GrainGrowers’ Australian Grain Leaders Program (AGLP) is a bespoke year-long leadership program that offers professional development training to young emerging industry leaders.
The program equips participants with the skills to build and lead a more profitable and sustainable industry for Australian growers.
Does this sound like you or someone you know?
AGLP is best suited to those who are:
The full program cost is covered by GrainGrowers.
The AGLP is a highly customised program tailored to the needs of individual participants. It includes the following:
A key component of the program is an individual leadership project created by each participant around a real enterprise or industry issue of interest to them.
Throughout the program, participants apply their new knowledge and skills to develop their project and enjoy opportunities to present their work to an industry audience.
Want to know about previous participants and their projects?
Lachlan Day is a fifth-generation farmer from Lockhart, NSW, currently working on the family's winter cropping farm and driving precision agriculture and on-farm infrastructure development. His career journey provides a unique and valuable blend of engineering expertise and deep practical farming knowledge. After high school, Lachie gained hands-on experience assembling air seeders and undertaking contract harvest work. He also completed a Bachelor of Agricultural Engineering from the University of Southern Queensland applying his technical knowledge as a design engineer for an OEM machinery manufacturer. Lachie applies these skills to improve efficiency and drive innovation on the family farm. Lachie is also committed to industry stewardship.
Sam Donaldson is a fifth-generation grower located in North Star, NSW. Since graduating with a Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) and Finance from the University of Queensland, Sam has worked in the agricultural space for corporate investment companies and institutional scale family businesses. He completed investment analysis on new acquisitions while working to improve performance and financial returns on existing operations.
Recently, Sam has moved back to the family farm, producing a rotation of winter and summer broadacre crops including wheat, barley, chickpeas, canola, sorghum and cotton. He is extremely proud to continue his family legacy for the next generation and drive future efficiencies within the business. With a diverse background in finance and operations, Sam is using those skillsets collectively to establish greater opportunities to scope agricultural diversification, strategic direction and succession planning. The future of longevity family farms that include siblings and partners drives Sam to implement strategies for a successful business model.
Amelia Gooding holds an Honours degree in Agricultural Science and is an agricultural finance consultant with Altier Finance, where she works with farmers to optimise financial structures, manage risk, and support land and equipment purchases. Raised on her family’s mixed sheep and cropping farm in Darkan, Amelia has hands-on experience across all aspects of grain production, from seeding and harvesting to agronomy and research. Her honours project focused on modelling the economic benefits of grazing standing lupin crops to finish weaners, reflecting her interest in linking practical farm management with financial performance. Amelia remains actively involved in her family farm and is passionate about helping farmers make confident, well-informed decisions.
Danielle is a first-generation farmer from the Mid North of South Australia, where she farms alongside her husband while raising two young boys. Her passion for agriculture began early and has continued to grow through both hands-on experience and study. Danielle completed a Bachelor of Agricultural Science in 2021 and an Honours degree in 2025 at the University of Adelaide, researching plant hormone applications in export oaten hay production.
She now works with Australian Grain Technologies as a Technical Officer, supporting field trials and research that help drive progress across the grains industry. Danielle loves attending local field days and GRDC Updates and is always keen to learn and bring fresh ideas back to the family farm. Danielle is passionate about finding better ways to farm and supporting those new to the industry.
Andy is a grower at Lameroo, and with his partner Lou manages her family farm in the Southern Mallee region of SA. They grow predominantly wheat, oaten hay, lentils and barley, and are enjoying the evolving opportunities in his region, particularly in shifting away from an export-focused grains industry to supplying the domestic feed market.
After graduating from Roseworthy Ag College, Andy returned home to Keith where he pursued a career in agronomy for several years, specialising in broadacre crops and pastures along with both dryland and irrigated lucerne for seed and fodder production. Andy revels in the challenge of maximising yields in the farm’s low rainfall environment and enjoys the marketing and operations side of the business.
