Export Fodder

Export Fodder Advisory Panel

James Kellaway (Chair)

Oz Group Co-Op

James has worked across Australia’s agricultural sector for over 35 years, within the sheep, beef, poultry, fruit and vegetable industries. His experience spans export market access and development, strategic management, research, development and extension (RD&E), government relations and marketing. James has a rural and farming background, growing up in Dorrigo, NSW, and a keen interest in fodder production. He holds a Bachelor of Applied Science (Agriculture) and a MBA, and is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (AICD) and the Governance Institute of Australia. As Chair of the Export Fodder Advisory Panel James hopes to lean on his experience and contribute to advancing productivity in the Export Fodder industry, maximising return on investment for levy payers and creating growth locally for healthy rural communities.

Mick Faulkner

Agrilink Agriculture Consultants

Mick is principal consultant agronomist at Agrilink Agricultural Consultants, based in South Australia’s Mid North. He has been involved in the export fodder industry for 30 years, providing advice to both growers and the processing and marketing entities to meet market demand, consistency of supply and product quality. Prior to the establishment of Agrilink, Mick worked in nutrition research and has maintained strong focus on research and adoption techniques throughout his career.

Ben Adams

Gilmac Pty Ltd

Ben is a qualified farm manager from Dublin, Ireland with international farming experience across Australia, Saudi Arabia, Ukraine, Crimea, and Ireland in both dairy and broad acre farming operations. He joined Gilmac initially in 2004 as the site manager of the New Norcia site in WA, responsible for managing hay export facility operations, feed mill operation and overseeing the development of a new site and the commissioning of a new hay plant. Ben’s career progression now sees him managing the operations of Gilmac’s six export hay facilities in three states and the pellet mill manufacturing facility in Western Australia.

Marcus Crawford

Balco Australia Pty Ltd

Marcus grew up on a mixed farming property in the Mid North of South Australia. He has had a strong involvement in the export fodder industry for many years, initially as a grower and then in the research side of the industry, having been a part of the SARDI National Oat Breeding program. Marcus is currently the Group Procurement Manager for Balco Australia Pty Ltd and oversees the purchase of hay in three states across Australia.

Weili (Lily) Zhao

Lithgow Enterprises

Lily brings more than a decade of experience in the Australian export fodder industry, having joined the sector in 2011. Raised on a farm in North China, she is based South Australia and serves as General Manager and shareholder of Lithgow Enterprises. In this role, she leads farmer engagement and hay procurement and manages key customer relationships across major Asian markets. Lily holds an MBA from the University of South Australia and is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. She is deeply committed to the agricultural sector and to supporting farmers in Australia and overseas to achieve sustainable outcomes and maximise the benefits of industry research and development.