Advisory group for agricultural co-operatives announced

30 August 2016

BCCM CEO, Melina Morrison speaking at the announcement of the program in April.

The Business Council of Co-operatives and Mutuals (BCCM) has been included in the Industry Advisory Group (IAG) of the $14.9 million Farm Co-operatives and Collaboration Pilot Program (FarmCCPP). Melina Morrison, BCCM CEO, is part of the eight person panel who will provide ongoing advice to help drive the program to ensure it meets its objectives of providing expert advice and assistance to farmers across Australia looking to establish co-operatives or collaborative business models.

More than 200 industry experts from the agricultural sector have been gathering in Kingscliff for a two day national forum to provide farmers with knowledge and materials on co-operatives, collective bargaining and other forms of collaboration. The forum is part of the Federal governments’ Farm Co-operatives and Collaboration Pilot Program (FarmCCPP), announced as a key initiative of the government’s $4 billion Agricultural Competitiveness White Paper.

The national forum is live streamed at www.farmingtogether.com.au.

Industry Advisory Group members

• Greg McNamara (Chair)—Chairman, Norco Co-operative Limited
• Melina Morrison—CEO, Business Council of Co-operatives and Mutuals
• John Gladigau—Director, Collaborative Ag
• Chris Sounness—CEO, Birchip Cropping Group (BCG)
• Airlie Trescowthick—Managing Director, The Farm Table
• Dalene Wray—General Manager, OBE Organics
• Shenal Basnayake—CEO, Northern Territory Farmers Association Inc
• Scott Kompo-Harms—General Manager, Trade and Economics, National Farmers’ Federation