Ginger
Ginger Advisory Panel
Jacqueline Wilson-Smith (Chair)
Sustainable Innovation Co.
Jacqueline has over 25 years’ experience in herb and spice innovation, marketing and R&D, having held global executive roles with McCormick and Gourmet Garden. She is dedicated to creating better food systems to feed the world. In 2019 she founded strategic consultancy, the Sustainable Innovation Co., to facilitate innovative and sustainable design-led commercial solutions to agri-food organisations. Jacqueline serves on several agri-food boards, committees and panels and is co-founder and former Chair of the Food Agribusiness Network (FAN). In 2017, Jacqueline was named the Queensland recipient of the AgriFutures Rural Women’s Award and was appointed Chair of the AgriFutures Ginger Advisory Panel in 2021.
Jacqueline has a collaborative leadership style, a wealth of experience in chairing and facilitating boards, committees, panels, projects, workshops and meetings and is deeply passionate about all aspects of the herb and spice industry. As chair of the Ginger Advisory Panel, she looks forward to facilitating robust and respectful conversations so the panel can identify R&D programs that will ensure the resilience of Australia’s ginger industry for generations to come.
Kylie Templeton
Commercial Director and third generation grower at Templeton Ginger
Kylie is responsible for the logistics of the business, liaising with wholesale agents, managing sales as well as marketing for the Templeton Ginger brand. She has led the business to handle its own Human Resources and organised all Food Safety and HARPS requirements. Not only has she inherited the 70 years knowledge of all things ginger, she has also volunteered for nine years as the Secretary and Treasurer of the Australian Ginger Industry Association. She completed the Australian Institute of Company Directors Course providing her with a greater understanding of business skills and corporate governance.
Philip Brett
Grower
Philip is the owner and operator of a commercial ginger farm located in Kenilworth, Queensland. He has been affiliated with horticulture since the age of 14, growing various crops such as garlic, melons and now ginger. In 2019, Philip established his ginger farm and over three years expanded his growing production significantly. Philip is interested in developing the Australian Ginger industry into a resilient, economically competitive, and sustainable agricultural landscape. He brings a wealth of growing experience, enthusiasm, and a grower perspective to the Advisory Panel.
Jess Joyce
Grower at Little Bunya Organics
Jess owns and operates a small scale ginger farm, but within a certified organic system. After a background in financial management and commercial analysis in the government sector, Jess transitioned into farming and is responsible for managing sales and marketing, resource management and the farm’s quality assurance accreditation with food safety and organic compliance.
Bhargava Rayeni
Agronomist
Bhargava is an exceptionally skilled, qualified and highly analytical agronomist with an extensive background in commercial and intensive vegetable production. As a seasoned horticultural Agronomist, he works closely with the Australian Ginger Industry Association (AGIA) and local ginger growers. With extensive knowledge in ginger crop and crop disease management and prior experience in chemical controls, Bhargava has strong connections with growers in Bundaberg, Gympie and Gatton regions across a wide range of crops. He brings a passion for sustainability and innovation to the Ginger Advisory Panel.
Zane Nicholls
Department Primary Industries, Queensland
Zane is a highly skilled researcher with over a decade of experience with the Department Primary Industries, Queensland (DPI QLD), focussing on industry capability development and linking agriculture to opportunity, disaster preparedness and pest and disease management. He has a strong rapport with the Ginger Industry through his role and with previous projects in the AgriFutures Ginger Program with notable contributions to research focusing on food safety, pest and disease management, and soil health improvement. He applied as was successful in his appointment to the Ginger Advisory Panel because he is passionate about the development of the industry.
Matt Crust
Grower
Matt is a 3rd generation farmer in the Lockyer Valley QLD, running a family farm with his brother called Mount Sylvia Fresh. Matt grew up spending all his free time alongside his family, helping out on the farm and learning all about the journey of produce. He completed a trade in light vehicle maintenance but came back to the farm to manage the packing shed operations and quality assurance before moving onto managing the farm in the following year.
Starting with seasonal brassicas, melon and pumpkins, Matt now solely grows Ginger, Turmeric and Galangal year-round. He’s excited by the lessons to learn with Ginger and notes that its only the beginning of the journey. Ginger is an industry with a huge potential for growth and he is passionate about the industry thriving and ensuring it remains as bright for his children.