Nuffield Australia Board of Directors & Management Team

Terry Hehir (Chairman)

Terry was appointed to the Board in 2009 and is currently Chairman of the Board and Selection Panel. Terry and his wife Pauline are dairy farmers at Kyabram in Northern Victoria. He is Chairman of the Board of Organic Dairy Farmers of Australia, and a trustee of the Organic Federation of Australia. Other current roles include Deputy Chair Australian Dairy Conference (inaugural Chair), Deputy Chair Global Dairy Farmers. Past involvement with various Dairy Australia and RIRDC advisory committees. Terry travelled on his Nuffield Scholarship in 1994.

Andrew Johnson (Deputy Chairman)

Andrew Johnson was elected to the board in 2010. Andrew and his family, which include his parents, brother and partner, run an intense farming operation in the Upper South East and Mid North of South Australia. This production includes pigs, sheep, cattle and cropping. Andrew, on returning from his Nuffield Scholarship, has gone onto be Secretary and subsequently Chairman of the Nuffield SA Branch. Andrew is also a Director with Top Pork Pty Ltd and has recently been appointed a Directorship with Australian Pork Limited. Andrew travelled on his Nuffield Scholarship in 2005.

Timothy Hutchings

Tim was elected to the Board in 2008. He and his wife Di farmed at Henty in southern NSW producing wheat, canola and dual-purpose Merino sheep. Tim has spent 25 years as a management consultant to farmers and agribusiness. He has served on the boards of organizations including the On-Farm Committee of the Australian Wool R & D Committee, the Small Business Committee of the Reserve Bank, and as member of the Advisory Panel of the Land and Water CRC, and co-founded Farm Management 500. He is a regular speaker and writer for the rural media. Tim is currently studying for a Doctorate in Business Administration. Tim travelled on his Nuffield Scholarship in 1983.

Murray Scholz

Murray was elected to the Board in 2009. Murray and his wife Emma are grain and beef farmers at Culcairn in southern NSW. He was the founding chairman of his local Landcare group and is currently studying for a Masters in Sustainable Agriculture. Murray travelled on his Nuffield Scholarship in 2008.

Andrew Fowler

Andrew was elected to the Board in 2011. Andrew and his wife Marie farm with his family outside Esperance on the south east coast of Western Australia. The business produces canola, barley, wheat, lamb, wool & beef. Andrew is currently focusing on the synergies between the livestock and the crops, grazing all the crops and ensuring good sub-clover pasture regeneration. Andrew is an Executive member of the South East Premium Wheatgrowers Association and is also a member of the Sheep Industry Leadership Council. He travelled on his Nuffield Scholarship in 2000.

Richard Heath

Richard Heath manages the cropping enterprise of Pine Cliff, the Heath family farm south of Gunnedah on the Liverpool Plains of NSW. Richard spent six years as a panel member with the GRDC during which time he chaired the Practices and Varieties lines of business within the corporation. Richard maintains a key interest in Grains research and holds a position on the management committee of AMPS research, a large grower group. Richard traveled on his Nuffield scholarship in 2003 looking at new technology for assessing variable rate application of nitrogen. He is married to Tammy and has two teenage daughters.

Christine Hawkins

Christine was appointed an External Director of the Board in 2007. Christine has worked extensively in the agricultural sector in Australia as an advisor for both public and private companies and government, and on the boards of organisations, including; Wool International, The Woolmark Company, Grains Research & Development Corporation (Deputy Chairman), The Australian Sheep Innovation CRC Limited (currently Deputy Chairman), Go Grains Health & Nutrition Limited (Chairman) and the National Rural Advisory Council amongst others. Christine is an author and presenter on corporate governance for the Australian Institute of Company Directors. She runs an advisory company specialising in risk and compliance.

Don Madden

Don Madden is a co-owner and Director of the Smithfield Group – a 20,000 head beef cattle feedlot, cropping and trucking enterprise situated in Proston south east Queensland. Don has been instrumental in investigating and implementing leading technologies into the family run feedlot enterprise and played a major role in the businesses expansion to date. Don has over 25 years experience in the Beef industry, having spent many years working within various sectors of the beef supply chain, including participation in MLA Feedlot Research and Development workshops. Don allocates his time and resources to supporting the feedlot industry where needed and his local community. Don travelled on his Nuffield scholarship in 2010.

Management Team

A profile document of the Nuffield Australia Support Team can be downloaded from this link (1.0 MB pdf)