GGA - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Grains Communications Officer
Adrianna joined the GGA team in July 2023 to assist with communications activities that support the DPIRD grains portfolio.
Adrianna has a Bachelor of Arts and Postgraduate Diploma in Broadcasting, as well as a Postgraduate Diploma in Secondary School Teaching (English and media)
Prior to GGA, Adrianna was one of the newsreaders at Southern Cross Austereo's regional news stations throughout Triple M and HITWA.
She was responsible for delivering daily news updates on a wide range of issues, reporting for stations from the North West to the Great Southern.
Alison Lacey joined GGA in early November 2021 and increases our regional presence being based in Narrogin.
Alison brings 23 years of experience in farming systems R, D and E with DPIRD, across the grains and livestock industries with recent work on drought management, digital technology, and legume pastures.
Alison has strong networks across WA and nationally and has worked with many grower groups over the years in various roles, including committee member and secretary for the Corrigin Farm Improvement Group.
Most recently in her capacity with DPIRD Alison had a key role supporting grower groups involved with the eConnected Grainbelt's IoT grants program.
Job Titles:
- Grains Research, Development & Extension Communications Manager
Amber Atkinson joined the GGA team in August 2021 providing communications services for an outsourced R,D & E Comms role to drive engagement with DPIRD research and extension.
Amber has a Bachelor of Communications, majoring in Journalism, from Edith Cowan University and brings more than 10 years' experience in agricultural communications.
She has held Senior Journalist and Editor roles with Farm Weekly newspaper, Farming Ahead magazine, WA Grower magazine and various other industry/trade publications.
Prior to GGA, Amber was the Communications and Policy Officer at vegetablesWA. In this role she was responsible for delivering communications across a wide range of issues, including water, labour, biosecurity, research and development.
Amber has a strong digital marketing background and has run her own digital marketing agency, specialising in tourism website development and regional event marketing, since 2016.
Job Titles:
- Member Director ( Facey Group )
Audrey is involved in the operation of her family farm at Wickepin, a mixed farming operation 4,500ha in medium rainfall area.
She has extensive governance experience serving for 12 years on the Facey Group, six years as the Chair and currently as the Vice Chair, and has the honour of being the group's inaugural Life Member.
Job Titles:
- Member Director ( WARLP )
Mr Wyhoon is an agribusiness executive; Avon Valley mixed farmer and founder/Chair of WARLP, which aims to integrate holistic and sustainable livestock practice change and adoption in WA.
A Graduate of the Australian Institute of the Company Directors and MBA qualified (Sustainable Business), other organisations on which he has had past Board roles include Wheatbelt NRM (Vice-Chair), WAFarmers, Farmsafe WA (now Safe Farms WA) and the WA Landcare Network.
Mr Wyhoon currently sits on, a ministerial committee (DPIRD Cattle Industry Funding Scheme Management Committee), and key Meat and Livestock Advisory Groups including the WA Livestock Research Council; the CarbonEdge ™ Development Advisory group, and the MLA Environmental Credentials for Australian grassfed beef advisory group.
Through his business Campfire Agri, he is a business coach/facilitator and consultant; rural trainer and project manager providing organisations and grower groups with governance, strategy, leadership and financial training.
Daniel has been involved in agricultural research in since 2003 and brings to his role extensive industry knowledge and networks.
Daniel has spent the last decade as a senior researcher at UWA with a focus on nationally collaborative research programs generating outcomes leading to more nutrient efficient farming systems.
During this UWA tenure, Daniel has also worked with industry on creation of a circular economy using black soldier fly frass as a novel soil improvement strategy to increase the productivity and resilience of WA cropping.
Job Titles:
- Acting Member of the Dongara District High School Board
- Member Director ( MIG )
- Member of the Mingenew Irwin Group
Debbie Gillam is a grower member of the Mingenew Irwin Group (MIG) and a former MIG staff member.
This hands on experience ensures Debbie understands the roles and issues of grower groups, their importance to their region and the challenges faced by growers. In her capacity as a MIG staff member, she has developed proposals, executed projects and has a strong understanding of stakeholder consultation.
Debbie is an acting member of the Dongara District High School Board and P&C and Secretary of the Irwin District Charity Ball. She is a CBH 2020 Scholarship recipient and now graduate of the Leadership WA Signature Leaders Program.
Dr Jo Wisdom joined the GGA in August 2022 bringing extensive experience in research, project management and stakeholder engagement.
Jo has a Bachelor of Arts (Anthropology), a Bachelor of Science (Agriculture) and a PhD in Plant Physiology. She is currently undertaking a Diploma of Digital Technology at Flinders University.
