The Almond Board of Australia’s independent chairman Peter Hayes is stepping down from his role at the end of the year.
Mr Hayes announced his departure at the Australian Almond Conference in October.
He’s been the chairman for the past five years and said he was disappointed his time with the Almond Board was coming to an end.
“This has been such a fantastic experience working with the board, as well as the energetic, able and focused executive, from Tim and Deidre right through to the whole team,” Mr Hayes said.
While leading the ABA Mr Hayes was able to draw on his background in viticulture, wine and irrigated crops, where he’s had a strong focus on R&D, innovation and extension.
“It’s been a different industry, with similarities to my past ones but has its own personality, its own energy and above all the engagement and innovation within it has been brilliant,” he said.
Mr Hayes said there are many highlights from his time as independent chairman.
“The emergence of more solid markets in India and other places has been terrific and you’d have to say that things like Hort360, the collaborative, coordinated works across several fronts like whole orchard recycling, the hull and stack management, there’s so many of them but they’re pretty evenly spread across the many areas of activity,” he said.
“Things like the R&D Day and the launch of ACE, what can you say, they’re just fantastic.”
Alan Hoppe has been appointed as the ABA’s incoming independent chairman and will officially take over in January.
“I’ve tried to give him my best distillation of where we’re at, what our issues are and where he might take it to,” Mr Hayes said.
“Alan comes from a different background to me, very much agribusiness, the heavier of investments and I think he’ll bring a different perspective.”
“We just need a gradual succession in pretty much all areas, and the ABA needs to stay relevant, as new issues and opportunities emerge.”
While Mr Hayes in stepping down as the ABA chairman he still plans to continue his involvement in a few other projects.
“At my age I should be trying to wind back a little bit, “he said.
“Photography interests me, I like travel, I still enjoy engaging with people in developmental roles, so hopefully I’ll continue a bit of mentorship and alike and there’s grandkids a wife, etc who would like a bit more of my time.”
Mr Hoppe attended the Australian Almond Conference and he used the opportunity to introduce himself to growers, processors and industry service providers.
“I connected with a bunch of people who worked for me or I worked with over the years,” he said.
Mr Hoppe started managing farming operations as a 16 year old.
His career has taken him to many parts of the world including Brazil and Rwanda.
His agricultural experience stretches across many commodities including soybeans, corn, almonds, wine grapes, dairy and grain, beef. cotton, citrus and rice milling.
From 2008 to 2010 Mr Hoppe had responsibility for 1,100 hectares of almonds near Robinvale and as a child he spent time in and around Manangatang in the Victorian Mallee.
“I always loved that almonds are one of the most valuable commodities that we grow in Australian using our valuable water resources, so the opportunity to work with the growers and the marketers to grow that industry and foster those stakeholders, I thought it was a terrific chance for me to give back,” he said.
As the ABA’s chairman Mr Hoppe said he’ll be working with the directors to fulfill the board’s strategic goals.
“I’ll be helping to coordinate the communication between the industry and the board,” he said.
“Helping the board make smart decisions and then like any good board following up the governance and making sure the strategy is being followed and that the board’s decisions are being carried out.”