Queensland's peak horticulture body, Growcom, is proud to announce Belinda Adams has been elected as its new chairwoman at the annual general meeting last week.
Ms Adams is the co-owner of Coastal Hydroponics, a vegetable farming business on the Gold Coast, has been on the Growcom board for four years, and is the current deputy chairperson of the national vegetable peak body Ausveg. Ms Adams said she was proud to take over the reins from former chairman Les Williams.
"Growcom has been working hard behind the scenes of our industry, engaging and advocating, delivering and returning to growers in Queensland. I want to thank Les our outgoing chairman for guiding Growcom through the past few years," Ms Adams said.
"We must continue to support, reach out and get involved in industry matters to improve outcomes for all growers regardless of scale or commodity.
"I urge everyone to reach out and get involved, become a member and support the work of your industry representative body in Queensland. With your voice we can and will create change."
While Mr Williams will remain on the board, stepping down as chairman will allow him to focus on his pineapple farm in Wamuran. All members sincerely thank Les for his dedication and leadership of our organisation over the past three years.
Mr Williams has seen industry through many challenges including the 2018 strawberry tampering incident and helped Growcom take on important projects including the establishment of Fair Farms, the independent certification of fair employment practices in horticulture.
In other board appointments, mango grower Joe Moro has been elected deputy chairman. Mr Moro has been chairman of FNQ Growers Association, formerly the Mareeba District Fruit & Vegetable Growers Association, since 1995 and is well known for his wide ranging industry and community involvement.
Growcom is also pleased to announce Sharron Windolf, co-owner of Windolf Farms near Gatton, has been re-elected as a grower director and will remain a valuable asset to the board for another term. And we welcome fourth-generation horticulturist Tim Carnell of Kirra Pines Farming as a grower director. Tim runs his vegetable growing operation on the Granite Belt and brings an important perspective from that part of the world.
Enriched by the diversity and talent of our board, Growcom looks forward to leading our growers and the horticulture industry to a bright and profitable future.
