About this year’s AGM
The Hort Innovation Annual General Meeting (AGM) will be held virtually and in person at 12.00 pm (AEDT) on Friday November 29, 2024 at the Hilton Melbourne Little Queen Street, 18 Little Queen Street, Melbourne VIC 3000.
At this year’s AGM, Hort Innovation members will use their voting entitlements to elect two Directors to the Board, and to change the auditor.
Please note, all are welcome to attend the AGM, but only registered Members will be permitted to ask questions.
Joining the AGM online or via telephone
We recommend logging in to our online platform at least 15 minutes prior to the scheduled start time for the Meeting using the instructions below:
Enter https://meetings.linkgroup.com/HORTAGM24 into a web browser on your computer or online device:
- Voting Members will need their Member Number and Member Postcode Password, printed at the top of the letter sent with their Notice of Meeting; and
- Proxy holders will need their proxy code, which Link Market Services will provide via email no later than 24 hours prior to the Meeting.
More information about online participation in the Meeting is available in the Virtual Meeting Online Guide at https://events.miraqle.com/HortInnovation/AGM24.
To participate via telephone, please dial 1800 497 114 (if you are calling from outside of Australia, dial +61 2 9189 1123). Members participating via telephone will be able to ask questions during the meeting, just as those participating online will. Voting will be conducted during an adjournment of the meeting or as otherwise directed. Please follow the voting instructions provided by the call facilitator. You will require your password, found on the letter sent with this Notice of Meeting, for verification purposes.
RSVP
Please RSVP to advise if you are attending the AGM in person or attending virtually.
Recruitment of new Directors
Four candidates have been shortlisted by Hort Innovation’s Director Nomination Committee, comprised of the Hort Innovation Chair, together with three independent members – a levy payer, a nominee of the Secretary of the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, and an ‘independent eminent person’, in keeping with Hort Innovation’s Constitution.
The Board candidates for 2024 are:
Catherine Oates (re-nominating Director)
I’m a third generation South West WA famer on a multi-generational property producing fine wine and stud sheep. I’m an Agri-Business executive with a global wine production career for the last 20 years. An experienced Non-Executive Director within the Australian agriculture landscape.
My combined agri-business and NED background gives deep and broad experience in supply chain at scale, covering on-farm production to international markets. Direct experience includes, global marketing, innovation adoption, R&D, manufacturing, and sustainability strategy at organisational and sector level. As previous Deputy Chair of Wine Australia, this role demanded a strong governance focus, strategic investment, industry development, and beneficial government relations. Additionally having chaired several industry bodies I have demonstrably achieved effective stakeholder outcomes.
My second directorship term will assist to cement the positive cultural changes that the organisation has experienced under new leadership. Contributing my experience with effective stakeholder engagement to deliver outcomes for the Australian Horticulture sector. I’m excited about developing industry and sector-wide Sustainability strategies and investments to assist the sector to navigate the challenges and maximise the opportunities in the evolving sustainability landscape.
I want to continue to work with the board and executive to develop effective strategy and to make impactful investments that lead to a prosperous and sustainable Australian Horticulture sector.
My lived passion for rural Australia combined with years of solid commercial acumen and proven strategic thinking, will continue to add value to the organisation. I will continue as an informed, engaged, yet independent director.
Dr Robert Mullins (re-nominating Director)
My formative years were on a family farm, seeing first-hand how important practical innovation is to succeed in the face of rising costs, drought, floods, and weak markets. I learnt the value of investing in new products and export markets even in tough times. I saw the benefit of affordable and profitable farm practices to improve soils and sustainability.
Later, I was fortunate to have a local and international career in ag and horticulture businesses, mainly in seeds. This included senior business and technical roles, particularly involving the development and introduction of advanced technologies, and managing portfolios of technical and marketing investments.
I am an experienced director, currently serving Hort Innovation, Future Food Systems, New Edge Microbials, and InterGrain. There are valuable cross-learnings from these boards for Hort Innovation.
Given the opportunity to serve as a director for a second term, my priorities would be to:
- Strengthen R&D impact for grower’s productivity, profitable sustainability, biosecurity, market access and local consumption.
- Build on progress in industry engagement, aligning investments with industry priorities, and maximising the R&D base.
I am optimistic about the future of the industry. My experience equips me well to help Hort Innovation succeed in addressing the industry’s challenges and opportunities.
Cameron Mackay
My career as a horticultural producer has led me to senior industry roles including 12 years on the board of the Australian Banana Growers Council with 2 years as Chairman. I have also completed the Mt Eliza Produce Executive Program and have been a Member of The Australian Institute of Company Directors since 2009.
With my experience as a producer and company director with significant experience in research and all aspects of running a vertically integrated business, I believe that I can provide real value to the Hort Innovation Board.
Our family business was established in the Tully region almost 80 years ago, and I am a 3rd Generation member of the Board. After completing qualifications as an Engineering Tradesperson Mechanical, I joined the family business and after 5 years work in all aspects of the operations, I progressed through a range of management positions. During the last 30 years, I have been an integral contributor to as we have grown from a business farming with 50 employees to a vertically integrated agri-business employing over 500 employees growing Bananas, Papaya, Avocados, Lychees, Passionfruit, Cocoa and Coffee. My role has also been closely involved in our research collaborations in Central American, together with the development of sustainability programs we have committed to as a significant agricultural operation in the Wet Tropics catchment of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park.
I am now a non-Executive Director of Mackays and have the time available to offer my services as a Director of Hort Innovation with the capacity to commit significant time to the demands of the role and with my experience make an ongoing contribution to the broader horticultural industry.
As a Director of Hort Innovation I would seek to assist the industry in building on what has already been achieved and provide clear direction on how the organisation be an active and high profile leader of our industry into the future.
I recognise that the role requires significant time and effort. By voting for me to be a Director of Hort Innovation members can be assured of my full commitment to the continued evolution of the organisation to ensure it holds a position as a leader of Research and Development Corporations.
Sarah Courtney
I am a professional non-executive director and chair, consultant and vineyard owner.
I bring to Hort Innovation diverse experience, with a decade in senior roles in institutional finance in Sydney before relocating to northern Tasmania and establishing a boutique vineyard. I was a Member of Parliament in Tasmania from 2014 to 2022 and served across multiple portfolios, including as Minister for Primary Industries & Water, Minister for Education & Training and as Minister for Health during COVID19.
I have a Bachelor of Chemical Engineering (Hons), a Bachelor of Commerce (Finance), a Master of Wine Technology and Viticulture, and am a Graduate of the AICD. I am currently independent chair of the Tasmanian Forest Products Association, independent chair of East 33 (a listed aquaculture company) and non-executive director of the Australian Wine Research Institute.
I live in a regional area and have a strong understanding of the positive impact horticulture businesses have on the community. I believe collaboration, research and innovation will help underpin Australia’s agricultural industries into the future.
As a director I would offer innovative strategic insight, direct experience across government and the private sector, learnings from other agriculture industries, expertise in stakeholder engagement and strong financial analytical skills.