Dairy Australia Leadership Team

Matt grew up on a farm in Western Pennsylvania where his first paying job was milking cows. He went on to attend Penn State and Cambridge Universities before joining Hancock Agricultural Investment Group as Director of International Operations. While working for Hancock, he moved to Australia to open a subsidiary and has been here ever since. Before joining Dairy Australia, Matt was the CEO of DataGene.  

Appointed 2025 

BA (IntRel), MPhil (IntRel), PhD (IntRel) 

Pina is an experienced leader with a career spanning more than 20 years across the food supply chain, including senior strategy and transformation roles. Her background covers retail, processing and the dairy sector, providing a strong end-to-end perspective. Pina is known for her strategic and transformational approach to solving complex challenges and delivering value in dynamic operating environments.   

Commenced 2023, appointed COO 2026 

BBus, Executive MBA (Melbourne Business School) 

Michelle leads the Farm Delivery team and brings a lifelong connection to the dairy industry, having grown up on her family’s farm in Canada. During her 18 years with DataGene, Michelle led the development and delivery of genetic evaluation services and extension programs for the Australian dairy industry. She champions farmer-led research and is a passionate advocate for industry success through applied research, development and extension. Michelle also co-owns a dairy farm business in Gippsland. 

Appointed 2026 

BSc (Agr), MSc, PhD, Grad Dip VET, GAICD 

Byron leads the Research & Innovation team, bringing over two decades of expertise in research, innovation, and industry development. He has held senior roles at Muirs and Natural Solutions Australia, leading product development and sustainability initiatives, and spent more than a decade at Hort Innovation, managing large R&D portfolios and driving industry outcomes. Byron is passionate about advancing sustainable growth and has a strong reputation for collaborative leadership and connecting stakeholders to deliver practical solutions. 

Appointed 2026 

BAppSc (Environmental Horticulture), Produce Executive Program (Melbourne Business School) 

With more than 27 years of senior executive experience across Australia, India and the United Arab Emirates, Firoz brings extensive financial expertise spanning not-for-profit, food manufacturing, industrial printing solutions, automotive and auditing sectors. As Chief Financial Officer, Firoz plays a pivotal role in enhancing financial stewardship, improving operational efficiency, strengthening governance, and supporting the delivery of Dairy Australia’s strategic objectives. 

Appointed 2023 

Qualified CPA (Australia), Qualified Chartered Accountant (India) 

Imogen is a human resources professional with over 15 years’ experience across diverse industries, including engineering, consulting, media, technology and property development. She leads the People & Culture team and brings specialist experience in employee relations, human resources technology and analytics and has a keen interest in talent management, including organisational development. 

Appointed 2018 

BAppSc (Psychology), MCom (HR), GAICD 

Susannah leads the Sustainable Dairy team, focusing on national and international initiatives connecting sustainability frameworks, trade policy and regulatory strategy to drive industry-wide transformation. She is an experienced executive leader in agricultural sustainability, policy and regulatory affairs, with over 25 years spanning industry and government. Susannah has an extensive background in R&D investment strategy, evidence-based policy development and government relations and has represented the Australian dairy sector in cross-commodity and international forums.  

Commenced 2016, appointed General Manager 2025 

BA, GDip Sc, MSc 

Glenys Zucco brings more than 18 years’ experience in the dairy industry and leads marketing and communications strategy to strengthen the reputation of Australian dairy, grow demand, and connect farmers and stakeholders with programs and services that deliver value on farm.   

She has led major national initiatives including Dairy Matters, Legendairy and the Australian Grand Dairy Awards. Raised on a dairy farm in Katunga, Victoria, she brings a strong personal connection to the industry and is a trusted media spokesperson. 

Commenced 2007, appointed to the Leadership Team 2026 

BA (Nutrition & Dietetics), BSc (Health Promotion)