DairyTas Board
The DairyTas Board encourages the development of a Tasmanian dairy industry that is sustainable, vigorous and dynamic, offering economic and social rewards to dairy farmers and the wider community.
The DairyTas Board of nine directors is made up of:
- Six directors who are dairy farmers
- One industry representative
- One Tasmanian Farmers and Graziers Association (TFGA) representative
- One Tasmanian Institute of Agriculture (TIA) representative
The Board is responsible for achieving the objectives of DairyTas as set out in the Constitution. More specifically, the Board’s responsibilities are:
- Review and approve the strategic direction and financial objectives of DairyTas
- Provide input and approve strategies, budgets, plans and polices and assess performance against strategies
- Review and monitor processes and controls to maintain the integrity of accounting and financial records
- Reporting and approving financial results and reports
- Appoint the Executive Officer, monitor and review his/her performance and oversee succession planning
- Review remuneration paid to the Executive Officer and staff to ensure consistency with responsibilities, performance and market rates
- Ensure risks are assessed and that strategies are in place to manage them
- Ensure there is effective corporate governance structure and monitoring of performance to ensure high standards of compliance, corporate behaviour and social responsibility
- Open and transparent accountability to all stakeholders, particularly regional farmers, state farmer organisations and Dairy Australia
Find out about the DairyTas Staff & Contractors.
Angelique has been farming with her husband Isaac in Forest since 2008, running a 300-head autumn-calving Holstein Friesian herd. She is a qualified veterinarian and has worked in private practice's in the United Kingdom, Circular Head and currently Burnie.
Angelique is involved in her local discussion groups and is also a key driving member of the Prodairy group in Circular Head who are working towards building a positive image in the dairy industry through promotion and education.
Angelique became a board member to give back to the industry that has provided her with many opportunities in both career and lifestyle and to make a positive contribution to the future direction of dairy farming in Tasmania.
Angelique is very passionate about educating the younger generations on the career pathways and financial successes the industry can offer and ensuring that, despite the challenges of farming, dairy farmers have the tools to continue to farm in a sustainable, efficient and profitable way.
Angelique is involved in her local discussion groups and is also a key driving member of the Prodairy group in Circular Head who are working towards building a positive image in the dairy industry through promotion and education.
Angelique became a board member to give back to the industry that has provided her with many opportunities in both career and lifestyle and to make a positive contribution to the future direction of dairy farming in Tasmania.
Angelique is very passionate about educating the younger generations on the career pathways and financial successes the industry can offer and ensuring that, despite the challenges of farming, dairy farmers have the tools to continue to farm in a sustainable, efficient and profitable way.
Kate Gofton
Deputy Chair
Kate joined the Dairy Tas board in October 2020.
Kate and her husband Rodney own and manage Riverdale Dairies near Scottsdale. Their two properties span an area of 600ha, with a herd of 600 milking cows. They currently contract their milk supply to Lactalis Australia, who transport their milk to the Tamar Valley Yogurt factory in Launceston.
Kate is a fully qualified accountant and is a current member of CPA Australia. Kate’s motivation to join the board is to learn more about the Tasmanian Dairy Industry. She has a particular interest in the promotion of safe farm practices and highlighting the successes of dairy industry in general.
Kate and her husband Rodney own and manage Riverdale Dairies near Scottsdale. Their two properties span an area of 600ha, with a herd of 600 milking cows. They currently contract their milk supply to Lactalis Australia, who transport their milk to the Tamar Valley Yogurt factory in Launceston.
Kate is a fully qualified accountant and is a current member of CPA Australia. Kate’s motivation to join the board is to learn more about the Tasmanian Dairy Industry. She has a particular interest in the promotion of safe farm practices and highlighting the successes of dairy industry in general.
David Risbey-Pearn
Director
After completing a national Diploma in Agriculture in the UK, farming across all fields, then travelling the world, David immigrated to Australia to build a career in the dairy industry.
He has sharefarmed in south Gippsland in Victoria and owned and operated a dairy farm on the Atherton Tablelands in far-north Queensland. In addition to this, he has spent 10 years working in various aspects of the stockfeed industry both as a Territory Manager and Ruminant Nutritionist.
In 2014, David and his family moved to Tasmania, he managed the Agrilac Dairy in Waterhouse, north-east Tasmania for 5 years and now sharefarms 850 cows at Rushy Lagoon. He has had a very rewarding career in the dairy industry and joining the DairyTas board will give him the opportunity to draw on that experience and give a little back to this exciting and diverse industry.
He has sharefarmed in south Gippsland in Victoria and owned and operated a dairy farm on the Atherton Tablelands in far-north Queensland. In addition to this, he has spent 10 years working in various aspects of the stockfeed industry both as a Territory Manager and Ruminant Nutritionist.
