Director Elections
Nominated director candidates stand for election to the board at the Annual General Meeting (AGM) to be held on 27 November 2025. 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
The terms of three directors – Ms Kären Moroney, Mr Andrew Maughan and Professor Alan Bell – will expire at the AGM, resulting in three vacancies on the Dairy Australia Board.
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 positions for election at the AGM are for a director with milk producer (farming) skills, a director with finance and risk management skills, and a director with research, development and commercialisation skills.
After a comprehensive selection process, the three candidates recommended by the Board Selection Committee are Ms Kären Moroney, Mr Andrew Maughan, and Dr Steven Jefferies. Further information on these candidates can be found below.
Dairy Australia members will vote for directors at the AGM or in advance by proxy. To be successfully elected to the vacant director roles, each nominee will require a majority of the votes cast.
All dairy farm business operators are eligible to become members of Dairy Australia and vote at the AGM. To learn more about becoming a Dairy Australia member, visit Membership.
For more information about the Dairy Australia AGM, visit Annual General Meeting.
Director candidates
Ms Kären Moroney
Appointed to the Dairy Australia Board in 2023, Kären Moroney is a dairy farmer from the Mitta Valley in North East Victoria. She brings extensive leadership experience, having served as Chair of Murray Dairy, director of AgBiz Assist (a rural financial counselling service), and member of the Mitta Valley Landcare Group. Kären has also contributed to the Goulburn Murray Water Services Committee and the Sustainable Landscapes Advisory Committee for the North East Catchment Management Authority.
Mr Andrew Maughan
Andrew Maughan is Managing Director of corporate advisory and investment firm Somerset Capital, Chair of AgLink Australia, AGnVET Services and Langdon Group. He has previously been Chair of The Pastoral Pork Company and a Director of Gardiner Dairy Foundation, Pork CRC, Beischer Medical Research Foundation and Mt Hotham Alpine Resort.
Dr Steve Jefferies
Steve Jefferies is Chair of Rice Breeding Australia Ltd and non-executive Director of Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority. He is a Member of the Order of Australia and a Fellow of the Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering. He was Managing Director of the Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC), the inaugural CEO of Australian Grain Technologies Pty Ltd, and was a non-executive Director of Grain Producers South Australia, Barley Australia and Birchip Cropping Group.
Board selection process
The board selection process is overseen by the 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 five members – two representatives from each of Dairy Australia’s Group B members (Australian Dairy Farmers and the Australian Dairy Products Federation) to represent the dairy industry, along with a director of Dairy Australia (not standing for re-election) as the chair.
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 farmer 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 100 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 2025.
Should you require further information about this process, please contact Dairy Australia Company Secretary Martin Bede (via email).