Working Group

Amber grew up on a broadacre family farm near Moree, NSW, producing mostly winter cereals, chickpeas and sorghum. In 2024, she graduated from the University of Queensland with a dual degree in Agricultural Science and Agribusiness. Throughout her studies, Amber worked on stations and export yards across the Northern Territory and Western Australia, as well as participating in multiple harvest seasons on her family's properties. In 2024, she began a graduate agronomy role at MCA in Goondiwindi, Queensland, where she specialises in cotton and broadacre cropping.

Brett is in his final years of being classed as a “young farmer” as he closes in on that dreaded so-called cut-off age. He is looking forward to making one last big contribution to something that he has campaigned for and been so passionate about over the years, and that is “youth in ag”.

Keelan grew up on a broadacre cropping farm near Donald, Victoria, where he developed a strong connection to agriculture. Keelan graduated with a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Melbourne in 2022, before pursuing a career in grain trading. Now based in Melbourne, Keelan works in logistics for a grain trading company and is driven by a passion for linking grain growers to global markets.

Lucy Powell is based in Central West NSW, where she works as an Agronomist for a local agricultural reseller. She also runs her own business as a training consultant for various training organisations. She takes pride in supporting farm businesses across a broad range of industries while creating opportunities for individuals to further their education and knowledge in the agricultural sector. In her spare time, she enjoys competing her horses across a range of disciplines.

Lucy is excited to collaborate with like-minded individuals to develop engaging topics and activities that connect and inspire young farmers, students, and agricultural professionals. She looks forward to contributing her expertise and ideas to the Innovation Generation 2025 conference and beyond.

Mitchell is a broadacre farmer living in Naracoorte on the Limestone Coast of South Australia. He farms approximately 3,800 hectares each year in the Bool Lagoon, Glenroy area – 30 kilometres south of Naracoorte. Mitchell works on a dry land and irrigation farm producing wheat, beans, canola, and Persian clover seed.

Born and raised on a family farm in Yuna, Nell developed a strong connection to agriculture early on. She studied Agricultural Science and History at the University of Western Australia (UWA). After gaining experience as an agronomist in Mount Gambier and Narrogin, Nell returned to her family farm in Yuna. The farm is a mixed livestock and cropping business. Nell is also the secretary of the Yuna Farm Improvement Group, where she actively contributes to the local agricultural community.

Paul Murphy, from Tamworth, NSW, completed a Bachelor of Rural Science with Honours at the University of New England. While finishing his studies, he worked as a Technical Officer with the Department of Primary Industries (DPI), focusing on summer crop research. After graduating, Paul joined Warrakirri Cropping’s graduate program, gaining hands-on experience in large-scale broadacre agriculture across Australia. He has since transitioned into a Junior Assistant farm manager role with the company, working on one of their farms in Croppa Creek, NSW.

Zoe Skinner (19) grew up on a mixed farming operation situated in Woogenellup, Western Australia, where her family runs a cropping program alongside their herd of Angus breeders.

After graduating high school, Zoe spent 18 months working on a large-scale beef property, whilst externally studying a Diploma in Agricultural Studies, through the University of New England.

In 2024, Zoe was selected to represent WA at the National Finals held at the Melbourne Royal. She competed in both grain judging and beef parading, coming away as a finalist for grain judging and runner-up for beef parading.

Most recently, Zoe has completed the first year of her Bachelor of Agricultural Science through Murdoch University, where she majors in both Cropping and Pasture Science and Animal Science.

Zoe is highly passionate about the grains industry and is honoured to have been given the opportunity to be part of the working group for the Innovation Generation event.