Nuffield Australia Board of Directors

David Brownhill

David was elected to the Board in 2002 and is currently Chairman of the Board and Selection Panel. David and his wife Elizabeth are grain farmers in Northern NSW.  His interests include no till farming, controlled traffic farming systems and high value crops. He is a director of Crop Optics Pty Ltd which imports innovative farming equipment, most notably the Weedseeker and Greenseeker systems from the USA. David travelled on his Nuffield Scholarship in 1998.

Hugh Roberts

Hugh was elected to the Board in 2007. Hugh and his wife Jenny are grain and sheep producers from Cootamundra in southern NSW. Hugh is a member of the NSW Farmers Association Executive Council, Chairman of the Australian Seed Authority and also sits on the Board of the Australian Crop Accreditation Systems Ltd. Hugh travelled on his Nuffield Scholarship in 1977.

Ronald Thompson

Ronald was appointed to the Board in 2007 for one year and then elected in 2008. Ronald and his wife Sally are grain (including peanuts) and livestock producers from Chinchilla in southern Queensland.  Ronald also works for Origin Energy as a Land Management Overseer. Ronald has been on the Local Water Catchment Committee, the Irrigated Peanut Advisory Board and is actively involved in Landcare. He is currently Chairman of the Chinchilla Melon Festival and is a director of the Chinchilla Community Commerce and Industry Group where he chairs the infrastructure committee. He writes a monthly column for Bioenergy Australasia and is studying a Bachelor of Agribusiness at CSU. Ronald travelled on his Nuffield Scholarship in 2007.

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 (Deputy Chairman), Go Grains Health & Nutrition Limited (Chairman) and the National Rural Advisory Council amongst others.

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. He completed his Nuffield Scholarship in 1983.

Terry Hehir

Terry was elected to the Board in 2009 and is currently Deputy Chairman of the Board. More information will be posted when available.

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.

David Cussons

David was elected to the Board in 2009. He and his wife Kelly are grain and livestock producers at Kojonup in the Great Southern of Western Australia. He also sits on the board of Australian Year of the Farmer 2012 and is a Public Relations Officer in the Australian Army Reserve. He also has a background in radio and still works at times with ABC Radio. David travelled on his Nuffield Scholarship in 2009.