Keynote speakers

Gordon Cairns
Chairman of Woolworths Group  

15 March: 12:40pm KEYNOTE ADDRESS: How COVID has changed consumer behaviour 

15 March: 1:15pm PANEL: The rise of sustainability, climate change and carbon markets as supply chain drivers 

Gordon Cairns is the Chairman of Woolworths Group Ltd, and also serves as a non-executive director of Macquarie Group Limited and microfinance provider World Education. Previously he was Chairman of Origin Energy for seven years, a non- executive director of Westpac Bank for nine years, Chair of Quick Service Restaurants for six years, and Chair of David Jones.

Dr Molly Jahn 

Founder and Principal of the Jahn Research Group & Program Manager at the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency. 

16 March: 1:30pm KEYNOTE ADDRESS: Cybersecurity in Food Supply Chains
16 March: 2:15pm PANEL: Cybersecurity in Food Supply Chains

Dr Molly Jahn is a professor Agronomy at the University of Wisconson-Madison and the founding principal of the Jahn Research Group, an organisation that focuses on domestic and global food system stability and security. She consults globally for business, universities, governments, philanthropic organisations, and international multilateral institutions in agriculture, food security, risk in food systems, life sciences, national security, and environment. Dr Jahn is currently on an Interagency Personnel Agreement from UW-Madison to work as a Program Manager at the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, creating breakthrough technologies and capabilities for national security in the US.

PANELLISTS

Alessio Scalisi 

Senior Technical Officer, Tatura SmartFarm, Agriculture Victoria  

16 March: 4:15pm RESEARCH SHOWCASE: Sensors for Summerfruit

With a strong focus on data analytics, artificial intelligence and automation, Alessio aims to support fruit growers to achieve the best yields and quality standards by integrating Ag Tech in pre- and post-harvest operations. Alessio holds an International Master in Horticultural Science, a triple degree completed at the University of Bologna (Italy), at the Technical University of Munich (Germany) and at the BOKU University of Vienna (Austria). He also completed a PhD in Agricultural, Environmental and Forest Sciences at the University of Palermo (Italy).

Allister Clarke 

PhD Candidate and Food Agility scholarship recipient  

16 March: 3:45pm RESEARCH SHOWCASE: Enhancing Rice Provenance and Quality Prediction

Allister Clarke is a PhD candidate with Charles Sturt university. His research is a part of the Food Agility’s project ‘Enhancing  Rice Provenance and Quality Prediction' which partners with Australia’s leading rice processor and global retailer, SunRice. Before starting at Charles Sturt, Allister completed a bachelor of Science in Agriculture at Sydney University, completing his honours in 2018. Prior to that Allister was back at his family’s mixed cropping and livestock property in Finley, NSW, where his family would often grow rice for SunRice.

Anne Astin AM PSM 

Food Agility CRC Chair  

16 March: 4:30pm: Wrap up & close

Chair of the Food Agility Board, Dr Anne Astin is a distinguished food scientist and highly regarded administrator. She has held numerous board and senior executive positions across government, industry research and development and advocacy organisations. Alongside her role as Chair, she is a member of CSIRO's Food and Nutrition Advisor Committee, the International Science Advisory Panel and the SafeFish Partnership.

Dr Carol Richards 

Associate Professor, QUT Business School  

15 March: 2:15pm RESEARCH SHOWCASE: Yarrabilba Circular Food Economy 

Dr Carol Richards is a food and agricultural sociologist based in the QUT Business School. She is known for her expertise in community food systems, using evidence-based knowledge to design local food economies that engage all of sectors of society. Her latest project is working with Lendlease to design, develop and implement Australia’s first residential, circular food economy. 

Dr Cassandra Schefe 

Soil Scientist and Co-Owner, AgriSci Pty Ltd  

15 March: 2:00pm RESEARCH SHOWCASE: Cool Soil Initiative 

 Dr Cassandra Schefe (BAgSci Hons, PhD, CPSS) has over 20 years’ experience in soil chemistry and soil-plant interactions, with key expertise in soil carbon chemistry. In 2019 Cassie was awarded the Recognising and Rewarding Excellence Award from the Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC), Southern Region and holds adjunct research positions with The University of Melbourne and Charles Sturt University.

