Our Regional Teams

Education

University of Queensland   Bachelor of Agricultural Science majoring in Land Resource Management.

Status

Married with 2 children 15 and 11 years of age.

Professional Experience

Professional Association

AAAC (WA) Inc

Personal Interests

• Cycling
• Camping
• Travelling

Contact Details

T 08 9964 1170
M 0428 648 828
E

Rob has 20 years of experience in many aspects of agriculture, varying from agronomy through to research and budgeting.

Qualifications and Membership

• Bachelor of Science with Agriculture with Honours (University of Western Australia - Perth, 1993).
• Diploma Project Management (Central Tafe - 2012)
• Ethical and Accountable Decision Making (DAFWA)
• Member Australian Association of Agricultural Consultants (AAAC) WA.

Business Area

In his role as a Farm Management Consultant and with his agronomy experience, Rob covers the following areas:-

• Business analysis - taking the physical and financial data from farm businesses and analysing this to assist in the development of the business.
• Developing and implementing strategies to assist farmers into action plans from which they can make better business decisions.
• Benchmarking results against industry levels and determining year to year profitability.
• Provide systems knowledge and analysis to improve outcomes.
• Practical insights and economic valuation on crop rotation, weed managment, grazing, genetics and livestock.

Background

Rob was raised on a mixed farm in east Mullewa before attending high school in Geraldton. He finished his formal education in Perth with a tertiary degree in Agricultural Science which provided the pathway to his first professional position as a research economist with the Department of Agriculture WA based in Perth. Following this Rob and his wife enjoyed an extended period travelling and working around the world. Upon arrival back home he went on to work at the family farm where Rob's role was to manage the cropping enterprise. Through this time Rob's desire to be a farmer diminished, but he could see a bright future for the Agricultural industry. Hence he gained employment as an agronomist with Elders where he worked in the Geraldton Port Zone for 7 years. During this time Rob developed specialist knowledge in spray application technology and crop disease management along with sound expertise in all facets of crop and pasture agronomy. Looking to broaden his career Rob took a position with DAFWA again as a research economist focussing on the economics of IWM. Following this Rob took on a leadership role with the Northern Ag Region as project manager of the farming systems team, specialising in the delivery of communications platforms and maintaining relationships with industry on DAFWA's behalf. He successfully managed DAFWA's NEAR project and changed the team to become more client focussed during his tenure. This success was rewarded with a similar role across the entire wheat belt. After 9 years with DAFWA Rob was very keen to go back to roots and engage with client servicing again focussing on whole farm management.

Interests

In his spare time Rob tends to be doing some sort of exercise or trying to avoid being a home handyman. His sporting interests include tennis, running and going to the beach in summer. Rob enjoys camping and getting away with friends and family. He also participates and encourages his children with their sporting and extra-curricular activities. He is a keen member of the mid west tennis community, and a Dockers tragic.

Contact Details

M 0427 382 490

Peter has extensive research and project management experience. A leader of agricultural communications and a herbicide resistant weeds specialist.

Qualifications

Bachelor of Science in Agriculture (Honours), University of Western Australia (1993)

Business area

Peter leads the communications team of the Australian Herbicide Resistance Initiative (AHRI) based at UWA. This role involves taking AHRI research, as well as other information about managing herbicide resistant weeds, and communicating it to the Australian grains industry.

The priority is to keep agronomists updated on the latest research to enable them to continually improve the management of herbicide resistant weeds. Peter is based in Geraldton, and spends some of his time travelling to Perth and around the country to fulfil this role.

Background

Peter grew up in the suburbs of Perth. It was family Easter holidays to Tardun in the north eastern wheatbelt of WA where his uncle managed a large property that sparked his interest in Agriculture. As he grew older, Peter spent more time working on the farm which ultimately led him to study agriculture at university after which he commenced his career in grain cropping.

Peter worked as an advisor with the Department of Agriculture in Three Springs and then Geraldton for several years before embarking on two years of backpacking around the world. From here he worked as an agronomist with Elders covering the Mingenew area before moving back to the Department of Agriculture and Food for thirteen years where he researched and extended herbicide resistant weeds with support from GRDC. Peter commenced work with Planfarm in January 2013.
Interests.

