The Annual General Meeting of Primary Industries Education Foundation Australia (PIEFA) was held on Monday, November 22, 2021, and confirmed the appointment of a new board of directors for the company.
The board selection committee is comprised of representative member organisations and chaired by an independent person. The committee conducted a rigorous skills-based selection process and appointed successful incumbents for a three-year term.
“Public advertising drew a field of 86 quality applications, from which seven were appointed to the board”, PIEFA CEO, Luciano Mesiti has said.
Those appointed to the board are:
- Ms Leanne Kruss: Director, Agriculture Workforce Development in Far North Queensland; Primary
- Producer; and Teacher.
- Mr Mark Napper: Horticulturalist; Accountant; and Food and Agri-Business Specialist.
- Dr Simon Livingstone: Principal, Marcus Oldham College.
- Mr Keith Pengilley: Director of Research Services, NSW Department of Primary Industries; former farm Business Manager; and Agricultural Consultant. Mr Pengilley is a continuing board member.
- Ms Sarah Thompson: Primary Producer; and NSW Farmers Rural Affairs Policy Committee member. Ms Thompson is a continuing board member.
- Mr Hardy Manser: Head of Department Agriculture and Home Economics, Rockhampton Grammar School. Mr Manser is a continuing board member.
- Dr Cameron Archer AM: former Principal of Tocal College. Dr Archer is a continuing board member.
“The appointments bring a vast amount of relevant experience to PIEFA and will guide the organisation over the next three years”, Mr Mesiti said. “This new board comes at a time when
PIEFA is expanding its reach through recently announced projects, involving careers in primary industries, farm safety and soils.”
Dr Archer was re-elected as Board Chair and Ms Thompson was elected Deputy Chair. PIEFA is the link between Australia’s food and fibre industries and Australian schools. It has been operating for over 10 years and has been effective in raising the profile and conscious of food and fibre education in Australian schools. PIEFA is a not-for-profit company with a membership structure that includes industry, government and the education sectors.
Contact:
Luciano Mesiti, CEO at PIEFA ceo@piefa.edu.au, or
Dianne Murray, Communications Officer at PIEFA office@piefa.edu.au