Clare Rutherford 

Investment Director, Food Agility CRC  

15 March: 3:00pm PANEL: Flipping the Research - What does true industry-led innovation look like? And how do we make it happen? 

Clare Rutherford is the Investment Director at Food Agility CRC. Before joining the CRC, Clare was program manager at Sense-T, an IoT focused research program at the University of Tasmania, managing 16 research projects with more than $20m in research funding, the majority of which conducted data service innovation research in Agriculture. More recently, Clare was business development manager for Ag-Tech company, The Yield, and was also vice-president for startup peak industry body, Startup Tasmania.

Chris Stevens  

Director, Global Agribusiness, Kellogg Company  

15 March: 3:00pm PANEL: Flipping the Research - What does true industry-led innovation look like? And how do we make it happen?

Chris Stevens has over 30 years experience in the FMCH industry, including leading the AMEA Regional Procurement organisation. He is currently the Director of Global Agribusiness for Kellogg, which develops and manages global and regional supply chains for key agricultural ingredients. This also encompasses all the elements of sustainable and responsible agriculture, focusing on improving farmer livelihoods whilst making them more climate resilient.

Chris Mendes  

Chief Technology Officer, The Yield Technology Solutions  

16 March: 4:00pm DEMONSTRATION: Virtual research environment to boost cybersecurity

Chris is an experienced CTO and enterprise architect specialising in the Internet of Things, big data and analytics. As CTO of SIRCA, Chris led the global delivery of Tick History Platform, a product used by 90% of the world’s largest banks which ingests and presents more than three million records per second. Chris develops and manages IoT programs. He is a startup mentor and angel investor, and a respected speaker on big data, AI and IoT.

James Benkie  

Dean, Werklund School of Agriculture Technology at    Olds College 

15 March: 4:15pm: PANEL: The Global SMART Farm Network

Before joining the Olds College Team in 2018, James worked in the technology sector with global tech company Fujitsu as well as with Agriculture Financial Services Corporation. James leads a number of academic program areas at Olds College, including the recent launch of two new academic programs in agriculture technology integration and precision agriculture in September 2020. James is currently the Canadian Region Director-Elect for the North American Colleges and Teachers of Agriculture (NACTA) Society. 

Professor David Lamb  

Food Agility CRC Chief Scientist & Founder of the SMART Farm at the University of New England 

15 March: 4:15pm: PANEL: The Global SMART Farm Network

Professor David Lamb has worked in precision agriculture for more than 25 years and has led more than 40 industry-funded R&D projects. David established the University of New England's Precision Agriculture Research Group, and the internationally renowned SMART Farm project.  David is the Cheif Scientist at Food Agility CRC, and currently serves as Australian representative for the International Society for Precision Agriculture. In 2016 he received the McClymont Distinguished Professorship (Research) at UNE in recognition of his ongoing service to agriculture innovation and research leadership.  

Dave Ross  

CEO, Agri-Epicentre 

15 March: 4:15pm: PANEL: The Global SMART Farm Network

Dave Ross is the CEO of Agri-Epicentre, one of four UK government funded Agri-Tech Centres bridging the gap between industry and academia across the agri-food sector in the UK and globally. Dave is a trained engineer, with 26 years’ experience of agri-technology in both the cropping and livestock sectors, encompassing a broad range of technology areas. He has been involved in the R&D of a number of novel and patented developments across the agricultural production sectors. Some of these have been fully commercialised and he has assisted with spin-out and new company formations.  

Jamila Gordon  

CEO & Founder Lumachain 

16 March: 12:30pm: PANEL: Hunting Unicorns in a burgeoning Australian agtech industry

Jamila Gordon is the CEO and Founder of Lumachain, a technology platform that uses Artificial Intelligence (AI) to connect the broken links in global meat/food supply chains, while also helping keep workers safe. Jamila is one of Australia’s most respected AI and technology leaders. She received the 2020 NSW Award for Tech Entrepreneur of the Year. Her background includes roles as Group Chief Information Officer at Qantas Airways and Leighton Holdings/CIMIC, and prior to this, as a global executive with IBM based in Europe, leading some of IBM's largest transformational 'mega-deals' with Solectron Manufacturing, AXA Insurance and ABN AMRO Bank.

