SITAG Members Background
- Details
- Last Updated on Monday, 23 April 2012 12:48
- Hits: 260
BACKGROUND INFORMATION ON MEMBERS OF THE SEED INDUSTRY TRAINING ADVISORY GROUPS (SITAG)
ASHLEY FRASER (Operations Manager, Baker Seed Co, Rutherglen VIC) SITAG 1 & 2
I have been in the role of Operations Manager for Baker Seed Co for a little over 10 years where I have been predominately involved in the processing, logistics, coating and business development whilst working very closely with production of cereals, canola, and a range of clover. Both personally and as a business we have utilized local educational institutions to build the skill base of our workforce in specific areas, recognising the need for recognition of skills, is as important as knowing.
BRUCE GOSS (Chair - GCS Seeds Committee / Seed Producer, Bishopsbourne TAS) SITAG 1 & 2
Farmer at Bishopsbourne, Northern Tasmania, full time for 30 years
Employ 9 staff
Contract Harvest seed and grain
Grow perennial and annual ryegrass seed under contract to various companies and utilize several seed cleaning companies and have done so all my life
Also grow Vegetables, Poppies, Hemp, Grain and Onions and have Sheep and Cattle
Member of Tasmanian Farmers & Graziers Association (TFGA) Cereals and Seeds Committee over 20 years
Past Vice President of TFGA
Past Chairman of TFGA Agriculture Council
Tasmanian delegate to GCA Seeds and GCA Policy Council
Chairman of GCA Seeds Committee
Chairman of TFGA Pea Growers Committee
Chairman of local Progress Association
Brigade Chief of local Fire Brigade
Member of various community and sporting clubs including local Lions Club
Leisure time activities include Fishing and Travelling, but is a bit limited
I have an excellent relationship with most of the cleaning plants and government agencies in Tasmania and feel I will be able to bring forward their thoughts and input effectively to National level.
GARY KELLY (ASA Director) SITAG 1, 2 & 3
Gary Kelly has over eight years seeds industry experience (all ASA related). He was one of the founding directors of the Australian Seeds Authority, and was the Commonwealth negotiator during the period that established ASA. He acted as the government appointed director until mid-2008, and was elected as the independent director for the next three years at the last Annual General Meeting.
Gary was in the Australian Public Service for more than thirty years. He has worked in defence, housing, and agriculture and several other areas. His roles have spanned activities including industry restructure, direct ministerial support, international negotiations, community and industry consultation and negotiation, environmental programs delivery and indigenous engagement in government program delivery.
Now retired from the public service Gary is now working as an Internet Web designer and consultant.
JON LINDLEY (Factory Manager, Pacific Seeds, Toowoomba QLD) SITAG 1
My industry experience is mostly with Pacific Seeds Pty Ltd. Here I have been involved predominantly with manufacturing side of the business. I started at Pacific Seeds as a plant operator and have progressed over the last 12 years to Factory Manager. In this role I currently oversee a team of 11 operators including 2 supervisors and up to 5 casuals. I am based in Toowoomba, Qld at our head office and processing facility.
The main tasks of our division are grading, treating and bagging of seed. There are a wide range of seeds we process, but mainly broad acre hybrids including sorghum, sunflower, corn, forage sorghum and canola. We also process oats and are venturing into wheat at present. Our crops are produced all over Australia, with the MIA and the Ord River being our main supply areas. Our markets are majority domestic, depending on which product is being discussed, but our international sales are also a large part of our business as well.
My experience in the field or paddock is limited being a "cattleman" originally, before becoming involved in the grain industry. So don't ask me to plant your paddocks for you. It's likely to end up a mess! Seven years working in cattle feed lots gave me a lead into management & working with teams. It is not unlike the team environment required to operate a seed processing plant. My current role is one of people management as much as any other aspect of my job. On a daily basis I arrange rosters, supplies, deal with WH&S and maintenance issues and perform administration & recruitment duties, etc. At times I have spent some time in our parent seed and bulk storage divisions which has given me a brief insight into our production and research departments as well.
I have been involved for the last four years gradually designing our own in-house training regime to suit our staff with the aim to have all our operators competent in all aspects of the processing division. Also delivering that training for the processing team and organizing various external training requirements so the team meets industry standards. We use a mix of training techniques including presentations, manuals, sign-off sheets, hands on experience and on the job training. This is an ongoing project and needs constant monitoring and updating.
Currently we are putting the majority of our staff through a Certificate 3 in Food Processing as well, which is being adapted to our situation as it progresses. This will give our staff, which a number have many years experience, recognition of this experience and the newer guys a qualification to use in future. I have a couple of qualifications myself so I have spent a bit of time seeing how others have performed their training techniques. I hope I can contribute something to this gathering. I am keen to learn also and hope the SIT& EA Group will give me this opportunity to do this.
KATRINA NEWSHAM (Human Resources Manager, Pacific Seeds, Toowoomba, QLD) SITAG 1
My experience in the seed industry commenced in late November 2007 when I joined Pacific Seeds as Human Resources Manager.
In my short time with Pacific Seeds I have gained a reasonable understanding of what areas and roles make up the business, as well as what skills are required for each of the roles. I am very much still learning what is involved here and understanding the relevant terminologies associated with the industry.
Prior to joining Pacific Seeds, I worked for Namoi Cotton Co-Operative Ltd as their Human Resources Manager for almost 8 years. I initially commenced with them in Wee Waa in northwest NSW where I spent 3&1/2yrs. In mid 2003, the corporate office was relocated to Toowoomba, Qld.
