The Australian Vegetable Industry Conference attracts a high calibre of speakers from Australia and internationally. Presenters at the 2007 conference included the following:
Michael Luscombe
CEO, Woolworths
Michael Luscombe was appointed CEO of Woolworths in October 2006.
Michael began his career with Woolworths in 1978 as a graduate trainee in Victoria. Since then, he has worked in a variety of roles with the company, and has accumulated a vast knowledge and understanding of all facets of the company's business.
In 2004, Michael took on the job of Director of Supermarkets, heading up the company’s largest trading division. During his tenure, he oversaw the complex integration of 150 New Zealand supermarkets and 22 Action stores, acquired as part of the Foodland demerger.
In May 2006 the Board of Woolworths Limited announced that Michael was to become Chief Operating Officer and CEO-elect, succeeding Roger Corbett as the head of Australia’s leading retail organisation.
David Palmer
Managing Director, MLA
David Palmer served as Regional Manager – North America, for Meat & Livestock Australia based in Washington, D.C. for the three years prior to his appointment as Managing Director in February 2006.
Prior to his posting to North America, Mr Palmer was the General Manager, Industry Affairs & Communication with MLA, based in Sydney.
Before joining MLA at its inception, Mr Palmer managed food safety and quality assurance programs at the Australian Meat & Live-stock Corporation, and spent six years as the Executive Director of the Cattle Council of Australia based in Canberra.
Sue Shepherd
Advanced Accredited Practising Dietitian, Shepherd Works
Sue Shepherd is an Advanced Accredited Practising Dietitian who graduated with a Bachelor of Applied Science in Health Promotion and post graduate Masters in Nutrition and Dietetics.
She was recently awarded the Dietitian’s Association of Australia Annual Award for Achievement for outstanding contribution to the profession.
Sue has written three cookbooks – for people with coeliac disease and irritable bowel syndrome, and has previously worked as the dietitian for Channel Ten’s TV program "9am with David and Kim".
Sue works in the Department of Gastroenterology at Box Hill Hospital in Victoria and is in the final phase of her PhD research in aspects of coeliac disease and irritable bowel syndrome.
Martin Kneebone
Director, freshlogic
Martin has a detailed understanding of the Australasian Food Market and supply systems as a result of working on both sides of the Tasman over the last 20 years. He operated in both the retail and supply sectors, including working at Coles Myer for a number of years. This included three years as General Manager of Fresh Produce where he oversaw a reorganisation of the supply chain, including the creation of brokerages and models for direct buying.
His company Freshlogic is Melbourne based and provides market intelligence and specialist consulting services to those operating in the food supply chain. Freshlogic operate the Mealpulse™ consumer panel and the Adwatch–fresh service.
Martin brings a detailed working knowledge of the sharp end of the supply chain and can profile what is driving the food consumer, as well as guide dealings with the larger retail chains. He has also directed many food consumer studies over a diverse range of food categories and distribution channels.
With this breadth of experience Martin has developed a reputation for his ability to draw out useful and workable commercials applications from his reviews and analysis.
Professor Peter Cullen
Commissioner, National Water Commission
Professor Peter Cullen is a Commissioner of the National Water Commission. He is Chair of the Victorian Water Trust Advisory Council and a Director of Land and Water Australia. He served as President of the Federation of Australian Scientific and Technological Societies, 1998-9, 2001, and a member, Prime Ministers Science, Engineering & Innovation Council, 1998-9, 2001.
Professor Cullen was founding Chief Executive of the CRC for Freshwater Ecology at the University of Canberra from 1992- 2002.
He is a graduate in Agricultural Science from the University of Melbourne and a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering. He is a member of the Wentworth Group of Concerned Scientists and has been a commentator on water reform over the last decade.
Professor Cullen was appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia in 2004 for service to freshwater ecology, particularly in the areas of policy development, implementation and sustainability in relation to water and natural resource management. He was awarded the Naumann-Thienemann Medal of the International Limnology Society 2004 "for his exemplary scientific leadership which over the past three decades has led to improved understanding about the critical water resources of Australia".
Robert Belcher
Chair, Sustainable Agricultural Communities Australia
Robert has farmed Snowy River High Country for over 25 years breeding Stud Angus and Stud Merino (commercial herd & flock). His community involvement includes; Chair of the "Snowy River Interstate Landcare Network" for 16 years with a continuing membership of approx 250 farming families from Southern Monaro and East Gippsland, and also Chair of the South East Australian Landcare Forum.
Over the last two years Robert has briefed Cabinet Ministers, Prime Ministers Advisors, Senators and addressed the Liberal Party Back Bench in relation to Managed Investment Schemes (MIS).