Jason Strong 

Managing Director, Meat & Livestock Australia   

15 March: 3:00pm PANEL: Flipping the Research - What does true industry-led innovation look like? And how do we make it happen?

Mr Strong has more than 30 years’ red meat and livestock experience, knowledge and connections from the farm through to the end consumer in both domestic and international markets. He is a well-recognised and respected senior executive with extensive skills in commercial and industry business management and administration, supply chain development, meat science and grading, genetics and marketing as well as on-farm experience. Mr Strong is Managing Director of Meat & Livestock Australia Ltd and is a director of Integrity Systems Company Limited, MLA Donor Company Limited, AUS-MEAT Limited and Red Meat Traceability Systems Pty Ltd.  

Joanna Stanion 

First Assistant Secretary of Agricultural Policy Division in the Department of Agriculture, Water, and the Environment 

15 March: 3:00pm PANEL: Flipping the Research - What does true industry-led innovation look like? And how do we make it happen?

Joanna Stanion is the First Assistant Secretary of Agricultural Policy Division in the Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment. Joanna is responsible for national policy and legislative frameworks that contribute to the productivity, competitiveness and profitability of Australia’s agricultural, food and fibre industries, including meat, dairy, horticulture, wine and broadacre crops. The Division’s purpose is to enhance industry development, foster innovation and support investment and market growth. Joanna is responsible for delivering Minister Littleproud’s ambitious agenda to modernise Australia’s agricultural innovation system so that our agriculture sector can adapt to the emerging risks and opportunities of the 21st Century and meet industry’s target for a $100 billion sector by 2030.

Dr Julia Easton 

Research Fellow, Curtin University & Food Agility Innovation Manager 

16 March: 4:00pm RESEARCH SHOWCASE: On Farm Experimentation

Dr Julia Easton leads the Curtin for Agribusiness Profitability (C4AP) initiative, a multidisciplinary team developing the next generation of agribusiness research capability, tools for agribusiness decision making and financial products. Julia is a plant physiologist who has played a leadership role in more than 150 industry-funded R&D projects. Julia has a passion for building leadership capability in agriculture. She has been involved with Nuffield Australia and was appointed as a Board Member of the WA No Till Farmers Association in September 2020.

Justin Webb 

Founder & Executive Chairman, AgriWebb 

16 March: 12:30pm: PANEL: Hunting Unicorns in a burgeoning Australian agtech industry

Justin Webb is the Co-Founder and Executive Chairman of agricultural technology “startup”: AgriWebb which is now the world's leading farm management and meat supply chain software. Recently valued by external investment from a publicly listed company at over $100m, AgriWebb has grown over the past 6 years to manage over 15m head of livestock across 100m acres around the globe.

Hon. Karen Andrews 

Minister for Industry, Science and Technology   

15 March: 12:35pm Welcome 

Karen Andrews was elected to parliament in 2010. Minister Andrews was one of the architects of the $1.1 billion National Innovation and Science Agenda. She was sworn in as Minister for Industry, Science and Technology in the Morrison Government Cabinet in August 2018. Minister Andrews has done significant work to help Australian industry to flourish, including designing the $1.5 billion Modern Manufacturing Strategy. She has been a key driver of Women in STEM initiatives and has guided the Australian Space Agency, as it works to a goal of tripling the size of the sector to $12 billion and creating 20,000 new jobs by 2030.

Karen Greaves 

Queensland Sustainability Manager for Development, Lendlease

15 March: 2.15pm RESEARCH SHOWCASE: Yarrabilba Circular Food Economy 

Karen is the Queensland Sustainability Manger for Development working across master planned communities, urban regeneration and retirement living projects. She has undertaken studies in photovoltaic and solar energy engineering, environmental economics and architecture. In her role at Lendlease Karen is actively driving the development and implementation of the Circular Economy Strategy at Yarrabilba.

