourne, known for its innovative and high-quality gins. What began as a small-batch experiment quickly grew into an internationally recognised brand, known for bold flavours, smart branding, and clever storytelling. Their success isn’t just about good gin—it’s a masterclass in branding, innovation, and premium product marketing, all built from the ground up.
10:10 am
Ability Agriculture
Nigel Corish
10:15 am
Morning tea & trade stalls
Connect with other IG attendees and check out some of the fantastic trade stalls!
10:35 am
Navigating the New with NFF and Nutrien Ag Solutions
Ashleigh Brooks
David Jochinke
Adrian Capogreco
Join Ashleigh, DJ and Adrian for a forward-looking fireside chat on the future of the grains industry. This session explores emerging challenges, evolving opportunities, and practical strategies to help young farmers thrive in a changing ag landscape.
10:55 am
The future of Australian farming in times of geopolitical turmoil and artificial intelligence
Stefan Vogel
Geopolitics has proven over the past years to be able to drive unprecedented price and cost volatility for farmers. In this session, the tectonic shifts of the global geopolitical powers as artificial intelligence, and their impacts on fertiliser and energy costs, the economic outlook for Australia and with it for interest rates, as well as on farm products like grain and livestock.
11:25 am
Regenerative Ag: What’s the Fuss & Where’s the Opportunity?
Michael Anderson
David Broadhurst
Conor Macfarlane
Chris Shafto
Nigel Corish
Sarah Hyland
Listen as Michael unpacks what regenerative agriculture means and why it’s gaining global traction. Explore the core principles, clear up common myths, and dive into the real-world opportunities: from access to premium markets and supply chain partnerships to long-term farm resilience. Whether you're curious or already experimenting, this session will look at how regenerative agriculture could influence on farm practice and global trade.
What Do Others Say? A panel discussion on what regenerative agriculture means to others and how it shows up in projects and operations. The panel features Nigel Corish, Deputy Chair of Grain Growers and Managing Director of New Leaf Ag, Condamine, QLD, David Broadhurst, Acting CEO of Perth NRM, Conor Macfarlane, Product Manager at Loam Bio and Chris Shafto, Extension Manager at Loam Bio.
12:15 pm
Lunch - Supported by Loam Bio
It's time for lunch! Get mingling and check out the exhibitors at the trade stalls.
1:00 pm
Gene Editing Unpacked: What’s Next for Grains
Ashleigh Brooks
Tress Walmsley
Stay ahead of industry innovations that could shape the future of your farm. Learn how gene editing can create crops that are more resistant to climate stress, pests, and diseases. Understand the risks and implications, including ethical considerations and market acceptance.
1:45 pm
The Great Debate: Innovation in the grains industry is more advanced and effective in Western Australia than the eastern Australian states
Rhys Turton
Tracy Lefroy
David Paton
Richard Norton
James Russell
Emily Coggan
Sarah Hyland
For the East: big markets, big weather swings. For the West: scale, tech, and competition with Australian mining. East says: We’re pushing the boundaries with new crops, markets, and weather hacks. West says: We’re driving ag tech, big data, and automation to the next level. From tech to technique, who’s leading the charge in shaping the future of farming? From rain envy to rock-hard paddocks, nothing’s off-limits. Pick a side or play umpire—just don’t miss it.
Representing the affirmative West team are Rhys Turton, Tracy Lefroy, and David Paton, while the negative East team features Richard Norton, James Russell, and Emily Coggan.
3:00 pm
Investing in the Machines of Tomorrow, Today
Richard Norton
Steve Kelly
Abbey Turner
Meg Kummerow
Zach Whale
As machinery in agriculture becomes more complex, expensive, and critical to operations, how can we manage it effectively? This panel session brings together insights from five differing perspectives from the Australian grains industry. Join us for a dynamic discussion on how the industry is adapting to rising demands and how we can balance innovation, cost, and operational efficiency in a rapidly changing landscape.
The panel features Richard Norton, Non-Executive Director at GrainGrowers and CEO of Terragen Holdings, Steve Kelly, State Manager WA at Rabobank, Abbey Turner, Digital Technology Lead at John Deere, Meg Kummerow, Customer Success Manager at AgWorld and Grower from Norwin, QLD and CR-8P, Class Five Utility Droid, Agricultural Subtype, designed and built by Luke Ryewalker.
3:45 pm
Afternoon tea & trade stalls
Your final chance to check out the trade stalls and grab some goodies!
4:00 pm
Grain Supreme: Mascot Showdown
Justin Lynn
Shona Gawel
Rhys Turton
Richard Konzag
Julia Hausler
Disney has Mickey Mouse. Maccas has Ronald. Help the Australian grains industry by creating a mascot that reflects the ingenuity, success and sense of humour that Aussies are known for. In teams, you’ll be supplied with the tools and materials to build our new Australian grains mascot.
5:00 pm
Conference close
Zach Whale
A wrap-up and close for Innovation Generation 2025. See you at the Official Conference Dinner!
6:30 pm
Official Conference Closing Dinner
Fremantle Prison