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.

Jeff Skilton

Grower at Skilton Farms

Jeff has been trading in the horticulture industry since he was 13 years old. He has grown a wide range of crops including Citrus, Sweet Potatoes, Potatoes, Pumpkins, Watermelon and many more. Not only is Jeff a ginger grower in his own right but he is also a Builder by trade, which provides him with an inquisitive mind and an appetite for solving issues. Jeff enjoys solving issues on both the practical side of farming and the mechanical side to achieve improved outcomes, which can also be transferred to providing inspiration for applicable R&D for the industry.

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.