In 2014, David and his family moved to Tasmania, he managed the Agrilac Dairy in Waterhouse, north-east Tasmania for 5 years and now sharefarms 850 cows at Rushy Lagoon. He has had a very rewarding career in the dairy industry and joining the DairyTas board will give him the opportunity to draw on that experience and give a little back to this exciting and diverse industry.
Richard Duniam
Dairy Farmer
Richard has a lifetime of experience farming in north-west Tasmania, having grown up on the family farm that he and his wife Melissa now operate at Sisters Creek.
After sharefarming for a few years with Melissa, they purchased their first farm in 2004 and have steadily grown the business from there. They currently operate four dairy farms and associated dairy support blocks with a mixed team of sharemilkers and managers. The Duniams have chosen to grow the business with an equity partner with Richard overseeing the operations. Richard is a board member of the two shareholding entities which own the business assets.
Richard is very passionate about the dairy industry and the people within it. He enjoys training and developing people to grow in the dairy industry and sees the younger generation as the farmers of the future. He also feels that despite being quite challenging at times, the industry is vibrant with a strong and profitable future.
After sharefarming for a few years with Melissa, they purchased their first farm in 2004 and have steadily grown the business from there. They currently operate four dairy farms and associated dairy support blocks with a mixed team of sharemilkers and managers. The Duniams have chosen to grow the business with an equity partner with Richard overseeing the operations. Richard is a board member of the two shareholding entities which own the business assets.
Richard is very passionate about the dairy industry and the people within it. He enjoys training and developing people to grow in the dairy industry and sees the younger generation as the farmers of the future. He also feels that despite being quite challenging at times, the industry is vibrant with a strong and profitable future.
Ben Maile
Director
Ben joined the Dairy Tas Board in November 2021, with over 10 years experience in the industry all around the world Ben is now share farming with his partner on a 700 cow spring calving herd in Weegena. Having immigrated from the UK in 2013, Ben saw a strong future in the Tasmanian Dairy Industry and the opportunity to grow strong and sustainable farming operations.
Ben has completed his HND Agriculture and Countryside Management at the University of Brighton and utilised these skills over the years in several different management roles including large cow herds at South Riana, Moltema, and the UK. He has a keen interest in share farming, farm profitability and sustainability and communicating his experiences over the years with more Young Dairy Farmers at discussion groups and YDN events.
Brodie Hill
Director
Brodie joined the Dairy Tas Board in November 2021 and is a 5th generational dairy farmer. Having a clear understanding of what it means to work, live, and experience the day-to-day life of a young Tasmanian dairy farmer. He has an extensive understanding of Agribusiness, from previous experience and study, including a Bachelor of Agricultural Science – Graduating with First Class Honors.
Brodie brings to the board a plethora of practical and theoretical knowledge around the Dairy Industry and is eager to ensure that the Tasmanian Dairy Industry remains a career industry of choice for young people wishing to pursue a future in agriculture.
Josh Taylor
Industry representative
Josh joined the DairyTas board in November 2017. Josh operates from the north-west coast as a contract Chief Financial Officer (CFO), with 20 years’ experience as a Certified Practicing Accountant, both in Australia and internationally. Josh is a director of Circular Head Farms, a community-based managed investment scheme which owns and operates five dairy farms in Circular Head, along with significant support land holdings.
Josh is Company Secretary for The Van Diemen’s Land Company and was the CFO while the Company operated Australia’s largest dairy farming business until March 2016. Josh also has CFO experience ranging from transport and logistics with Spirit of Tasmania and aquaculture with Petuna Aquaculture.
Josh was formerly the accountant for National Foods (now Lion Drinks and Dairy) across the state’s cheese manufacturing plants and has also worked with Saputo Dairy Australia. Josh’s exposure to the dairy industry has been lifelong, with extended family operating dairy farms both in Tasmania and Victoria.
Josh is Company Secretary for The Van Diemen’s Land Company and was the CFO while the Company operated Australia’s largest dairy farming business until March 2016. Josh also has CFO experience ranging from transport and logistics with Spirit of Tasmania and aquaculture with Petuna Aquaculture.
Josh was formerly the accountant for National Foods (now Lion Drinks and Dairy) across the state’s cheese manufacturing plants and has also worked with Saputo Dairy Australia. Josh’s exposure to the dairy industry has been lifelong, with extended family operating dairy farms both in Tasmania and Victoria.
James Hills
TIA representative
Dr James Hills is a Senior Research Fellow and the Livestock Production Centre Leader at the Tasmanian Institute of Agriculture. He currently leads a team of researchers focusing on research in the areas of feedbase, animal nutrition and precision agriculture and new technologies relevant to temperate pasture-based dairy systems.
He has a particular interest in variability in farming systems and the use of technology for measuring and managing this variability to improve the efficiency and sustainability of production.
He has a particular interest in variability in farming systems and the use of technology for measuring and managing this variability to improve the efficiency and sustainability of production.