New Grains Australia Chair announced

Experienced Western Australian agribusiness senior executive and director Andrew Young has been appointed Chair of Grains Australia.

Mr Young replaces inaugural Chair and respected industry leader Terry Enright who stepped down from the Board following Grains Australia’s annual general meeting this week, having served as Chair since Grains Australia’s inception in 2020.

Grains Australia, an initiative of the Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC), is responsible for vital industry services and functions that improve the industry’s competitiveness and profitability.

GRDC Chair John Woods welcomed the appointment of Mr Young, who has more than 25 years of experience in senior executive and director roles in leading agribusinesses based in Australia and South East Asia.

″Andrew has served with distinction on the Board since its inception and acted as interim Chief Executive Officer in 2022 – collaboratively bringing to life much of the early structure, team, Commodity Councils and Grains Australia programs,″ Mr Woods said.

″In his Board and CEO roles, he has demonstrated the leadership qualities required to ensure that Grains Australia continues to enhance the profitability and competitiveness of Australian grain into the future.″

Mr Young is a non-executive Chair of grain export business Plum Grove and Chair of Westpork, WA’s largest pork producer and its joint venture processing and food service company Dardanup Butchering Company.

He is a non-executive Director of the Australian Export Grains Innovation Centre (AEGIC) and is represented on the Strategic Review Group for Grains Australia and AEGIC.

Mr Woods commended the chairmanship of Mr Enright, a former grain and livestock producer from WA’s southern region who has long played a prominent role in Australian agricultural research.

″Terry has been integral in successfully steering Grains Australia into a position where it is delivering genuine value on behalf of grain growers,″ Mr Woods said.

″His dedication, commitment and ability to bring people together has been key to Grains Australia being able to consolidate and build upon a range of critical industry services and functions that benefit the grains sector.″

Mr Enright was this year recognised for his outstanding contribution to the Australian grains industry, receiving the GRDC Seed of Gold award.

He has dedicated more than 40 years to the direction and management of agricultural research, including as chair of the GRDC, LiveCorp, Grains Australia and AEGIC.

Mr Woods also welcomed the appointment to the Board of Andrew Earle, who has spent three years on the Grains Australia Advisory Committee and served for 10 years on the Grain Producers Australia Board, including as Deputy Chair.

Mr Earle is Managing Partner of the farming operation ‘Bullawarrie’ at Thallon on the Queensland and New South Wales border.