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Contact the AMS
All correspondence should be directed to the AMS office:
Suite 1, 113 Dawson Street
Lismore NSW 2480
Email:
Finance & Office Manager
Receptionist & Office Administrative Assistant
Ph: 02 6622 4933 Fax: 02 6622 4932
Office Hours: Mon – Fri 8.30am – 5.00pm
Chief Executive Officer
Mr Jolyon Burnett
Address: Suite 1, 113 Dawson Street
Lismore NSW 2480
Tel: 02 6622 4933
Fax: 02 6622 4932
Mobile: 0416 224 935
Email:
Jolyon joined the AMS in August 2008 as its first Chief Executive Officer. His appointment was the first step in a major restructuring of the AMS and its staff.
Jolyon has a 30 year career in agriculture, horticulture, research and development and association management.
Jolyon has a Degree in Agricultural Science and a Masters in Environmental Science. He is a member of the Australia Institute of Company Directors and is a graduate of their Company Directors Program. He is also a member of the Australian Society of Association Executives.
Jolyon is currently a Director of the Australian Nut Industry Council and the Horticulture Australia Council and has served on a number of government and industry advisory Boards and committees and spoken at conferences in Australia and internationally.
Prior to taking the position with the AMS Jolyon was the CEO of Irrigation Australia Limited the national body representing the Australian irrigation industry. Before that he was CEO of Nursery & Garden Industry Australia.
His professional career has covered R&D management, landscape contracting, environmental and horticultural consulting, parks management, journalism and academic and research positions at TAFE and university level.
Jolyon lives in Lismore with his wife Anne.
Chair
Mr Kim Wilson
Address: PO Box 306
Clunes NSW 2480
Tel: 02 6688 4287
Fax: 02 6688 4387
Email:
Kim has spent the past 31 years dedicated to the Australian macadamia industry and during the early part of that time Kim obtained an Advanced Diploma of Horticulture from the University of Sydney.
Kim’s involvement in the Industry started as a farm hand for Gray Plantations and has progressed to his current position as General Manager for the same company. Kim has assisted in expanding the company to where it stands today with almost 400 hectares of owned and managed orchards in northern NSW and Mackay QLD, various contracting divisions and several large nurseries.
Kim has been a Board member of the Australian Macadamia Society for the past 13 years and held the position of Chairman for the last two years. In 2002, Kim was honoured by receiving the Norm Greber award.
Kim and his wife own a 5,000 tree orchard at Eureka, northern NSW.
Vice Chairman
Andrew Starkey
Tel: 02 6687 9157
Email:
Andrew owns and runs macadamia farms in the Northern Rivers of NSW as Oxley Plantations. He is also a director of Cape Byron Macadamias, a macadamia grower’s company.
Andrew has an MBA from Macquarie Graduate School of Management and a Bachelor of Science degree, majoring in Chemistry, from the University of Queensland.
The first 20 years of Andrew’s professional life was spent in the chemical industry with a variety of roles as a synthetic chemist, technical marketer and business manager.
Andrew’s last position was an International Marketing Manager leading a team of people located throughout the Asia Pacific region. Andrew has had a fulltime involvement in the macadamia industry since 2005.
An active Board member with additional roles in chairing the Remunerations committee and participating in the R&D committee.
Andrew believes Australian macadamias have a great market potential, that only an industry based response can support. Leadership fostering cooperation and support amongst the many stakeholders and participants in the supply chain is required. The AMS is integral in facilitating this cooperation and Andrew is eager to ensure the organisation is active at fulfilling this important and positive role.
Company Secretary
Jim Twentyman
Tel: 07 5482 7599
Email:
Jim is currently CEO at Suncoast Gold Macadamias in Queensland, and has been involved in the industry through MacFarms, Arnotts and some 15 years at Suncoast Gold. During this time, Jim has been involved in both the commercial, production and sales side of the business.
Jim is a strong supporter of the AMS, particularly its structure, enabling it to represent the whole industry – grower, processor, marketer, researcher… the lot. This is unique in any industry and a great platform to take the industry into the future.
Jim is particularly interested in promoting a unified Australian industry that takes a leadership position in the world. As the largest world producer, Jim believes we should lead and point the way ahead on such matters as generic promotion, research, quality and market development.
Board of Directors
Yolande Bromet – 0425 332 398
Yolande has been involved with macadamias since 1978, and is currently involved in developing the family’s latest property in Bauple QLD and a vertically integrated operation.
She was one of the first and the youngest women elected to the AMS Board. She has a young, enthusiastic, modern approach to the industry and a solid understanding of farm to plate. She believes profitable returns must first be achieved by growers in order to ensure the industry sustainability. She is also passionate about the preservation of the native macadamia trees and is involved with the Macadamia Conservation Trust.
On completion of her double degree specialising in Japanese and Finance from the University of Queensland and a leading Japanese finance university, Yolande gained a position with an American investment bank as a financial analyst in Tokyo. She has been involved with Japan since the age of 14 and lived in the country for six years. She is fluent in Japanese and has since established her own successful export consultancy business specialising in food products to Japan/Asia.
Ian Clapham – 02 6687 0658
Ian has been involved in the macadamia nut industry for many years, and brings to the AMS Board substantial experience in marketing and international business development and a fresh approach to addressing some of the hurdles confronting the industry. Ian has assisted other industries faced with many of the same issues confronting the macadamia industry.
For the past 24 years, Ian has operated a successful business conducting business development and marketing activities in Australia, Asia, and North America.Ian has a passion and a vision for the industry which is complemented by his experience and innovative approaches.
