AgriFood Skills Australia Ambassadors
AgriFood Skills Australia has appointed eight exceptional industry representatives as Ambassadors for the agrifood industry:
Kerry Johnson
Kerry is the HR Manager at Cargill Beef Australia in Tamworth. She is an excellent communicator who shows enthusiasm for her career and her industry. She has gained higher qualifications with a view to furthering her career in organisational development. She has a strong regional focus with an understanding of employer of choice issues.
Jane Lovell
Jane is a recent graduate of the Australian Rural Leadership Program where she realised her desire to promote discussion and debate regarding the future of agriculture and global food security while addressing the disconnect between urban and rural communities. She won the 2009 Tasmanian RIRDC Rural Woman’s Award and is experienced working with primary producers through the food supply chain.
Lynne Strong
Lynne is the co-owner of Clover Hill Dairies near Kiama, and the Chairperson of Dairy Youth Australia Inc. She has a strong interest in environmentally sustainable agricultural production and her foremost concern is addressing immediate challenges for farmers such as climate change, competition for land and water resources, consumer expectations and labour shortages.
Joanna Wren
Joanna is the co-owner of Sunshine Produce in Margaret River which grows tomatoes and cauliflowers for the domestic Perth market. She has a strong interest in expanding local markets for production horticulture. Joanna was the 2008 WA Trainee of the Year and was a finalist in the National Training Awards that year.
Hollie Baillieu
Hollie is currently in her final year of Agricultural Science at Charles Sturt University and has a rural background with a practical understanding of the Agrifood sector. She has strong communications skills and has organised and coordinated events and campaigns. Hollie is the Chairperson of the Young Farmers Council of the NSW Farmers Association.
David Gale
David is a Graduate Officer with the NSW Department of Primary Industries and is a member of the NSW Farmers Association Young Farmers Council. He has an Honours degree in Agricultural Science (Agronomy), through which he has developed his media skills working with radio, television and newspapers.
Aaron Bain
Aaron completed a school based traineeship in Business Administration (Racing) with Harness Racing SA. He currently works with a design and construction company with the aim of gaining a management position. He is the Media Officer for Harness Racing SA and has media experience through presenting a weekly Harness Racing Preview on local radio and co-hosting Harness Racing Mobile Rolling TV Show on Australia Live TV.
Joe Coco
Joe is a VET teacher in Aquaculture and is currently a seafood industry consultant. He is a graduate of the FRDC National Seafood Industry Leadership Program and has since been appointed as a mentor for subsequent programs. Joe is committed to a sustainable future for the seafood industry and has extensive experience working in rural and remote communities, including the Indigenous sector.
