Board members

Andrew McFadyen (Chairperson): Term- 2009 to present day. Andrew hails from a family farm at Lake Cargelligo in NSW when his family still farms to this current day. Andrew has been professionally involved in the grains industry for over 20 years based in the Coolah District and more recently at Lake Cargelligo. After graduating from UWS Hawkesbury in 1998 with a Bachelor of Applied Science in System Agriculture he took up an agronomy position at Haynes Farms Supplies CRT in Coolah. In 2001 he moved to the role of Agronomist/Cropping Manager for Paspaley Pearls Properties based at Kurrajong Park, Coolah. The role evolved where he was the position of 2IC to the general manager of the Paspaley Rural Group of Properties. More recently Andrew has returned to Lake Cargelligo and started an agronomic consulting business, servicing local growers as well as dealing with large corporate business on strategic planning and acquisition. Andrew first term as chairperson of GOA for 6 yearand was recently ininstated to the role in late 2023. Andrew has served 2 terms as a northern panel member but stepped down from to focus on servicing his clients. Andrew believes GOA will fill the void for local growers with quick response answers to the questions that are facing producers in the paddock.

Andrew Freeth (Vice Chairperson):Term- 2017 to present day. Andrew has 16 years of experience in Agribusiness including leadership roles in industry and community. He is a director of his family 5,500 ha cropping and livestock business in CW NSW and has a background in commodity analysis & price risk management. Andrew has a degree in Agricultural Economics USYD and a diploma in financial markets (Futures) from AFMA. Andrew is a 2015 Nuffield scholar and 2014 Australian Grain Leaders Program graduate. Andrew has also completed The Executive Program for Agricultural Producers (TEPAP) run by Texas A&M University. Andrew is an experienced board member, sitting deputy chair of Grain Orana Alliance, former chair of Nuffield NSW. Andrew is a keen cricketer and enjoys a hit of social tennis. 

Joe Mason (Treasurer): Term -2011 to present day. Joe currently manages the 3500 ha family property "Spicers Run” located 30 km north of Wellington. The farm's main enterprises are wheat, canola and first cross lamb production, the farm is. Joe a keen interest in research and are long-term trial co-operators for NSW DPI, GOA and National Variety Trials (NVT). Joe aquired a bachelor of agricultural economics at Sydney University before working for 8 years at National Australia Bank and Macquarie Bank in foreign exchange. Along the way picked up a graduate diploma in Applied Finance and Investment from the Securities Institute of Australia. 

Penny Heuston (Publicity Officer): Term- 2009 to present day. Penny is a former independent agronomist who has been based in Warren for the last 30 odd years. Having worked across a range of agribusiness as well as in her own consulting business, Penny has gained a vast experience and understanding of the local farming systems. Penny has extensive connections and networks from Tottenham & Nyngan to the west through to Gilgandra in the east. Penny is a former GRDC Northern panel member and is now has roles in a number of different businesses servicing the grain industry. Penny has a part-time role with NSW DPI in communications and extension and is currently the Communications Offier for GOA. Penny has been on the GOA board since its inception & prior to that with the committees that helped establish the organisation. 

Breil Jackson: Term- 2014 to present day. Breil has a long history of adopting technology and techniques to boost efficiency and productivity in the highly variable western cropping environment. He is currently running a large broad acre, No-till, Controlled Traffic, dryland and irrigation cropping enterprise at Nyngan with his wife and sons. A strong believer in the full rotation, he has grown a large range of grain crop types at scale, including all the common summer and winter crops, as well as those such as Linseed, Lentils, Safflower, Kabuli Chickpeas, Cowpeas, Adzuki Beans and Coriander. Breil has been keen to work with agricultural research organisations and  presented regularly at GRDC updates, from a farmers experience perspective.  A practical thinker and a strong advocate for the farmer, he well understands the technical, cost, Government and social pressures placed on a modern agricultural business. Breil is not one to shy away from the discussion, when the discussion needs to be had...With his wife, Bernadette, he ran a publishing company producing a national magazine for 23 years, from the farm. He holds a Certificate in Agriculture, (Dux), from Murrumbidgee College of Agriculture, and has been working in the cropping industry for over 40 years.

Matt McRae: Term- 2019 to present day. Matt previously worked with local agribusiness AGnVET as an agronomist working in the Forbes region of NSW. Through this role has gained significant experience and understanding of the farming systems of the region and the issues growers face. Matt has a keen interest in research playing a pivotal role in the company’s significant research program. More recently Matt has started his own business, both consulting and contracting farming clients in the Manildra region of NSW as well as running a mixed farm himself which gives Matt a unique insight through two lenses- the grower and the advisor.

Richard Qugley: Term- 2023 to present day. Richard is a grower from Trangie in central west NSW, farming in partnership with his family. It is a mixed farm with rotation including wheat, canola, chickpea, faba bean and barley, as well as irrigated cotton and beef cattle. 
Richard has 12 years experience in the agricultural space, and was a 2020 Nuffield scholar. Keen to adopt and implement new practices across their farm. Richard also has a degree from Sydney university of science in Agriculture with first class honors. 
 
Peter Watt: Term 2024 to present day. Peter started work with NSW Agric in 1982 after completing tertiary studies at Hawkesbury Ag College and Sydney teachers college.
After a training period at Griffith Peter was appointed as the first district agronomist at Walgett in 1984 and served till 1989 . Peter was involved in north western cropping systems and conducted some of the first chickpea trials in that area.
A move to private enterprise then ensued with 33 years working in crop and pasture systems in the Cowra area
Peter has worked collaboratively with industry for many years and conducted numerous trials across crop /pasture varieties,nutrition and plant protection.
Peter is passionate about effective communication and continues to mentor and consult to industry as well as practising on a small farm at Cowra.