Director Elections
Nominated director candidates stand for election to the board at the Annual General Meeting (AGM) to be held in November 2026. The comprehensive search and selection process of Dairy Australia Directors ensures the board comprises a diverse set of skills, experience and personal attributes.
Upcoming election
In accordance with its Constitution, the Board is required to have an appropriate balance of skills and experience that relate to the nature of the business and affairs of Dairy Australia, with at least four directors having milk producer skills.
The Dairy Australia Board is seeking three directors to fill upcoming vacancies. An election for the vacant positions is held at the AGM:
- Director with milk producer skills (farmer director).
- Director with agribusiness, innovation and adoption skills.
- Director with dairy supply chain and product promotion skills.
The three current directors whose terms expire at the 2026 AGM are Paul Bennett, Paul Roderick and Paul van Heerwaarden. Paul Bennett and Paul Roderick will seek re-election while Paul van Heerwaarden will be stepping down from the Dairy Australia Board.
The Dairy Australia Board invites those with an interest in advancing the dairy industry to consider applying to become a director. Details on how to apply are provided below.
Farmer director – how to apply
To prepare and submit a farmer director application to the board selection process:
- Review the applicant information pack available below, which outlines the expected capabilities and experience of a farmer director.
- Draft your resume, cover letter and responses to the capability and experience questions.
- Submit your application via our online application form available below. Please note you will need to create an account to apply.
Applications close on Friday 5 June at 5pm.
Industry and professional skills director – how to apply
To apply for an industry and professional skills director role, please refer to the advertisement on the Rimfire Resources website or contact Mick Hay (via email) for further information.
Board selection process
The board selection process is overseen by an independently-chaired Board Selection Committee (BSC). The committee’s role is to identify and nominate candidates to ensure the board collectively possesses an appropriate balance of skills and experience in relation to the business and strategy of Dairy Australia. This approach ensures candidates are rigorously assessed against the skills needed for a director position following an open and transparent application process.
The BSC is a standing committee appointed for a 12-month period that comprises an independent Chair plus up to a maximum of six members – one Dairy Australia Director, two appointees from each Group B member, and one or more independent members with expertise in research and development, milk production, finance and risk management, agribusiness or governance. The BSC must have at least two members with milk producer skills.
The Chair of the Selection Committee is an eminent person from the agricultural industry, who is not a current or former farmer director or employee of Dairy Australia, and is to be appointed by the board only after consultation with Group B members.
After assessing the applications received and interviewing candidates, the BSC recommends one candidate per director vacancy for endorsement by the board. Candidates then stand for election at the Annual General Meeting as Dairy Australia Board nominees.
A Pre-Selection Committee (PSC) assists with selection of milk producer candidates. The PSC comprises three members appointed by Australian Dairy Farmers (ADF) who will provide a short list of milk producer candidates to the BSC for consideration.
Candidates who wish to nominate separately to the board selection process can submit their nomination in writing to the Dairy Australia Company Secretary Martin Bede (via email). The nomination must be supported by signatures from at least 50 Dairy Australia Group A members. The signatures must be accompanied by the full name, business name, and address of each signatory. Completed nominations must be received by 31 August 2026.
Should you require further information about this process, please contact Dairy Australia Company Secretary Martin Bede (via email).
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