Jo has a demonstrated history of working in the agricultural industry, research and teaching and learning.
Jo has worked across multiple agricultural se ctors including horticulture and viticulture, and sustainable projects in pastoral and broadacre cropping. Recent work has included improving grafting success in woody perennials; more sustainable harvesting; novel techniques for food waste management; and using artificial intelligence to improve providence tracing in honey.
Job Titles:
- Independent Director
- Vice Chair
Erin Gorter has extensive experience in working with grower groups and was a driving force in managing two WA groups - Evergreen Farming and Southern Dirt. She is a rural industry consultant with Agvivo; a non-executive director of Meat & Livestock Australia Limited and its subsidiary companies; and manages all facets of the Ag4U Career Pipeline Program. Erin is a graduate of the Australian Institute for Company Directors Program and a graduate of the Australian Rural Leadership Foundation program. Most recently in 2021, Erin was appointed to the Council of Australian Arab Relations (CAAR) and as a Non-Executive Director to Australian Grain Technologies (AGT) in Dec 2021.
Graham has a passion for helping farmers improve long-term viability and sustainability through improved research and innovation. He is an experienced Chief Executive, having led the Institute of Environmental Science and Research; a fascinating state-owned science and technology organisation in New Zealand, Federated Farmers; New Zealand's high-profile farming group, and the multi-faceted commercialisation group at the University of South Australia. He has also held a senior management role at AgResearch, a globally significant agricultural research and innovation group.
Joining GGA in November 2022, Julianne Hill has a wealth of knowledge and experience as an agricultural facilitator and extension leader.
From 1993, Julianne spent 19 years with the Department of Agriculture (now DPIRD) as a biosecurity officer and then farming systems officer while managing her own farming enterprise with her husband.
She then worked for 11 years as a coordinator for the Grains Research and Development Corporation's Regional Cropping Solutions Network, now known as the GRDC National Grower Network.
In recent years she took up a role in Bunbury with Western Dairy, while balancing the role of GRDC Grower Network coordinator.
Early in her career, Julianne also managed broadacre properties in the WA Wheatbelt; and worked on various properties throughout Australia. Julianne and her husband currently operate a small property in WA's South West running beef cattle and prime lambs.
Kaelen returns to GGA in August 2022 after 18 months with the team through 2020-2021.
Kaelen will support a range of communications including website content, social media, newsletters, brokered project updates, the GGA capacity building program and corporate events.
Kaelen has a Bachelor of Arts and Commerce (public relations and journalism majors) from Curtin University and during 2021 - 2022 completed a Yoga Teacher Training certification.
Kaelen has a freelance work portfolio of communications clients and has spent several years working as a volunteer then volunteer coordinator for one of Perth's biggest event's based waste management organisations.
Job Titles:
- Stakeholder & Communications Manager
Joining GGA in March 2020, Kallista brings experience in stakeholder management, marketing, and commercial enterprise.
Kallista has a Bachelor of Business, marketing major from the University of Technology Sydney, a Graduate Certificate in Regenerative Agriculture from Southern Cross University (2022), and has completed studies with Cambridge University Institute for Sustainability Leadership in Communicating for Influence and Impact (2021), and High Impact Leadership (2020).
Kallista moved into agriculture in 2016 working with Elders Narrogin for three years alongside running her own artisan olive oil enterprise from her Crossman property for 11 years.
Kallista's stakeholder and marketing grounding was built over ten years in the tourism industry in domestic and international marketing roles as a former EO for Australia's South West - Regional Tourism Organisation, and Business Development Manager for Australian Pinnacle Tours, WA's largest international tourism player. Other foundational roles included luxury small hotel management, freelance wine marketing, and audit accounting with Price Waterhouse, Sydney.
Kellie-Jane Pritchard (KJ) started with GGA in late 2021 as one of the foundation staff of the Drought Hub project.
KJ been involved in agriculture all her life. Brought up on a sheep and wheat farm in Narrogin, she started with the WA Department of Agriculture in 1989 in innovative projects including holistic farm planning, bush foods, soil and water assessments for the viticulture industry and the use of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) for precision farming.
She was invited to join AGWEST International, a Departmental agency that took WA agriculture expertise to the world. This included projects in Africa, the Middle East, and Asia, including a stint in Iraq.
She later went on the manage AGWEST between 2007 to 2011. KJ also served as WA's Regional Director in Indonesia between 2012 and 2014, focussed on building sustainable trade relationships between the two countries.
Job Titles:
- Officer
- Hub Adoption Officer & GGA Corporate Secretary
Maddison joined GGA in July 2022 and has experience in the grains industry and farm-based membership organisations.
