Progressive team takes on peak body leadership

It is a position that I am incredibly honored and humbled to have, and I am looking forward to taking-on.

While the outpouring of support from members and stakeholders is encouraging and motivating, I've got no intentions of wasting time letting it 'sink in' as I get to work alongside our new vice president, Danyel Cucinotta.

VFF members have chosen progressive leadership and made it clear there is a need for change.

I am aiming for the VFF to be inclusive of all Victorian farmers so that we can represent their views with confidence.

The need for a unified, strength-in-numbers industry body - such as the VFF - is critically important to ensuring our needs as farmers are heard and listened to.

We say we are the voice of Victorian farmers, and I intend to ensure this rings true for today's diverse and wide-ranging aspects of modern farming and agriculture.

We must deliver for members on the issues on which they expect us to fight for them.

Earlier this year, our members told us loud and clear about the need to evolve as a modern farming organisation, and to act as a reflection of Victoria's agriculture industry and their needs.

This means stripping back the politics of our industry to cut-through on the issues that matter most to farmers, and deliver real solutions.

We can not behave like politicians or bureaucrats if we expect to hold them to account. Put simply, that means less words and more action.

Victorian agriculture makes an enormous contribution to our economy, and the Government needs to be reminded of this.

The only way we will get it to listen is when we engage the voting public, who are our consumers, to realise that food policy matters to everyone in this great country.

Now, the work begins.