John Eastburn

Chairman

John is an active and passionate grower and member. An active member since 1974, John has served on the GrainGrowers (formerly GGA) Committee of Advice for 15 years and the Policy Group for 5 years; acting as R&D subcommittee Chairman. John is a member of GrainGrowers Nominations and Remuneration Committee and was previously a member of the GrainCorp Audit Committee.

John has participated in the formation of the Accenture Review - Least cost option paths for our grain from farm gate to port - and in the workshops with Ron Storey; Jabiru Self Development and BRI courses followed by a comprehensive business development program “Lead the Field” by Bob Proctor. His family history with the organisation includes his father Ian who was a member of the Committee of Advice (CoA) and director of PWA.

He is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Steve Hargreaves

Deputy Chairman

Steve is a grower from Boree Creek in NSW.

Steve operates a 2400ha family farm producing grain and wool and has extensive experience of the grains industry. He has been a member of his local silo committee for 18 years (13 years as Chairman) and is heavily involved in lobbying for the retention of The Rock to Boree Creek rail branch line.

He was a member of the former GGA Regional Committee and the former Committee of Advice as well as AWB's grower consultative committee.
 
 
 

Gerry Lane

Director

Gerry lives at Milbrulong in Southern NSW and is an active farmer, manager and a director of Erin Vale Farming. Gerry was a member of the former CoA Policy Group, his local silo committee, and is involved in the retention and upgrading of the Boree Creek branch line. Prior to his election to the GrainGrowers Board, Gerry was a Regional Committee member for Region Nine.

Gerry was previously a Director of GrainCorp and a member of the GrainCorp Audit Committee.

He is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Andrew Carberry

Director

Andrew is a grower from Narrabri in North West NSW.

Andrew has 30 years experience in agricultural and for the past 15 years has been an owner/partner and manager of a 5000ha mixed farm which encompassed all aspects of cereal, legume and summer cropping including irrigation and beef cattle (which also incorporates an Ausmeat accredited feedlot).

Prior to his election to the Board, Andrew was a member of the former Regional Committee representing Region 2.

Bruce Smith

Director

Bruce is a grower from Cootamundra in the South West Slopes of NSW. Bruce is actively involved with his local community where he has served as a Shire Councillor for 12 years as well as his position as Chairman of the Board of Cootamundra Oilseeds for five years. Bruce has been actively involved in the grains industry through the former GGA Regional Committee and on the South-East Regional Advisory Committee to GRDC where he served as Chairman for three years.

Bruce holds a Bachelor of Business (Accounting) and has been mixed farming for 27 years. He is an advocate of biotechnologies and biofuels, in particular biodiesel. He has written many publications which address these and other issues within the grain industry.

Spencer Millear

Director

Spencer comes from Willaura in Western Victoria where he owns and manages a farm business producing wheat, barley and canola. Spencer holds a diploma in investment planning, managed investments and securities and derivatives and was previously a Director of GrainCorp.   

He is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and has completed their strategic financial skills course.

Anne O'Donnell

Director

Anne is currently a director of Equity Trustees Ltd, Community CPS Australia Ltd; Eastwoods Pty Ltd and Equity Trustees Limited.  She is also a member of the Compliance Committee of UBS Global Asset Management ( Australia) Ltd. Her past directorships include Australian Ethical Investment Ltd; The Investment and Financial Services Association Limited, The Centre for Australian Ethical Research Pty Ltd and the ANZ Staff Superannuation Fund.  

Anne holds a Master of Business Administration at University of Canberra and a Bachelor of Arts, Banking and Finance at University of Canberra. She is a Fellow of the Financial Services Institute of Australasia and also a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Anne was a finalist in the Telstra Business Women of the Year ACT 2008. Anne was appointed by the Board as a Non-Grower Director in July 2010. Anne is an experienced executive and non-executive director in the listed, not-for-profit and mutual sectors.

Sam Andersen

Director

Sam was appointed to the board in July 2010 and is Chairman of the Audit Committee.

Sam is a Director and Chair of the Audit and Risk Committee for Rural Finance Corporation Limited and a Director and Chair of the Audit and Risk Management Committee for Victrack.  

She began her career with a law degree and subsequently held senior executive positions with ANZ Bank, Commonwealth Bank of Australia and National Australia Bank. Following a career change from banking and finance into industry, Ms Andersen was the Chief Financial Officer at Lumacom Ltd and Chief Operating and Financial Officer of Multi-Emedia.com Ltd.  She led the initial public offering for and became the Managing Director of Eyecare Partners Limited, a company which trebled in size in its first two years of operation. Her previous directorships include Eyecare Partners Ltd, Superpartners Pty Ltd, Victorian Funds Management Corporation, Multi-Emedia.com Ltd and Youth at Risk Inc.