Rob is a regular guest speaker at VFF, NSW Farmers, Catchment and Landcare forums on natural resource issues. Rob is in demand for rural community speaking engagements across Australia and averages 100 plus radio interviews per year. These involve regional, state and national forums, together with TV & national press coverage. He is an Economics graduate (LaTrobe 1974), Dip Ed, Professional Woolclassing Stencil & trained AI Technician.
Rob's sense of humour is aided by a deep understanding of "Murphy's Law", albeit, he still remains steadfastly committed to agriculture and rural communities throughout Australia.
Nick Rodd
Director Menu Management, McDonald’s Australia
After graduating with a Business Degree in 1982 Nick joined McDonald's as Marketing and Advertising Co-ordinator. He then held many management
positions in McDonalds Australian Marketing Department before becoming National Marketing Manager in 2002.
He left Marketing and took on the
role of Director of the Futures Team in mid 2004. The Futures Team were responsible for developing new business ideas to suit the ever changing needs
of McDonald’s customers.
In July 2006 Nick moved to his current role in the McDonald’s Supply Chain team as Director of Menu Management. The Menu Manegment Team is responsible for the overall Food Strategy as well as all New Product Development including enhancements to current Menu products.
Nick is a Certified Practicing Marketer, Fellow of the Australian Marketing Institute, and a Justice of the Peace.
Nick is married to Kaye and has lived at Terrigal on the Central Coast for the past 18 years. They have three daughters Ellie, Madison and Casey.
Glenda Gourley
Food and Education Consultant, Horticulture New Zealand
Glenda has worked in the vegetable industry for many years in which time she has been involved with Horticulture New Zealand where she works for both Fresh and Potato Product Groups. Glenda’s work in the fresh produce industry has combined her two main food interests, fresh produce and nutrition education. She has produced numerous resources and developed education strategies, written cookbooks and presented on television. Glenda is an award winning food writer and author. In addition to working for the produce industry Glenda has also implemented nutrition and education strategies and written cookbooks for the National Heart Foundation of New Zealand.
Glenda has been involved in the development and implementation of a variety of potato marketing strategies. These range from research, produce handling and end use education, lobbying for potato inclusion in vegetable nutrition guidelines, improving the quality of hot chips, promoting potatoes to the food service industry, motivating food writers to include more potato copy to making potatoes fun and exciting for children.
Dr Finlay Dale
Genetics, Scottish Crop and Research Institute (SCRI), Dundee, Scotland
Dr Finlay Dale has an honours degree in Agricultural Science from Edinburgh University and a PhD in Plant Biology from the University of Birmingham and is currently based at the Scottish Crop Research Institute (SCRI) in Dundee researching aspects of breeding potatoes and important disease / quality traits of the potato.
Research areas include investigating resistance to potato cyst nematode, the inheritance and effectiveness of new sources of resistance to Globodera pallida in wild Solanum species from the Commonwealth Potato Collection genebank based at SCRI.
The research evaluates the resistance and applies molecular markers to facilitate gene introgression into modern cultivars. Recent research has investigated the epidemiology of Tobacco Rattle Virus, an important virus in potatoes, particularly processing potatoes.
The research has important implications for the seed potato industry in the UK, Europe, and further afield. Research is currently phenotyping potato populations to develop molecular markers for newly identified major gene resistance to facilitate selection and breeding.
Finlay Dale is one of the lead potato breeders at SCRI with joint responsibility for a number of research and commercial breeding programmes. He is a member of the Association of Applied Biologists and the Plant Physiology and Crop Improvement committee and is secretary to the potato section of the Scottish Society for Crop Research. He is also an editor for the scientific journal Annals of Applied Biologists from 1998, was an honorary lecturer at Dundee University 1994-1999 and is the author of over 50 scientific publications.
Dr Eric Allen
Director, Cambridge University Potato Growers Research Association (CUPGRA), England
Courtesy of Bayer CropScience, Dr Eric Allen will be a keynote speaker at the Australian Vegetable Industry Conference 2007.
In a career spanning 32 years, Eric has been at the leading edge of crop production education and research and since 1981 he has been farm director at Cambridge University Farm (CUF) - widely recognised for its sophisticated potato research.
Of his many achievements, Eric is noted for founding the study of potato physiology in Britain during the 1970’s while working on trials for the University College of Wales, Aberystwyth.
He is credited for providing a far greater understanding of potato production to help deliver practical benefits to the industry.
Throughout his career he has produced numerous scientific papers about many aspects of potato production, particularly how the manipulation of potato seed can influence final quality and yield.
Dr Rob Bramley
Principal Research Scientist Precision Vitculture, CSIRO
Dr Rob Bramley is a Principal Research Scientist and is the Team Leader of CSIRO’s research on vineyard variability and precision viticulture.
