National Policy Group

Renée Anderson is a grain and cotton producer in the Central Highlands, Central Queensland. Her expertise encompasses farming systems research, agronomy, and industry education and advocacy.

Renée is committed to sustainable farming practices, and is a Nuffield Scholar whose research focused on social licence, evidence based best management practices, environmental stewardship and science communication.

Renée is passionate about upskilling and training the agricultural workforce, and previously served as Project Manager for the Rural Jobs and Skills Alliance and Regional Manager for Cotton Australia and UQ Agrifoods Innovation Alliance.

Renée also serves on the Nuffield Australia QLD committee, and the Australian Cotton Industry sustainability reference panel. Additionally, she actively volunteers in her community with the Central Highlands Health board and with a role on the community health education and engagement committee and promotes agriculture in schools and universities with a position on the Central QLD Regional School Industry Partnership program to ensure a sustainable future for the industry.

Tom is a fourth-generation grower involved in mixed farming. He is passionate about his involvement in the Agricultural industry, and is excited about its future.

Raised on his family farm, Tom understands the nuance of rural life and the importance of translating his views into public policy through his involvement in its development for the benefit of all growers. Among other issues, Tom is passionate about connectivity across Australia’s rural landscape and wants to ensure growers have access to the technology they need.

Tom is also a graduate of GrainGrowers’ Australian Grain Leaders Program (AGLP 2022).

Renee is a grain grower from Narembeen in WA’s Wheatbelt where she owns and runs a 4000ha mixed cropping and livestock enterprise. Together with her husband, Renee grows wheat, barley and oats with a legume rotation. Renee is motivated to drive change that builds long-term profitability for growers; creating sustainable businesses and thriving regional communities.

Renee holds a strong network within the grain industry and across the western region, having previously served on CBH’s Grower Advisory Council and GIWA’s Careers in Grain council.

Renee is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (GAICD) and a Fellow of the Australian Rural Leadership Foundation (FARLF).

Tom is a mixed farmer, growing lentils, canola, wheat, barley, and managing self-replacing Merino sheep.

Tom is a part of GrainGrowers’ Grains100 cohort and is an elected representative for Wakefield Regional Council’s northern ward. Tom is involved in environmental initiatives with Northern Sustainable Soils, holds an executive role at Blyth Snowtown Football Club, and chairs the Snowtown Combined Courts.

Building on a 150-year legacy at Barunga Gap, Tom is pioneering a new farm business aimed at fostering a prosperous future for his community and industry.

Amity has helped build a more resilient farm business in the southern Wimmera. Following succession, they started again with half the machinery and half the land of the original farm. What they did have was a mindset for change, confidence in the industry, and a passion for growing quality crops.

As a representative of the Southern Region on the National Policy Group, Amity has contributed to discussions on key issues including transport, competition, social licence, farm safety, innovation gaps, and labour. She has worked to ensure that challenges such as increased taxation, the loss of AgVic staff, mining developments, and transmission line proposals—and the resulting stress on Victorian and Wimmera farmers—are recognised at the national level. People are at the heart of agriculture, and Amity says we must look after everyone involved.

She balances farming, community, and family through active participation in the local football club and by playing tennis to keep the team in the league. She also supervises a PhD candidate researching farmers’ mental health. She advocates for diverse perspectives and believes that well-informed policy—shaped by both local and international insights—creates the foundation for compromise and better outcomes. She brings a collaborative, honest, and practical mindset to continue representing grower interests on the NPG.

Bruce is the Managing Director of my family’s cropping operation in Parkes NSW, producing summer and winter crops. He holds a Bachelor of Agricultural Economics, is a Nuffield Scholar, and a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

He has served eight years on the GRDC Northern Panel and currently sits on the Wheat Subcommittee of Grains Australia. Bruce is passionate about farming systems research, grain supply chains and markets, and increasing profitability to create opportunities for regional communities and future generations.

Bruce believes agriculture must be part of Australia’s transition to net zero. Sustainable Aviation Fuel presents a unique opportunity to value-add grain, improve fuel security, and reduce emissions.

He has consistently advocated for growers in previous industry roles, including leading a review of National Variety Trial sites to improve access to relevant decision-making data, and aims to continue that advocacy through the National Policy Group.

Emelia and her husband have been broadacre dryland cropping near Rupanyup in the Wimmera for 25 years. Emelia grew up on an irrigated cropping farm in northern Victoria and holds a degree in Agricultural Science from the University of Melbourne. Alongside farming, she has worked in the fertiliser industry, natural resource management, and with the Murray-Darling Basin Authority (MDBA) Community Committee, providing community input on water, environmental, cultural and socioeconomic issues.

Emelia is passionate about sustainability and climate resilience, and would like to see GrainGrowers continue its efforts in this space to ensure research and policy align grain production with environmental responsibility and global competitiveness.

Through her involvement with the MDBA, Emelia has had the opportunity to represent the interests of regional communities affected by water policy decisions and provide advice around Basin Plan issues. This experience has demonstrated the value of collaborative problem solving, respectful advocacy and evidence-based dialogue to achieve balanced outcomes, and she wishes to bring those principles to the National Policy Group.

Jack is part of the fifth generation on his family’s merino sheep and cereal cropping property in Narrandera NSW. He holds a Bachelor of Laws and work as a Solicitor at Farrell Goode, a rural-based firm focused on commercial law and farm transition planning. He also serves as Chair of Narrandera District Investments Ltd, which operates the local Bendigo Bank branch.

As an alumnus of GrainGrowers’ 2024 Australian Grain Leaders Program, Jack explored the challenges of farm succession and small-town population decline. He is passionate about rural Australia and committed to supporting its future.

He has led community initiatives with the Bank that deliver real impact, from cyber awareness and mental health support and physical health checkups for farmers locally to housing for local doctors and seniors. He wishes to continue to advocate for rural communities and the grains industry through the National Policy Group.

Martin has been farming and growing grain in the Junee district for over 40 years, initially as part of a family company, and since 1995 with his wife Megan on their own property. They grow a mix of crops including canola, wheat, barley, lupins, field peas and oats, alongside livestock. 

Connectivity, both digital as well as distance from major centres, is becoming one of the most pressing challenges they face, alongside freight, input costs, and biosecurity.

Martin brings experience, a healthy dose of scepticism, and a genuine interest in the full lifecycle of grain, from seed to end product. He has contributed to policy debates and Research and Development discussions, and is keen to continue representing growers with practical insight and a long-term view. 

He brings practical insight, shaped by years of experience and a genuine interest in the full lifecycle of grain, from seed to end product. During his time in the NPG, Martin has contributed to policy and Research and Development discussions, and is keen to keep adding a grounded, grower-focused voice to industry conversations.