Kate May 

Project Manager, Food Agility CRC 

16 March: 4:00pm DEMONSTRATION: Virtual research environment to boost cybersecurity 

Kate May is a Project Manager at Food Agility CRC, with 10 years’ experience working as a researcher and data scientist and across academic, government and industry sectors. Most recently, she was working at Agtech company The Yield as the Research Manager and Data Scientist and aimed to enable the research team to deliver key business outputs for commercialisation. Kate developed a deep love for data during her PhD and this passion for driven her to work on projects aiming to unlocking the power of data to answer research questions that will deliver real-world impact.

Professor Kate McGrath 

Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research), University of Technology Sydney 

15 March: 3:00pm PANEL: Flipping the Research - What does true industry-led innovation look like? And how do we make it happen? 

Professor Kate McGrath is the Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Vice-President (Research) at the University of Technology Sydney. Kate provides the vision and leadership to build UTS’s national and international profile in research training, external research engagement and innovation. She is responsible for the strategic direction, operations and support of research across the university.

Mara Bun 

Strategy Lead, Food Agility CRC 

15 March: 1:15pm PANEL: The rise of sustainability, climate change and carbon markets as supply chain drivers

Mara Bun  is the Strategy Lead for Food Agility CRC. Before joining the CRC, Mara was Director of Business Development at CSIRO, Non-Executive Director of Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority, head of Internet Equities Research at Macquarie Bank and a member of the Blair Review, “Food: a growth industry”. She influenced food policy as Head of Policy for Australia’s national consumer advocacy group CHOICE. Mara was CEO of Green Cross Australia and is (honorary) President of the Board of the Australian Conservation Foundation.

Dr Mark O'Connell 

Senior Research Scientise, Tatura SmartFarm, Agriculture Victoria 

16 March: 4:15pm RESEARCH SHOWCASE: Sensors for Summerfruit

Mark is a senior research scientist with three decades experience in rainfed and irrigated farming systems and dryland salinity. His research focuses on plant physiology and agronomy to drive improvements in productivity and sustainability of agriculture. Mark leads the Summerfruit industry-funded stonefruit experimental orchard project at Tatura SmartFarm. 

Matthew Pryor 

Co-Founder & General Partner, Tenacious Ventures 

16 March: 12:30pm: PANEL: Hunting Unicorns in a burgeoning Australian agtech industry

Matthew Pryor is a founding board member of the Australian AgriTech Association, co-founder of Tenacious Ventures, and a Partner at AgThentic. He was previously co-founder of Observant, an Australian agtech pioneer acquired by Jain Irrigation in February 2017. He was the founding chair of Rocket Seeder, a food & ag innovation accelerator, and founding chair of the Australian Government Agriculture 4.0 Task Force. He is a member of the CSIRO Agriculture and Food Advisory Committee, and is passionate about promoting Australian agri-food innovation globally. 

Dr Mick Schaefer 

Research Program Manager, Food Agility CRC

15 March: 4:00pm: Launch of the Food Agility CRC Industry Postgraduate Program 

Dr Schaefer is the Research Program Manager at Food Agility CRC.  Prior to moving to Food Agility, Mick spent 3 years as the Assistant Director and Science Team Leader of the Australian Plant Phenomics Centre at CSIRO in Canberra. He has a passion for applied research that has ‘real-world’ impact, connecting the dots between disparate research teams as well as business development and stakeholder engagement.   

Mick Keogh OAM 

Deputy Chair, Australian Competition & Consumer Commission (ACCC) & Food Agility Board Member 

16 March: 2:15pm PANEL: Cybersecurity in food supply chains

Mick Keogh was appointed to the ACCC in February 2016, and then as Deputy Chair of the ACCC in 2018, with responsibility for Small Business and Agriculture. Mick has a long and diverse history of involvement with the small business and agriculture sector, including  as a business consultant, and in advocacy and advisory roles to policymakers and governments. He has also chaired a number of Commonwealth Government inquiries and Ministerial advisory boards. He is currently a member of the Commonwealth Government’s Emission Reduction Assurance Council, and a Board member of the Food Agility Co-operative Research Centre.

