SUGAR Research Australia (SRA) has announced the appointment of one new board member and the re-election of two existing directors at its annual general meeting in Brisbane today.
Lindy Hyam joins the SRA board of directors, alongside directors Ron Swindells (chairman), Steve Guazzo, Helen Garnett, Guy Roth, Ian Johnsson, and Ian Sampson.
Steve Guazzo and Helen Garnett were re-elected to the board at the AGM.
New director Lindy Hyam has extensive experience in agriculture and engagement across more than 40 established, new and emerging commercial plant-based and levy-paying industries and their research communities. This includes experience as a director of the Sugar Research and Development Corporation.
SRA chairman Ron Swindells welcomed Ms Hyam to the SRA board.
“Lindy Hyam has had 20 years of leadership experience at board and CEO levels in the private and public sectors across urban and regional Australia and internationally with a diverse range of organisations of all sizes and governance structures,” Dr Swindells said.
“She has held many board roles across a range of disciplines in addition to agriculture including city leadership, health, airports, resources recovery, legal services, professional services, the environment and education.
“We welcome Lindy Hyam to the board and look forward to working with her to deliver valued solutions for a growing sugarcane industry via SRA.”
The board recommendations were made by an independent director selection committee, which was led by independent chair Kathryn Adams and included sugarcane milling representatives John Pratt (Wilmar) and Peter Gill (Mackay Sugar), and sugarcane growing representatives Paul Schembri and Allan Dingle. The recommendations of the DSC were accepted by SRA members at the SRA AGM.
Dr Swindells also thanked outgoing director Mike Gilmour for his services to the Australian sugarcane industry through SRA since its inception.
“In particular, as chair of the audit and risk committee, Mr Gilmour has led the change process that led to marked improvements in the company’s financial systems and financial reporting,” Dr Swindells said.
“I also thank him for input around the board table on a variety of topics.”