GrainGrowers’ Board

A grain grower at Mallala, SA, Richard produces a wide variety of cereals, pulses and oilseeds. Richard served for six years on the Advisory Board of Agriculture, and seven years on the GRDC’s Southern Panel which included the Plant Biosecurity Cooperative Research Centre, Grains Advisory Panel. He was also a non-executive director and Chair of the Australian Grain Growers Co-op board and has served on the Rural Business Support Board since 2019.

Richard has experience in corporate governance, strategic and business planning, financial management and planning, implementation and project planning and oversight and graduated from the Australian Institute of Company Directors in 2015.

Nigel is a fourth-generation farmer from Goondiwindi QLD with over 20 years’ of farming and business management experience, and is the Managing Director of New Leaf Ag Pty Ltd, a family owned food and fibre company. Nigel is a GrainGrowers Director for the Northern Region and sits as the chair of GrainGrowers’ Grains Sustainability Steering committee, and Audit and Risk committee.

With a Bachelor of Applied Science Agronomy from the University of Queensland, Nigel’s work across agriculture has been recognised as Australian Cotton Grower of the Year and ABC Rural Australian Young Farmer of the Year. Nigel also received a Nuffield Scholarship. Nigel currently sits on the board of both Cotton Seed Distributors and Ability Agriculture.

Ashleigh Brooks operates a broadacre cropping business in the Wimmera, Victoria, growing canola and pulses.

Outside of the farm, Ash has worked in the grains industry for almost 20 years, including national marketing and strategy positions, and values the importance of industry research and development. Supply chain engagement has also been integral within these roles, and through these experiences, Ash has developed effective agronomic, marketing, market development, strategy, and governance skills.

Ash is also a Grains Councillor at Victorian Farmers Federation (West Wimmera Representative), former Treasurer at South-East Australian Barley Advisory Council and former Director at the Rural Financial Counselling Service – Victoria West.

Ash holds a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture (Hons) degree, is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors Course and the 2021 GrainGrowers inaugural OnBoard program.

Ian is a grower director, a second-generation grain grower in northwest NSW.

Ian has over 25 years’ experience in the grains industry and has been a part of GrainGrowers National Policy Group, president of Dryland Cotton Research Association since its inception in 2014, and heavily involved in the Northern Grower Alliance establishment.

Having worked across many areas of the grains industry including research, production, transport, and marketing, Ian has had the chance to view the industry from many different perspectives.

Fiona Marshall farms with her family at Mulwala in the Southern Riverina of NSW. Fiona is a passionate advocate for Australian agriculture, with a strong commitment to advancing the profitability, sustainability, and profile of the grains Industry.

She brings a unique blend of practical farm management experience and industry leadership, underpinned by a background in applied science and education. Fiona is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, the NFF Diversity in Ag Leadership Program, the Grains Social Leadership Program, and was awarded a Climate Smart Agriculture Scholarship by Farmers for Climate Action. Fiona’s governance and leadership experience is extensive.

She is Chair of Riverine Plains Inc, a major farming systems group spanning the Southern Riverina of NSW and North Central Victoria, and Deputy Chair of AgBiz Assist, which delivers rural financial counselling and business education services. Fiona also served on the GrainGrowers National Policy Group, contributing to national policy development and advocacy, and has previously served on the GRDC Southern Panel.

A life-long learner and strategic thinker, Fiona is dedicated to building capacity across the grains value chain-from research and innovation to on-farm practice and end-user engagement. She is especially passionate about fostering educational opportunities and supporting the vital contribution of women in agriculture.

Fiona strives to ensure that grain grower interests are at the heart of every decision and is committed to delivering tangible benefits for the future of Australian agriculture.

Richard has 30 years of experience in agriculture having worked for listed companies in North American and Australia. Richard is the former MD of Agrium (Nutrien Ag Solutions) and Meat & Livestock Australia as well as the Head of Retail at Elders Rural.

Richard’s executive experience encompasses retail, innovation, logistics, marketing, and agribusiness. He holds the position of Managing Director at Food Agility Consultancy, a leading research and development organisation dedicated to pioneering data-driven technologies within the Australian agri-food industry.

Richard has been pivotal in spearheading and contributing to numerous projects involving ASX-listed companies, global agri-food enterprises, technology firms, financial institutions, government bodies, regulatory agencies, and esteemed research institutions.

Richard’s expertise extends to global retail value chains, marketing and manufacturing systems, and cutting-edge data and digital technologies, including AI, robotics, blockchain, sensors, and advanced data analytics. He is currently an NED of Terragen (ASX listed), Australasian Global Exports, PrimeSafe and FarmGate