Ian’s passion is his family, developing new businesses, rowing and rugby union.
Kay Spencer – 02 9518 6711
In 2003 Kay and her partner David purchased a 41.5-hectare macadamia farm at Martins Lane West, Knockrow. Since purchasing the farm, another 2,500 trees have been added to total 4,500.
Kay joined the AMS Board in 2007 to use her business skills working with both growers and processors to facilitate ways that the industry can increase the demand for macadamia nuts against the other competing nut products, both in the domestic and international markets and works to achieve unity and common purpose between grower and processors.
Kay is Managing Director of NARTA, which is one of the premier Retail Buying Groups in Australia, established in 1965. Narta members are retailers who offer specialist service and premier brands.
Kay is a director on the following boards:
• NARTA International Pty Ltd
• NARTA New Zealand Ltd
• Hands Across The Water (supporting the orphanages at Baan Tharn Namchai and Baan Nam Kem in Thailand)
• Australia Macadamia Society Ltd
Trevor Steinhardt – 07 4159 7265
Trevor has been involved in the family farm and primary production for over 30 years. He specialises in post harvest and marketing, particularly in the marketing and packing side. Trevor’s family chose to diversify into the macadamia nut industry and have 137,000 trees planted.
Prior to macadamias, the family business was mainly involved in the production of tomatoes and zucchinis, supplying 30% of the Australian and New Zealand market, from wholesalers to retailers direct, both large and small on a daily basis as well as exporting to Singapore and Hong Kong.
Trevor was on the Board of the Bundaberg Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association for six years and the Melbourne Tomato Committee for four years.
Trevor has a vision to see a long term sustainable and viable industry through increased orchard productivity, better quality and a responsible marketing approach.
Michael Waring – 03 9420 2900
Michael is Managing Director of MWT Foods, Australia (established in 1990), Chairman of MWT Foods USA LLC (domiciled in Oregon USA), and Managing Director of Tinana Creek Plantations (operating Waring Family owned Australian macadamia plantation Tinana Creek Plantation).
Domiciled in the Group’s Melbourne offices, Michael is also CEO of the Waring Group of companies, comprising the above businesses and other investments. The Waring family is also investors in various tree nut production facilities in Vietnam under MWT Foods Vietnam.
Michael is a Member of the Board of Directors of The International Nut and Dried Fruit Foundation Council, and also an Ambassador to Australia for that foundation, a founding Management Committee member of Nuts for Life Australia and a Director of the Australian Macadamia Society and a member of the Macadamia Industry Advisory Committee.
Michael works with his father John Waring who has been involved in the industry since 1960 and is founder of Waring Group (and also Jorgenson Waring Foods) and with his brothers Andrew Waring (co-founder MWT Foods) and Christopher Waring (Manager of the Groups Agricultural Division).
Finance and Administrative Manager
Michelle Lancaster
Address: Suite 1, 113 Dawson Street
Lismore NSW 2480
Tel: 02 6622 4933
Fax: 02 6622 4932
Mobile: 0414 544 738
Email:
Michelle joined the AMS in October 2006 as the Finance and Administration Manager.
Michelle has spent 18 years in the finance sector working for Southern Cross University, Aspect North and Ruskin Plastics.
Prior to her finance career, Michelle worked for the Department of Agriculture, (now NSW Industry & Investment) as a Laboratory Technician studying macadamias.
Michelle lives in Lismore with her husband and two wonderful children.
Market Development Manager
Lynne Ziehlke
Suite 1, 113 Dawson Street
Lismore NSW 2480
Tel: 02 6622 4933
Fax: 02 6622 4932
Mobile: 0488 032 248
Email:
Lynne is marketing and promotions professional with almost 20 years experience working for large food manufacturers including Unilever Foods, Green’s General Foods, Lindt & Sprungli, Heinz, Edgell and Uncle Toby’s.
Lynne has been a director for a boutique marketing consultancy and spent time in Horticulture Australia Limited (HAL) as the marketing manager for Macadamias, Mangoes and Papaya.
Lynne completed Marketing Management at Macquarie University Graduate School of Management.
Information and Communications Coodinator
Mr Chris Papas
Address: Suite 1, 113 Dawson Street
Lismore NSW 2480
Tel: 02 6622 4933
Mobile: 0428 224 933
Email:
Chris joined the AMS in March 2010 after a long career in Information Technology in the corporate world.
During his time in corporate, Chris worked in a broad range of industry including Banking, Telecommunication, TV/Pay TV, in the related field of Information Technology.
Chris has also owned and operated a macadamia farm in the local area.
Chris has lived in the northern rivers area of NSW for the last eight years and his interests include motor bikes.
Receptionist/Administrative Officer
Sarah Jane Hall
Address: Suite 1, 113 Dawson Street
Lismore NSW 2480
Tel: 02 6622 4933
Fax: 02 6622 4932
Email:
Sarah Jane Hall has been working with the Australian Macadamia Society since August 2009 in the role of Receptionist & Office Administrative Assistant.
Sarah previously worked for the Macadamia Castle which has given Sarah a good insight into the promotion of macadamia nuts and different styles and flavours available in retail.
Sarah currently resides in Ballina, and her interests include Photography and classic car restoration.
Productivity Development Officer
Address: Suite 1, 113 Dawson Street
Lismore NSW 2480
Tel: 02 6622 4933
Mobile: 0488 432 226
Email:
Robbie joined the AMS in August 2010.
Robbie has a Bachelor of Applied Science (Horticulture) from the University of Queensland, Gatton where he graduated with first class honours. His most recent position was as Sales Manager for Coastal Turf at Round Mountain, NSW.