Molly Harriss Olson 

CEO, Fairtrade Australia & New Zealand  

15 March: 1:15pm PANEL: The rise of sustainability, climate change and carbon markets as supply chain drivers

Molly Harriss Olson has been CEO of Fairtrade ANZ since 2014, having previously served as the Chair of Fairtrade International for six years. In her earlier career she was the founding Executive Director of the President's Council on Sustainable Development, appointed by Bill Clinton, a member of the World Economic Forum's Global Leaders for Tomorrow, and the winner of the AFR and Westpac's '100 Women of Influence Award' in the 'global influence' category, in recognition of her contribution to international development and sustainability.  

Nathan Eaton

NGIS Australia   

16 March:  4:00pm - 4:15pm: On - Farm Experimentation 

Nathan is an Executive Director at NGIS Australia. Since commencing operations over 27 years ago, NGIS has grown to become the most awarded Geospatial Consultancy in the Asia Pacific Region. Nathan has 20 years of experience in the geospatial industry servicing clients across a wide range of sectors including resources, agriculture, utilities, government and transport. More recently Nathan has worked on a range of international projects focused on Sustainable development goals including climate change, biodiversity, sustainable sourcing and disaster risk reduction.  

Hon. Niall Blair 

Professor Food Sustainability , Charles Sturt University  

15 March:  2:00pm RESEARCH SHOWCASE: Cool Soil Initiative

The Hon. Niall Blair served in the NSW Parliament for nearly nine years. He was Deputy Leader of the Government as well as Minister for Primary  Industries, Water, Lands and Trade and Industry. In  these roles he delivered significant reform across water, fisheries and  agricultural research and innovation sectors. He also played a critical role  in developing new and emerging trade markets. Today, Niall is Professor of Food Sustainability at Charles Sturt University.  

Peter Leonard 

Principal & Director, Data Synergies  

16 March: 2:15pm PANEL: Cybersecurity in food supply chains 

Peter Leonard is a data and technology business consultant and lawyer advising data-driven business and government agencies in Australia and South East Asia. Peter is principal of Data Synergies and a Professor of Practice at UNSW Business School. He also chairs the Internet of Things Alliance Australia (IoTAA) Data Access, Use and Privacy work stream, the Law Society of New South Wales’ Privacy and Data Committee and the Australian Computer Society’s Artificial Intelligence and Ethics Technical Committee, and serves on a number of corporate and advisory boards, including the NSW Data Analytics Centre.  

Phil Morle 

Partner, Main Sequence Ventures & Food Agility Board Member 

16 March: 12:30pm: PANEL: Hunting Unicorns in a burgeoning Australian agtech industry 

Phil is a Partner at the CSIRO's venture capital fund, Main Sequence Ventures, where he invests in deep tech founders who are building unimaginable new companies with a strong connection to research. There he has invested in v2food, Nourish Ingredients, Clara Foods, RapidAIM, Coviu, Maxwell Plus and Q-CTRL. Before this he was the founder of Australia’s first Silicon Valley style incubator, Pollenizer, where he played an instrumental role in developing the startup ecosystem across the Asia Pacific and advised some of the world’s biggest organisations on practical ways to deliver new growth and the cultural change that is required to get there. Phil is a director of Food Agility CRC. 

Rachael Falk 

CEO, Cyber Security CRC 

16 March: 2:15pm PANEL: Cybersecurity in food supply chains  

Rachael Falk is one of Australia’s foremost cyber security experts and commentators. As CEO of the Cyber Security Cooperative Research Centre, Rachael leads a cutting-edge program of cyber security research collaboration between government, industry and research institutions. The aim is impact, lifting Australia’s cyber security capacity and capability and creating innovative solutions for the ever-evolving problems of our interconnected world. Rachael was recently appointed to the Federal Government’s Industry Advisory Committee, which will help guide the implementation of Australia’s Cyber Security Strategy 2020, and was Telstra’s first General Manager of Cyber Influence. 

