Horticulture Innovation Australia’s (Hort Innovation) inaugural annual general meeting (AGM), held in Sydney on Friday (27 November), saw the appointment and re-appointment of four directors.
Stephen Lynch and Richard Hamley were elected to replace two of the industry services body’s founding directors, Ridley Bell and Steve Morrow, while Susan Finger and Mark Napper were successful in having their re-nomination bids approved.
Lynch has spent much of the last 20 years in horticulture, having served as a director with the Almond Board of Australia (ABA) between 2003–2009. He acted as ABA’s chairman for three of these years, and has also sat on the board of the Australian Nut Industry Council.
Hamley is the commercial director–potatoes for Oakville Produce, one of Australia’s largest integrated grower-packer-marketers of brushed and washed potatoes. Prior to joining Oakville, Hamley spent over a decade with the Costa Group in the position of general manager for Costa’s mushroom, tomato, table grape and agribusiness categories.
Over 100 applications were received for the directors’ positions, with a nomination committee witling the field down to seven candidates. Hort Innovation chairman Selwyn Snell said the AGM gave growers the power to shape the future of their industry.
“Today’s meeting gives the horticultural industry the chance for its leaders and influencers to regroup, collaborate and find the solutions necessary to make Hort Innovation successful,” Snell said. “Thank you to all who attended the first Hort Innovation AGM. It is important to show support for your industry, for your levy investment, and for the future of your company.”
Hort Innovation chief executive John Lloyd told ABC Rural that voters registered and eligible to vote at the AGM represented between 30 and 40 per cent of the value of horticulture production in Australia.
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