Grains Australia has appointed 11 industry representatives to its newly established Pulse Council.
Council members have been appointed for a period of two years and include people from across the Australian pulse industry value chain from production to end-users.
Members of the new Grains Australia Pulse Council are:
- William Alexander brings pulse trading experience across lentils, faba beans, chickpeas, lupins and broad beans.
- Julia Hausler is a Victorian grower with experience growing field peas, faba beans, chickpeas, lentils and vetch hay, and brings experience in the sale and marketing of pulses.
- Kathi Hertel is a technical specialist in pulses with extensive experience in research, development and extension.
- Sam Holmes brings extensive agronomy experience, including in the production of pulses throughout the Yorke Peninsula region of South Australia.
- Julie O’Dea is a quality expert with experience in pulse classification, storage, receival and export.
- Kathy La Macchia brings extensive nutrition and food industry experience and is the General Manager of the Grains & Legumes Nutrition Council.
- Joseph Panuccio brings pulse trading experience across lentils, chickpeas and faba beans.
- Mark Schilling is a South Australian grower with experience across lentils, mungbeans, faba beans, field peas and chickpeas and brings experience in exporting lentils to South Asia.
- Janine Sounness brings experience in pulse research and development including breeding, across faba beans, lentils, chickpeas, lupins and field peas.
- Anne Wilkins is a Western Australian grower of lupins, has worked in grains industry development, and is a consultant and former agronomist with experience including mung beans, faba beans and chickpeas.
- Peter Wilson brings extensive experience in pulse trading, exports, market access and classification including for lentils, chickpeas, faba beans, lupins, broadens and peas.
Appointments to the Pulse Council were made following an expression of interest (EOI) process.
Grains Australia Chair Terry Enright thanked everyone who provided an EOI to participate in the Pulse Council. “There was a very strong response from industry participants with a lot of expertise on offer.
“The immediate focus of the Pulse Council will be continuing and guiding the work that is underway on new pulse classification systems that bring together the requirements of our key customers and markets with what Australian growers can deliver. We look forward to working closely with the members in the coming months,” said Mr Enright.
The role of the Pulse Council is to provide strategic advice to the Grains Australia Board on pulse industry matters including priorities and activities, strategic classification requirements, trade and market access issues relevant to specific pulse classes, and market information and education requirements.
-Grains Australia
