Executive Director Geoff Bloom, Chairman Wayne Cornish, Deputy Chairman, Don Hayes, Director Ailsa Fox and Treasurer Ralph Leutton.

Wayne Cornish returns to Board of AgriFood Skills Australia

RSA Directors Don Hayes and Ralph Leutton were re-elected to the respective positions as Deputy Chairman and Treasurer for another two years, during the Eighteenth Annual General Meeting of Rural Skills Australia on 19 November 2012. They will return to the Executive Committee.

Mr Cornish will continue serving as Chairman for another year, having been re-elected last year for a two-year term. Other committee members include Matt Linnegar, Ailsa Fox and Andrew Wilsmore.

Mr Cornish has been selected for a position on the Board of Agrifood Skills Australia following an absence of several years. Mr Cornish will join RSA's Deputy Chairman Don Hayes of the Australian Workers Union, who has served on the Board of AgriFood Skills Australia for many years.

Left to right - Deputy Chairman Don Hayes, Treasurer Ralph Leutton and Directors Ailsa Fox, Matt Linnegar and Andrew Wilsmore.

Chairman

Wayne Cornish is a farmer, former Chairman of ChemCert Australia and a former Vice President of the National Farmers' Federation. He is a former Chairman of the NFF's Farm Chemicals Sub-committee and DrumMUSTER. Wayne was the President of the South Australian Farmers' Federation for six years and has been heavily involved in natural resource management, education and training, and local government. He has broad expertise in primary production. He is a Member of the Advisory Board of the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority.

Deputy Chairman

Don Hayes is Deputy Chairman of Rural Skills Australia. He is Secretary of the Australian Workers Union and a Director of AgriFood Skills Australia.

Treasurer

Ralph Leutton is a former Member of the National Quality Council and a former Director of AgriFood Skills Australia. Ralph has had a lengthy career in the rural industry. He was Program Manager, Policy and Legislation for Cotton Australia and before that the Chief Executive Officer of the Queensland Dairyfarmers Organisation for seven and a half years. He holds a Master’s Degree in Immuno-Parasitology and has held positions in research in university and government departments. He has been a Senior Lecturer in International Marketing Skills and a successful event organiser with credits including Expo 88, Beef 88 and Beef 91.

Director

Matt Linnegar was appointed as the Chief Executive Officer of the National Farmers’ Federation in March 2011. He has 17 years in agricultural representation - including diverse leadership, management and marketing roles in irrigation, rice, and meat and livestock industries. He was General Manager, Corporate and Customer Operations at Murrumbidgee Irrigation Limited. Prior to this he was Executive Director, Ricegrowers’ Association of Australia.

Director

Ailsa Fox has a family farming business producing beef, lamb and wool. She is a past Junior Vice President of the Victorian Farmers Federation. Ailsa was the President of the Livestock Commodity Group for four consecutive years as well as a Director of the Goulburn Broken Catchment Authority for nine years. She was formerly a Councillor for the Shire of Mansfield, a Commissioner of the Shire of Murrindindi and a delegate to Cattle Council of Australia.

Director

Andrew Wilsmore joined the Winemakers’ Federation of Australia in April 2009 to take up the key role of General Manager, Policy & Government Relations. He is principally responsible for managing the vital link between wine sector policy positions and the Australian Government policy and regulatory environment. He holds specific responsibilities in the areas of wine taxation, health and social responsibility and has responsibility for managing the direct affairs of the WFA Medium Committee and the National Wine Foundation.

Executive Director

Geoff Bloom was instrumental in forming the Rural Industry Training Association Inc. in 1995 (Rural Skills Australia).  Before this Mr Bloom had extensive experience in the Australian Public Service, including several years in the industry training area of the former Department of Employment, Education and Training. During this time he was actively involved with various industry training advisory boards (ITABs), skills centres and industry groups.

Geoff is a member of the Rural and Related Industries Standing Committee and the Racing Industry Standing Committee of Agrifood Skills Australia. He is a Director of the Canberra Racing Club and a Director of the Australian Racing Board.