Board candidates announced ahead of SPA AGM

16 November 2018

The Sheep Producers Australia independent board selection process has identified two board candidates for election at next week’s Annual General Meeting in Canberra.

The candidates recommended by the selection committee for the two vacant positions are Dr Elizabeth Jackson and Mr Ian McColl.

SPA Board Chair Chris Mirams said the selection committee independently assessed candidates endorsed by state farming organisations against set selection criteria to determine an appropriate balance of skills and competencies to enable the board to effectively carry out its role.

“The Selection Committee advises that both candidates were selected for the skills, experience, knowledge and networks they would bring to the organisation during their three-year term,” Mr Mirams said.

“SPA is governed by a skills-based board and so getting the right skill mix for robust policy decision-making is important for the industry and for the organisation’s capacity to effectively advocate at a national level on behalf of producers.

“SPA is focused on working closely with our members, service providers and industry, as we prepare for the opportunities and challenges that lie ahead.”

Biographies of the board candidates are:

Dr Elizabeth Jackson

With a first-class Honours degree in Agribusiness Marketing and a Master of Business Administration, Elizabeth has held various management position at the CBH Group and in other Western Australian agribusinesses. In 2008, Elizabeth completed an ARC-Linkage PhD studentship to study for the WA wool industry. She then worked at Newcastle University (UK) where she was the Degree Programme Director of the BSc Agribusiness Management degree and published on food marketing, supply chain management and maritime economics. In 2014, Elizabeth moved to the University of London’s Royal Veterinary College where she became a Senior Lecturer in Business Management and published on agribusiness and food supply chains. She was the Course Director for the College’s Professional Doctorate degrees in agribusiness and veterinary practice. Elizabeth is now a Senior Lecturer within Curtin Business School where her teaching relates to supply chain management, procurement and distribution and she continues to investigate agri-food systems.

Mr Ian McColl

Ian owns and manages a mixed farming enterprise at Koorawatha, NSW, producing up to 2000 lambs and 100 steers. In 2017, he entered a joint venture feedlotting lambs. Ian is currently a Director of Sheep Producers Australia Ltd (SPA), Chair of the SPA Sheep Health and Welfare Committee, Chair of the SPA Lamb Survivability Project, a member of the NSW Farmers Executive Council, Chair of the NSW Farmers Biosecurity Committee, Member of the NSW Farmers Sheepmeat Committee and Member of Farmers for Climate Action. Ian’s experience as a past President of Sheepmeat Council of Australia, Board Director of the Red Meat Advisory Council, Member of the National Farmers Federation and a Partner of Safemeat, affords him diverse knowledge of the systems in which SPA operates.

The SPA Board Meeting will be held on Tuesday 20 November at 4pm AEDST at Level 3, NFF House, 14-16 Brisbane Ave, Barton, Canberra.