Maddison has a Bachelor of Agribusiness from Curtin University and is from a mixed cropping and sheep property in Kellerberrin.
Prior to taking up her position at GGA, Maddison was the Executive Officer for advocacy group WAFarmers, managing the grains portfolio.
Job Titles:
- Director of the Family Farm Business, Chilwell Farms
- Member Director ( SEPWA )
- Member of SEPWA
Marie is director of the family farm business, Chilwell Farms, producing grain, beef, lamb & wool east of Esperance. She has a Honours degree in Agriculture and prior to moving to Australia, worked with the UK farmers union in Ag policy development and lobbying in Brussels. Marie completed the Rabobank Executive Development programme in 2019.
An active member of SEPWA, Marie has Chaired the Ladies committee for several years and served on the SEPWA Executive during which time we reviewed the strategic plan and implemented changes to ensure continued work in R&D, and extension.
Marie has also been involved in many volunteer committees in the local community and school, is current chair of the management committee of the local Recreation Association and helped guide amalgamation of sporting clubs and new facilities construction at Condingup.
Joining GGA in February 2020, Michelle was previously a Community Education Officer with the Department of Fisheries.
Her science career has been founded working in marine sciences including aquaculture, biofouling, marine geophysics, molecular biology, and aquatic disease.
A career highlight was her honours research where she ran a participatory research project with Kenyan fishers.
Michelle is based out of Margaret River.
Job Titles:
- Is Director of Batten Farms, Yuna and a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors
- Member Director ( YFIG )
- NRM Officer
Nicole Batten is Director of Batten Farms, Yuna and a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
Through former roles as a Community Development Officer and NRM Officer, Nicole is passionate advocate for the agricultural industry and sustainable rural communities. She holds a number of board roles including the WA Biosecurity Council, Yuna Farm Improvement Group Secretary, Shire of Chapman Valley councillor and most recently, Midwest Drought Resilience Plan Advisory Group member.
Previous roles include Advisory Group member for the National Centre for Farmer Health and former National & WA Chairperson of Rural Edge (formally Partners in Grain) and Rabobank Client Council Member. These roles have extended learning and an understanding of agricultural businesses across Australia. Nicole is also a graduate, as well as a former Facilitator of the WA Rural Leadership Program.
Job Titles:
- Chairman
- Independent Director
Formerly a farmer from Dunn Rock, Peter is a graduate of Harvard Agribusiness Seminars and the Australian Institute of Company Directors. Peter was appointed as a GGA Independent Director in September 2018 and to GGA Chair in September 2020. Peter has extensive leadership experience as past Chair of the GRDC Western Panel from 2011-2018, past non-executive Director of Barley Australia, past Western Malting Barley Advisory Committee member and past Chair of South East Premium Wheat Growers Association (SEPWA).
Rikki Foss joined GGA in November 2021, bringing extensive commercial industry knowledge, strategic capability plus team leadership and governance experience to the organisation.
Before her leadership appointment with GGA, Rikki had nine years with WA-based grain accumulation and export business Plum Grove, serving for six years in the role of Senior Marketing Executive before transitioning into the role of General Manager for more than three years.
Rikki's breadth of commercial acumen in agriculture is consolidated with three years in the agribusiness sector at ANZ as a Regional Coordinator and six years with CBH as a Regional Manager.
Rikki has a rural background, and for several years has provided a grain consultancy role for her family's broadacre grain and livestock operation in WA's central grainbelt.
Job Titles:
- Hub Team Assistant
- Team Assistant
Sharon joined the GGA in November 2021 in a part-time capacity brings to the team executive assistance skills and detailing support services.
Sharon came to GGA from the Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC) which provided her with a holistic view of the local industry and its farmers.
Job Titles:
- Drought Hub Knowledge Broker
- Hub Knowledge Broker
Based in Merredin with DPIRD since early 2000, Tanya joined GGA in April 2020.
Tanya has a degree in Pharmacology and Molecular Biology and Honours in Microbiology and brings 20 years' experience in systems R&D, focused on sheep production, management and the role of sheep in the farming system.
Tanya also farms with her husband Dean at Bruce Rock as a grain producer, with wool and meat being significant contributors on poorer performing soil types.
Tanya has worked closely with the Merredin and Districts Farm Improvement Group (MADFIG), serving as a Board member for three years and collaborating with the Far East Agriculture Research (FEAR) Group to developing new projects to improve long term profitability and sustainability of farming businesses in low rainfall areas.
Theo joined GGA in August 2022, bringing with him more than 25 years of experience in agricultural extension and monitoring, and evaluation.