GRAIN ORANA ALLIANCE - Key Persons

Job Titles:

• Vice Chairperson of the Board

Andrew Freeth (Vice Chairperson):Term- 2017 to present day. Andrew has 16 years of experience in Agribusiness including leadership roles in industry and community. He is a director of his family 5,500 ha cropping and livestock business in CW NSW and has a background in commodity analysis & price risk management. Andrew has a degree in Agricultural Economics USYD and a diploma in financial markets (Futures) from AFMA. Andrew is a 2015 Nuffield scholar and 2014 Australian Grain Leaders Program graduate. Andrew has also completed The Executive Program for Agricultural Producers (TEPAP) run by Texas A&M University. Andrew is an experienced board member, sitting deputy chair of Grain Orana Alliance, former chair of Nuffield NSW. Andrew is a keen cricketer and enjoys a hit of social tennis.

Job Titles:

• Chairman of the Board
• Consulting Agronomist, Lake Cargelligo ( Chairman )

Andrew McFadyen (Chairperson): Term- 2009 to present day. Andrew hails from a family farm at Lake Cargelligo in NSW when his family still farms to this current day. Andrew has been professionally involved in the grains industry for over 20 years based in the Coolah District and more recently at Lake Cargelligo. After graduating from UWS Hawkesbury in 1998 with a Bachelor of Applied Science in System Agriculture he took up an agronomy position at Haynes Farms Supplies CRT in Coolah. In 2001 he moved to the role of Agronomist/Cropping Manager for Paspaley Pearls Properties based at Kurrajong Park, Coolah. The role evolved where he was the position of 2IC to the general manager of the Paspaley Rural Group of Properties. More recently Andrew has returned to Lake Cargelligo and started an agronomic consulting business, servicing local growers as well as dealing with large corporate business on strategic planning and acquisition. Andrew first term as chairperson of GOA for 6 yearand was recently ininstated to the role in late 2023. Andrew has served 2 terms as a northern panel member but stepped down from to focus on servicing his clients. Andrew believes GOA will fill the void for local growers with quick response answers to the questions that are facing producers in the paddock.

Job Titles:

• Research and Extension Manager )

Ben is our Research and Extension Manager and has been with the GOA team since 2015. He is originally from Warren and maintains a small mixed farming enterprise there. He has a M.Sc. in Crop Sciences from USYD and a B.Sc. in Wool and Pastoral Sciences from the UNSW. Ben was working in international agriculture development from 2004 to 2015, prior to that was based in Warren consulting and farming. Ben is living in Dubbo, has three kids and can be found on his bike most mornings.

Job Titles:

• Treasurer of the Board
• Wellington Based Grower ( Treasurer )

Joe Mason (Treasurer): Term -2011 to present day. Joe currently manages the 3500 ha family property "Spicers Run" located 30 km north of Wellington. The farm's main enterprises are wheat, canola and first cross lamb production, the farm is. Joe a keen interest in research and are long-term trial co-operators for NSW DPI, GOA and National Variety Trials (NVT). Joe aquired a bachelor of agricultural economics at Sydney University before working for 8 years at National Australia Bank and Macquarie Bank in foreign exchange. Along the way picked up a graduate diploma in Applied Finance and Investment from the Securities Institute of Australia.

Matt McRae: Term- 2019 to present day. Matt previously worked with local agribusiness AGnVET as an agronomist working in the Forbes region of NSW. Through this role has gained significant experience and understanding of the farming systems of the region and the issues growers face. Matt has a keen interest in research playing a pivotal role in the company's significant research program. More recently Matt has started his own business, both consulting and contracting farming clients in the Manildra region of NSW as well as running a mixed farm himself which gives Matt a unique insight through two lenses- the grower and the advisor.

Job Titles:

• Member of the Board
• Extension Consultant, Warren
• Publicity Officer

Penny Heuston (Publicity Officer): Term- 2009 to present day. Penny is a former independent agronomist who has been based in Warren for the last 30 odd years. Having worked across a range of agribusiness as well as in her own consulting business, Penny has gained a vast experience and understanding of the local farming systems. Penny has extensive connections and networks from Tottenham & Nyngan to the west through to Gilgandra in the east. Penny is a former GRDC Northern panel member and is now has roles in a number of different businesses servicing the grain industry. Penny has a part-time role with NSW DPI in communications and extension and is currently the Communications Offier for GOA. Penny has been on the GOA board since its inception & prior to that with the committees that helped establish the organisation.

Peter Watt: Term 2024 to present day. Peter started work with NSW Agric in 1982 after completing tertiary studies at Hawkesbury Ag College and Sydney teachers college. After a training period at Griffith Peter was appointed as the first district agronomist at Walgett in 1984 and served till 1989 . Peter was involved in north western cropping systems and conducted some of the first chickpea trials in that area.

Job Titles:

• Senior Technical Officer
• Senior Tecnical Officer

Scott grew up on the mixed enterprise family farm halfway between Peak Hill and Tullamore. He has a background as a fully qualified Motor Mechanic and a keen interest in grain growing. Scott joined the Department of Agriculture, Plants Division in 2002, where he gained invaluable experience as Technical Assistant, followed by Technical Officer with the Crop Evaluation Unit based in Dubbo. Scott has over five years managing trials including NVT in the Central West covering an area from Gilgandra in the North to Parkes in the South, as far West as Nyngan and East to Mudgee (and everywhere in between). Scott joined Grain Orana Alliance in 2013 and is looking forward to a bright future in helping farmers prosper out of local research.