Brad is a fourth-generation farmer based in the Great Southern region of WA, where he runs a mixed farming enterprise with his wife and children. Brad has been farming full time since 2012, and over the past 13 years has grown his family’s operation into a productive business producing grain, sheep and cattle.
Brad has developed a strong interest in grain production, growing canola, wheat, barley and oats for domestic and export markets. He is passionate about improving on-farm processes and finding practical, sustainable ways to lift productivity year after year. Brad’s goal is to make every hectare more profitable, efficient and sustainable.
When he’s not on the actual farm, Brad can usually be found with his kids or getting a coffee with mates.
Julia Payne grew up on large scale horticulture properties around Sunraysia, Riverland and the Riverina. Having completed a double degree in Agribusiness and Accounting, Julia’s early years in her career included analysing investment in new on-farm technologies. Looking for a new challenge, she moved up near Darwin to complete a season running a large mango packing shed, followed by time with an AgTech company in Mildura.
Seeking experience in broadacre farming and to explore the Western side of the country, Julia moved to Perth in 2022 and started her career with Bayer Crop Science in their digital team. Julia started with Bayer on the farm management software side and is now working on the development of a Green-on-Green drone to sprayer technology for cereal crops. Julia has a passion for helping farmers increase their adoption of technology and innovation.
Lucy Powell is based in Julia Creek, North Queensland, where she works across the agricultural and training sectors to build capability and innovation in regional communities. She operates her own agronomy and consulting business, LMP AgriConsulting, and is also involved in vocational education and training, supporting students and producers across Australia.
Lucy is passionate about advancing opportunities for growers in Northern Australia through practical leadership, education, and industry collaboration. She enjoys working with producers to strengthen sustainable and profitable farming systems while helping individuals further their careers in agriculture.
Through the Australian Grain Leaders Program, Lucy looks forward to developing her leadership skills and connecting with other emerging industry professionals to drive positive change within the grains industry and regional communities, particularly within developing grain regions.
Born and raised in Maryborough, Victoria, Jess worked as a nurse for eight years before pursuing her passion for agriculture. In 2024, Jess graduated from Charles Sturt University and joined Agrivision Consultants as a Graduate Agronomist, working across St Arnaud, Marnoo and Donald. She has a genuine passion for agriculture – particularly agronomy and sustainable farming – the wellbeing of rural communities, and for helping young people discover their potential in agriculture.
Outside of work, Jess stays active in her community, holding executive roles across multiple sporting organisations and coaching netball and basketball. In 2021, Jess organised and completed The Solo 1000, a 1,193 km solo bike ride from Robe SA to Wilcannia NSW, raising funds for the Royal Flying Doctor Service Mental Health Division. She continues to fundraise for the RFDS to support mental health and healthcare in rural and remote Australia through various initiatives.
In Jess’ downtime, you’ll find her in the gym, on the netball court, boundary side at cricket, or exploring the countryside with her partner and border collie.
Tom is Head of Business Administration at Wincott Holdings, his family’s irrigated and dry land farming business based in northern New South Wales. He holds a Bachelor of Business and is currently completing a Bachelor of Laws, combining practical industry experience with a strong grounding in governance and policy.
Tom is passionate about agricultural innovation, with a focus on improving productivity, profitability, and sustainability across the agricultural sector. He is also concerned with strengthening agriculture’s connection with consumers, recognising that informed public engagement is vital for responsible policy and the long-term success of Australian farming.
Tom is involved with a number of committees including NSW Young Farmers, where he strives to advocate for young people in agriculture.
AGLP participants are selected for their demonstrated interest in and aptitude for contributing productively to the grains industry. They commit to:
GrainGrowers will ensure that our programs continue to incorporate every member's perspective and experience. We never discriminate on the basis of race, religion, national origin, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age, marital or disability status. GrainGrowers is committed to providing accommodations to all individuals in the application process and while participating in our development programs, including a carer stipend where applicable.
GrainGrowers is committed to supporting AGLP participants to succeed and providing ongoing opportunities to apply and expand their development through the national alumni program CULTIVATE.