Dr Rachelle Hergenhan 

Director, UNE SMART Farm 

15 March:  4:15pm PANEL: The Global SMART Farm Network  

 

Raphael Wood 

Managing Director, Market Advisory Group 

15 March: 1:15pm PANEL: The rise of sustainability, climate change and carbon markets as supply chain drivers

Raphael Wood is the Managing Director and founder of the Market Advisory Group, which provides independent expert advice for Australia’s emerging carbon market. My Wood’s career spans the breadth of the carbon industry, from coal mining, to financial markets and carbon market architecture while working for the Australian Government. He was instrumental in designing and implementing key market mechanisms including the Renewable Energy Target, Carbon Pricing Mechanism and the Emissions Reduction Fund.

Richard Norton 

CEO, Food Agility CRC 

16 March: 4:30pm: Wrap up & close 

Richard has held executive positions in retail, innovation, logistics, marketing and agribusiness for over 30 years. This includes time as Managing Director of Meat and Livestock Australia, where he delivered global branding strategies for the red meat industry and ushered in sustainability targets. As Managing Director of Landmark Operations and as General Manager Retail at Elders, held responsibility for annual turnover of $1b and $90K EBITS with ASX listed companies . Currently, Richard is a non-executive director at Rifa Salutary Australia and Australasian Global Exports.

Robert Williams 

Director Agrifood, Artesian Invest 

16 March: 12:30pm: PANEL: Hunting Unicorns in a burgeoning Australian agtech industry

Robert Williams is a director at Artesian. Artesian is a global alternative investment management firm with staff in NY, London, Singapore, Shanghai, Jakarta, Sydney, Adelaide and Melbourne. Artesian is the most active early stage venture capital (VC) investor in Australia and offers an end-to-end VC platform for startups at seed, angel and growth stages. In this role, Robert focuses on Artesian's agrifood technology investments. Prior to joining Artesian, Robert most recently worked as a manager within the agricultural investment arm of Macquarie Infrastructure and Real Assets.  

Rob Walsh 

Digital Program Manager, Sunrice 

15 March: 3:45pm RESEARCH SHOWCASE: Enhancing Rice Provenance and Quality Prediction

Rob has been implementing digital solutions for agribusinesses across the NSW Riverina for more than 30 years.   

Ros Harvey 

Founder & Managing Director, The Yield & Food Agility Board Member

16 March: 12:30pm: PANEL: Hunting Unicorns in a burgeoning Australian agtech industry

Ros Harvey is an experienced entrepreneur and executive in the field of technology – particularly machine learning / artificial intelligence and user-centric design. Ros is committed to creating public good through the innovative use of technology, which is reflected throughout her diverse career.  

Ros founded Australian agricultural technology company, The Yield Technology Solutions, in 2014. It is here that she transforms agricultural practices through scalable digital technology, data and insights to solve real challenges for growers, and throughout the food chain.  

Scott McKinnon 

Manager NSW DPI Regional Digital Connectivity Pilots

15 March: 4:15pm PANEL: The Global SMART Farm Network

 

Tim Neale 

Director Agrifood, Data Farming 

16 March: 12:30pm: PANEL: Hunting Unicorns in a burgeoning Australian agtech industry

Tim, who was recently named Rural Consultant of the Year, has over 20 years’ experience across Australia and internationally, 15 of which has been spent running his own business. Tim’s strong ag tech focus has been driven by an evolution from CTF (controlled traffic farming), auto-steer technology, elevation mapping and water planning, yield mapping, variable rate, soil mapping, and satellite imagery. Tim’s current focus is on increasing adoption of digital technology into agriculture through easy to use, low cost and practical solutions.  

Tony Mahar 

CEO, National Farmers Federation 

15 March: 1:15pm PANEL: The rise of sustainability, climate change and carbon markets as supply chain drivers

Tony Mahar comes from a farming background in south western Victoria and has worked in and around agriculture for the majority of his working life. He has experience in working with global food manufacturers, major Australian agribusinesses and the Commonwealth Department of Agriculture. He was appointed NFF CEO in March 2016 after holding the positions of Trade and Economics manager and Deputy CEO. He has tertiary qualification in agricultural commerce from Sydney University and a masters degree in industry policy from ANU.  

                                                                                                                                                                            

© Food Agility CRC Ltd 2020 ABN 18 618 587 607   UTS, Broadway, Ultimo, NSW, 2007, AUSTRALIA


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