Prior to joining Namoi Cotton Co-Operative Ltd I worked for a company by the name of Spotless Services which is a contract services company, with the main part of their business providing contract catering services. I worked in a number of roles with them including restaurant management, accounting and human resources. I spent 9 ½ yrs with them in Brisbane. Part of my role with Spotless was to co-ordinate the placement and training of up to 15 apprentice cooks to ensure that they gained the greatest amount of skill in the 4 years they were with the company. The ultimate aim was to have them move into full-time employment with the company after completion.
All of my human resources roles have been generalist in nature which basically means I cover everything associated with the employment area e.g. recruitment, remuneration/rewards, performance management, industrial relations, training & development, budgeting, equal employment opportunity, policy development, systems and processes, payroll mgt, worker's compensation etc etc.
I hold a Bachelor of Business (Human Resources Management) and a Bachelor of Business (Hospitality Management) and have been a member of the Australian Human Resources Institute since 1994. My business philosophy is that "success in business comes through success in people"
LINDSAY COOK (Chief Executive Officer, ASA) SITAG 1
Lindsay's career spanned both the Victorian and New South Wales Departments of Agriculture, initially in the seeds industry, but later in more senior policy and management roles. His initial appointment was as a seeds research officer in Victoria and during this time, he organised a year working in research in the Crop Science Department of Oregon State University in the centre of the pasture grass seed industry in the USA
Soon after his return he was appointed as Principal Agronomist Seeds in the NSW Department of Agriculture, responsible for seed certification, seed testing, and a small group of inspectors who enforced the Seeds Act. During the next 25 years, Lindsay was promoted to other positions in the NSW Department, ending his career as Chief of the Division of Plant Industries. This position was responsible for the management of all plant research, extension and regulatory activities in the Department, and required high level advice to the Director-General and Minister, and input into national policy issues.
He retired in 2004 when NSW Agriculture was combined with four other Departments to form the NSW Department of Primary Industries and was appointed as ASA CEO in August 2008.
MARCIA TAYLOR (Executive Officer, ASA) SITAG 1, 2 & 3
Marcia began her career in the seed industry as a trainee Seed Analyst with Arthur Yates and Company, who at that time operated Australia's largest non-government seed testing laboratory. Following intensive training at MAF Seed Testing Station in Palmerston North New Zealand, Marcia was appointed to the position of Senior Analyst. Throughout Marcia's many years with Yates further promotions followed, culminating in her appointment to the position of Seed Quality Control Manager. During this time she also oversaw and managed the implementation of Quality Assurance Arrangements between Yates and the Western Australian and Tasmanian Quarantine authorities.
Marcia has attended three ISTA Congresses and for many years was a member of the ISTA Flower Seed Technical Committee. She was appointed as the industry representative on the advisory panel established to formulate NATA accreditation guidelines for seed testing laboratories and was subsequently appointed as a NATA assessor.
Training and development of seed analysts has always been one of Marcia's major interests. She was a co-founder of the Seed Analysts' Society of Australia (SASA) and in September 2000 was elected as its inaugural President.
Her initial involvement with the Australian Seeds Authority (ASA) was as a member of the ASA Technical Advisory Committee, representing non-ISTA seed testing laboratories. In November 2005, following retirement, she joined ASA on a short-term consultancy as the Executive Officer of the Public Variety Maintenance Panel and also conducted an Australia-wide survey of the education and training needs of the Australian seed industry. In July 2006 Marcia was appointed as ASA Executive Officer in a part-time support role to the CEO.
MURRAY HILL (Chairman, Seed Technology Institute Australia, Gatton QLD)
(Information obtained from STIA website)
Chairman of Directors of STIA and Professor of Seed Technology at the University of Queensland.
Former Director New Zealand Seed Technology Institute and Emeritus Professor of Seed and Crop Science, Lincoln University, New Zealand; Former Director, Seed Technology Centre, Massey University; Royal Society Science and Technology Medallist; Editorial Board Journal of New Seeds; Fellow of the Agronomy Society of New Zealand; Certified Practising Agriculturalist; International consultant and training provider in China, Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia, Philippines, and Australia.
WILL GOLSBY (CEO Australian Seed Federation, Deakin ACT) SITAG 1
Will Golsby is the Chief Executive Officer of the Australian Seed Federation (ASF). The ASF is the peak national body representing the interests of Australia's sowing seed industry at the state, national and international level. The membership comprises stakeholders from all sectors of the total seed supply chain including plant breeders, seed growers, seed processors, and covers a diversity of geography, climate, crops, and cultivars. The ASF is also a member of the Asia Pacific Seed Association and the International Seed Federation.
Prior to joining the ASF, he worked as a Ministerial Adviser to the Australian Government Minister for Trade, Transport and Regional Services, and Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry. He has also worked as a Policy Manager for the NSW Farmers' Association and as a Business Manager for a large grain exporter. (Mr Golsby left his position with ASF in April 2011 and was replaced by Mr Bill Fuller)
BILL FULLER (CEO Australian Seed Federation, Deakin ACT) SITAG 1 & 2
Bill Fuller is the Chief Executive Officer of the Australian Seed Federation (ASF). The ASF is the peak national body representing the interests of Australia's sowing seed industry at the state, national and international level. The membership comprises stakeholders from all sectors of the total seed supply chain including plant breeders, seed growers, seed processors, and covers a diversity of geography, climate, crops, and cultivars. The ASF is also a member of the Asia Pacific Seed Association and the International Seed Federation.
Bill was appointed CEO of the Australian Seed Federation (ASF) in mid-2011. He comes from a dairy farming background and has a degree in Agricultural Science, Graduate Diploma in Agribusiness and an MBA (Executive). Bill has worked as a stock and station agent and on a number of State Primary Industries major extension projects relating to livestock production and marketing. Bill has also had senior sales and marketing roles with Incitec Pivot and most recently PGG Wrightson Seeds before moving to the ASF.