Since joining CSIRO in 1990, he has worked on the chemistry and fertility of soil phosphorus, on the grain-growing systems of Western Australia and the sugarcane production systems of North Queenslan, on the impact of rural land use on water quality in the Herbert River region of North Queensland and on the development of precision agriculture for winegrape, sugarcane and grain production systems.
Rob has a background in agricultural and environmental science and studied soil science with an emphasis on soil fertility in England and New Zealand, having completed Bachelor of Science with Honours in Soil and Land Resource Science from the University of Newcastle Upon Tyne, United Kingdom and a Doctor of Philosophy in Soil Science from the Massey University in Palmerston North, New Zealand, 1989.
Rob has made invited keynote presentations on precision agriculture and precision viticulture in Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Chile, France and the United States of America.
He is one of the founding committee members of the Southern Precision Agriculture Association and is on the editorial committee of the Australian Journal of Soil Research.
John Martin
Commissioner, ACCC
John Martin was appointed as Commissioner of the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) in June 1999 with special responsibilities for small business related matters. Commissioner Martin is Chairman of the Commission’s Transport Committee, a member of the Enforcement and Adjudication Committees and is responsible for health-related issues.
Mr Martin is also the Chairman of the International Air Services Commission.
Mr Martin was Executive Director of the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry from 1989 until his appointment to the ACCC. In his position at the ACCI he was responsible for representation of business interests and development of business policies and programs, particularly as they affect small and medium enterprises. Mr Martin was a member of the Board of Standards Australia for over 5 years and represented Australia on the Business and Industry Advisory Committee (BIAC) to the OECD.
Earlier in his career, Mr Martin was a policy adviser and program manager with the Australian Treasury and the Department of Industry and a regional industrial consultant with the United Nations in Bangkok.
Mr Martin holds an economic degree from the Australian National University. He was reappointed for a second five year term as Commissioner from 7 June 2004. His private interests include tennis, skiing and literature.
Konrad Chmielewski
National Manager Industry Codes of Conduct, ACCC
Konrad is a qualified Barrister and Solicitor with experience in trade practices issues as they affect small business operators.
He is the National Manager-Industry Codes of Conduct sector of the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) and has extensive practical experience in developing and administering mandatory and voluntary Industry Codes of Conduct both nationally and internationally as well as practical experience in operating a small business.
Special Guest
The Hon Peter McGauran MP
Federal Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry
Peter McGauran was appointed as Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry in July 2005, marking another achievement in a distinguished Parliamentary career.
Born into a farming family in Traralgon, Peter lives with his wife Trudy on the family’s Hereford cattle property at Nambrok, near Rosedale.
After graduating from Law and Arts at Melbourne University, Peter worked as a barrister and solicitor for a Gippsland law firm before being elected to Federal Parliament at the March 1983 election, at the age of 27.
Peter’s first Ministerial post was as Minister for Science and Technology following the Coalition’s Election victory in March 1996. In the wake of the 1998 election he was sworn in as Minister for the Arts and the Centenary of Federation, overseeing preparations for Australia’s celebration of 100 years of nationhood, in 2001. In the same Parliament, he served as Deputy Leader of the House.
Following the 2001 election, Peter was appointed Minister for Science, during a period of unprecedented Government investment in science and innovation, and continued as Deputy Leader of the House. In October 2004 he was appointed Minister for Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs, moving to the Agriculture portfolio in July 2005.
The Hon Ian Macdonald MLC
NSW Minister for Natural Resources, Primary Industries and Minerals
Minister Ian Macdonald brings to the portfolios a strong background in regional and rural affairs.
Elected a Member of the Legislative Council in 1988, he was a member of the State Development Committee for 11 years.
Mr Macdonald established the South West Slopes Mayoral Round Table involving 17 councils, including Cowra, Young, Yass and Cootamundra.
Since 1995, this group has met regularly with the Premier and Ministers on regional issues, and its input is highly valued by the Carr Government.
A founding member of Country Labor, Mr Macdonald has been a strong advocate of rural and regional issues in the Parliament. He has served as member or chair on numerous Parliamentary Committees dealing with issues ranging from pesticides and genetically modified organisms to coastal development.
Mr Macdonald has links with the land going back to his childhood days when family members dairy farmed at Gippsland in Victoria.
Before moving to Carcoar, in the Central West three years ago, he had a mixed farm at Young, running 400 cattle and growing 400 acres of grain crops, including wheat, canola, triticale and oats.
He continues to be involved in a joint venture at Errowanbang, Carcoar, where he and some partners are further developing a Murray Grey cattle stud.
Mr Macdonald has been successfully showing cattle at Sydney and regional shows since 1992. He has had a number of Show successes, including one of his bulls taking out the Reserve Champion Senior Bull at Melbourne Royal Show.
He is also a member of the NSW Farmers Association, the Murray Grey Beef Cattle Society and the Australian Highland Society.
