Food boss for Bega
Former managing director of food processor, Simplot Australia, Terry O’Brien, has joined the board of the recently diversified Bega Cheese business.
Mr O’Brien headed the Simplot business, which includes leading brands such as John West, Edgell, Birds Eye Chiko and Lean Cuisine, between 2001 and 2017.
His career started as an accountant with the textile industry and spans 30 years in the food sector, including considerable experience with acquisitions and divestments.
Mr O’Brian is now a director on several Australian company boards, including chairman of Clean Seas Tuna.
JLL eyes more farmland
Newly emerged rural property valuation services player, JLL, has lured the staff of the CBRE agribusiness valuation team to its ranks.
JLL’s head hunting exercise included Will Curry, who becomes JLL’s national agribusiness valuations head.
JLL’s agribusines unit established in April, following the recruitment of the Colliers rural valuation team in Sydney, and now has a footprint in rural valuations across south eastern Australia.
“We’ll continue to assess further growth opportunities in the provision of rural property services in response to growing client demands said JLL’s advisory and consulting services managing director, John Talbot.
SunRice a choice employer
The SunRice processing mill at Deniliquin in southern NSW has been named the Murray-Riverina “Employer of choice” at the region’s annual business awards.
The award recognises strategies and initiatives implemented by an employer which create a positive impact for employees and the organisation.
Key employee initiatives adopted by the company have included professional development programs; flexible work arrangements, and a health and wellbeing program including physiotherapy support, fresh fruit and flu vaccinations.
The Deniliquin mill is SunRice’s largest mill and one of the largest rice mills in the southern hemisphere, employing 108 staff, or up to 150 people at peak capacity.
It has now been listed for November’s NSW Business Chamber awards.
Farming the tech cloud
Eight agribusinesses have teamed up to be part of a collaborative effort help educate farmers about best practice “cloud-based” technology applications.
Along with facilitating the setup and training of farmers using an integrated ecosystem of apps, The Farming Team will connect farmers with professional service providers who can provide ongoing support for these systems.
It will also offer business advisory, agronomy and agri-banking services.
The Farming Team partners are accounting software business Xero; farm management accounting software firm, Figured; crop production software producer, Agworld; livestock management software producer; AgriWebb; grain trading platform, MarketCheck; crop protection products supplier, TrueCrop; online farm machinery marketplace, Agmarket, and the Commonwealth Bank of Australia.
Figured’s general manager, James Black, said initiative aimed to give farmers access to a range of integrated business apps which they may not otherwise be able to access in their local area.
“Even when farmers are looking for new apps to help them make better business decisions, they do not necessarily know how to begin,” he said.
Contact www.thefarmingteam.com.au
Vic dairy leader training
The Gardiner Dairy Foundation, in partnership with the Victorian Regional Community Leadership Program (VRCLP), has called for applications for the 2018 VRCLP scholarships.
Gardiner funds 10 VRCLP scholarships for dairy farmers and industry stakeholders through Leadership Great South Coast, Gippsland Community Leadership, Loddon Murray Community Leadership, Fairley Leadership and Alpine Valleys Community Leadership.
Chief executive officer of the Gardiner Dairy Foundation, Mary Harney, urged members of the dairy community to apply.
“The scholarship programs offer highly beneficial opportunities to budding leaders,” Ms Harney said.
“Unparalleled training and skill development will be provided through the scholarships, with the aim of enhancing the capabilities of not only the involved parties, but also their businesses and the wider dairy community.”