Richard (Dick) Thompson
Ph 02 6968 5207
Mob 0458 999 070
Dick operates an irrigation farm with his wife Jan at Griffith and has been Chairman of Murrumbidgee Irrigation Limited since the company was formed in 1999, a position he will retire from in November 2009. He also chaired the former state-owned corporation and became a member of the former Advisory Committee/Board in 1989.
Currently Dick is a member of the Murray Darling Basin Community Committee, Murrumbidgee Catchment Management Authority and the NSW State Water Customer Service Committee. He brings a wealth of experience, having previously been a member of the Murray-Darling Basin Water Purchase Stakeholder Consultative Committee, Murray Darling Basin Commission Community Reference Group, Treasurer and Director of the NSW Irrigators Council, Central Executive Member Rice Growers Association and Chair of the Economic Committee.
Prior to farming Dick worked as an Accountant and then a Regional Manager for a road construction and sealing company. Dick is a member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and has completed various Company Directors Training courses.
To Southern Agventure Dick brings leadership, passion and drive whilst maintaining the focus on community and farm sustainability and profitability. The Southern Agventure steering committee welcomes Dick as chairman of the board and acknowledges his skills and passion will provide good leadership and corporate governance.
Andrew Bouffler
Ph 02 6920 7656
Mob 0427 207 656
Andrew is a non-executive Director of the Company. He has over 25 years experience as an owner/manager of a mixed farming enterprise in Southern NSW and understands the opportunities and threats faced by farmers in his region.
As the stud principle of the Trigger Vale Bond Merino and White Suffolk studs he has a vast knowledge of the Australian sheep industry and has actively participated in R & D and extension via advisory roles for Sheep Genetics and the Sheep CRC. Andrew holds a Bachelor of Agricultural Economics from the University of New England. He is married with 3 children and is involved with many local organisations and clubs.
To Southern Agventure, he brings an intimate knowledge of local issues, a commitment to see rural communities prosper and the ability to communicate across sectors. Andrew completed an Australian Nuffield Scholarship in 2007 and has recently been selected to participate in the Duchy College "Challenge of Rural Leadership" course in Devon UK during November 2009.
The steering committee acknowledges and thanks Andrew Bouffler for his leadership, direction and enthusiasm as Chairman of the Steering Committee and views the appointment of Dick Thompson as Chairman of Southern Agventure as beneficial for the growth and expansion of SAV. As SAV builds on the interest created by the launch of its concept it recognises the need for a broader skills base whilst building on the foundation and enthusiasm that has bought this concept to reality.
Brent Alexander
Ph 02 6920 6215
Mob 0427 206 215
Brent is a fourth generation farmer, who is currently running a mixed farming operation with his wife Simone and father Walter in the Lockhart area. He brings with him considerable entrepreneurial skills having set up and operated a sheep preg testing service and also a fertiliser spreading service in the area.
Brent has been an active member of various agricultural organisations over the years holding positions on the Prime Wheat Associations Committee of Advice, the Wheat Research Foundation and the local Ag Bureau. He was also a foundation director on the local research organisation Farmlink and their initial treasurer.
Brent was instrumental in establishing the committee to look into the viability of Biodiesel production in the district and has followed this through to see the establishment of Southern Agventure. He now holds the position of committee secretary.
Over the years he has had the opportunity to further his knowledge of agriculture by travelling on a Nuffield scholarship in 2004 and also gaining an Associate Diploma in Agriculture (Charles Sturt University)
David Hodge
Ph 02 6925 8377
Mob 0412 570 855
David is 45 and is a Certified Practising Accountant with over 20 years experience in Public and Commercial Accounting. He is a Partner with HMA Twomey Patterson, a Chartered Accounting practice with 5 offices in South Eastern NSW and is also a designated CPA Financial Planning Specialist, having advised clients on investment, superannuation and related matters for the last 10 years.
David holds other business interests in Manufacturing and Supermarket businesses and has a great deal of experience with start-up ventures, including obtaining Research and Development and other forms of government assistance for these. He has a great affinity with the land, having grown up on the family farm at Marrar and has many rural businesses as clients, so understands the challenges and opportunities that farming today provides.
He is a member of Wollundry Rotary Club in Wagga Wagga and likes to get involved with community organisations wherever he can, including the usual school and sporting club commitments that go hand in hand with 2 school age children.
Richard Carn
Ph 02 6920 6254
Mob 0427 206 254
Richard is a non executive Director of the Company. Richard is a Grain grower and sheep producer at The Rock. Member of Southern Agventure Steering Committee since December 2008. Member of Company Structure and Corporate Governance Sub-committee and Joint Venture Sub-committee.
Richard has worked in a range of agricultural industries including wool processing, irrigated cotton production and irrigation development prior to returning to the family farm. He is past President, Secretary and current committee member of the Lockhart Ag Bureau.
Richard has a strong commitment to addressing current challenges facing local producers with practical and commercial solutions such as Southern Agventure. He is married to Sally and they have 3 young children.
Bill Thompson
Ph 02 6927 3106
Mob 0427 273 106
Bill is 51 and was admitted as a solicitor in 1983 after working at his Junee Office from 1979 - 1983. In 1984 Bill worked with the North West Queensland Aboriginal legal service at Mt Isa prior to returning to Coolamon to become a partner of Commins Hendriks Solicitors who have offices in Henty, Coolamon, Ganmain, Junee and Wagga Wagga. Bill specialises in rural legal issues including Estate Planning, Wills, Small Business, Farming and related matters. Bill is one of the 7 partners of Commins Hendriks.
Bill is a frustrated journalist who contributes articles to local and national media. Bill is a member of the New South Wales Law Society Rural Issues Committee and has been actively involved in lobbying state and federal government for changes to the law that benefit rural people.
Bill is the chairperson of the North East Riverina Rural Counselling Service, honorary solicitor for various community sporting and cultural organisations throughout the Riverina. Bill lives in Coolamon is married to Gabrielle and they have three sons Alex 21, Jack 19 and Charlie 13.
Nick Taylor
Ph 02 6036 6174
Mob 0439 394 490
Nick is 40 and has a Bachelor of Agricultural Economics and a working knowledge of global agricultural commodity markets having focused throughout his early career on commodity trading roles in a variety of organisations, including the large, multi-national Japanese trading house, Sumitomo.
Nick brings with him global understanding, having worked in the US and extensively with the Japanese, experience which ensures a greater appreciation of the global issues impacting our local markets as well as the challenges facing our major competitors.
Following a career in commodities trading in Melbourne, Nick returned to the family farm in 2002. A fourth generation farmer, he now runs the mixed farming operation of sheep, cattle and cropping just outside Holbrook in south eastern NSW.
Nick remains actively involved in the grains industry and currently is the NSW Farmers Association representative on the commerce committee with Grain Trade Australia. He is married with 2 young children and when time allows can be found on the ski slopes .