SHEEP Producers Australia will need to elect a new president after current office-holder Allan Piggott was not among the two candidates recommended for election at the 2018 annual general meeting.

The SPA independent board selection process has recommended agribusiness lecturer Dr Elizabeth Jackson and retiring director NSW farmer Ian McColl as the board candidates for election to two vacant positions, at next week’s SPA AGM in Canberra.

New process selects required skill mix

SPA president Allan Piggott had indicated his intention to seek re-election; however, his candidacy was considered along with those of other state farming organisation nominees, by the independent selection committee. Under the new SPA constitution, no other board candidates are considered for election other than those recommended by the committee.

SPA president Allan Piggott

The new SPA president will be elected by the new board at its first meeting after the AGM. SPA board chair Chris Mirams said the selection committee independently assessed candidates endorsed by SFOs 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.

“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,” Mr Mirams said.

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

Dr Jackson’s honours degree led to agribusiness positions

Dr Elizabeth Jackson

Dr Jackson followed her first-class honours degree in Agribusiness Marketing and a Master of Business Administration with management positions at the CBH Group and other Western Australian agribusinesses. In 2008, Dr Jackson 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 program director of the BSc Agribusiness Management degree and published on food marketing, supply chain management and maritime economics. In 2014, she moved to the University of London’s Royal Veterinary College where she became a senior lecturer in business management and published papers on agribusiness and food supply chains. She was the course director for the college’s professional doctorate degrees in agribusiness and veterinary practice. Dr Jackson 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.

Current SPA director has wide farming system knowledge

Ian McColl owns and manages a mixed farming enterprise at Koorawatha, NSW, producing up to 2000 lambs and 100 steers annually. In 2017, he entered a joint venture lot-feeding lambs. He is currently 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. Mr McColl’s experience as a past president of Sheepmeat Council of Australia, Red Meat Advisory Council director, National Farmers Federation member and Safemeat Partner, affords him diverse knowledge of the systems in which SPA operates, SPA said.

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