Married to the very beautiful and always delightful Lizzie, and father of the two sweetest girls on the planet, India (7) and Saskia (5). When he is not working or spending time with family he is generally in the ocean either surfing, windsurfing, kite surfing, stand-up paddle boarding, diving or fishing. When the ocean is no good he may even been seen doing an occasional triathlon, playing touch football or playing guitar and singing in the amazing Geraldton cover band, The Blue Bone Gropers.

Contact Details

M 0427 984 010
Twitter @peterdnewman

Nick McKenna has recently started at Planfarm's Geraldton office, and will be working closely with Richard Quinlan to develop his skills as an agronomist. Nick grew up on his family property east of Mullewa, where his parents still farm. Going home during school and uni breaks, he got his fair share of time in the paddock and on machinery.

Qualifications / Professional experience

At uni, he studied a Bachelor of Science, with a major in Agriculture, which he has (mostly) completed. He expects to be finished by the end of this year. In the past, Nick has worked as a research assistant in AHRI for Michael Walsh, and also as a student intern at Colorado State University, Fort Collins. Whilst in Colorado, he worked on various projects, ranging from testing the efficacy of Harvest Weed Seed control, to the development of herbicide resistance traits in sunflowers and sorghum.

Interests

He also took the opportunity to spend his first November and December away from the farm in the snow, which he thoroughly enjoyed. When he can, he enjoys chocolate milk and most things on two wheels. He is excited about working with Planfarm and delivering value to clients.

Contact Details

M 0427 681 574

• Office Administration
• Consultant support
• Database

Paul has vast experience in integrated operational management and sustainability.  With  seasonal financial reviewing,reporting and broad ranging Agribusiness industry exposure.

Qualifications and Membership

Bachelor of Science in Agriculture (Hons) UWA

Business Area

In his role as Farm Management Consultant and Agronomist Paul covers the following business areas:

• Business analysis - taking the physical and financial data from farm businesses and analysing this at key performance points to assist in the development of the business.
• Budgeting - projecting future cashflows to enable farmers to have a 'business map' from which they can operate.
• Benchmarking - collecting the data from various clients and comparing the performance of individual farms against those from a similar rainfall zone.
• Livestock management, pasture & crop agronomy
• Strategic planning and farm systems management in mixed cropping including soil and plant nutrition and fertiliser budgeting assisting farmers to develop long term plans from which they can make strategic business decisions.
• Livestock enterprises management specialising in, feed budgeting, pasture and crop integration.

Background

Paul is based in Manjimup in South Western WA and has been consulting since 2004, after working with CSBP Ltd for 9 years in various management roles including sales and market development. Paul has over 12 years' experience in business planning, budgeting and margin analysis covering agronomy and farm systems predominantly.  He also has dairy and beef experience extending from the south west through to the Great Southern and Esperance regions.  He has  a range of practical farm experience having worked on beef, sheep, horticultural and cereal properties as well being in partnership with younger brother Justin and parents Paul and Ros in the family farm of wine grapes, avocados, truffles and beef. This gives Paul well rounded skills, knowledge and experience in many aspects of Agriculture today.

Interests

He sits on various agriculture and community advisory boards including grower group Southern DIRT, Manjimup Primary School and currently chairs the charity group Mates 500 Relay. He is married to Natasha and has four children, Abbey, Cooper, Sebastian and Hamish. He is a mad keen football fan (player, coach and club president), likes to run every now and then, fish, camp and spend time at the family farm.

Contact Details

M 0427 728 566

Alana has vast project management and co-ordination experience with agricultural research and trial work. Improving the efficiency and sustainability of the agricultural sector.

Qualifications

• Bachelor of Science in Agriculture (Environmental Science) Murdoch University (2009)
• Honours (Soil Science) University of Western Australia (2010)

Business area

• Developing, budgeting, monitoring and evaluating field trials and projects
• Creating strong networks and working relationships with farmers and other organisations within the agricultural and NRM industries.
• Seeing to first-hand positive on-ground outcomes, changes to farmer practices, increases in motivation and overall momentum as a result of projects
• Organising and promoting engaging activities such as field days, workshops, seminars and meetings.

Background

Having grown up on a farm, and now herself a farmer and business owner, Alana has both a practical and technical understanding of agricultural systems, and of the motivations and barriers that farmers face. She has three years' experience as a Sustainable Agriculture project manager for the South West Catchments Council, and also runs a small beverage-producing business from her farm in Manjimup.

Interests

Alana enjoys playing various local sports including netball, tennis and hockey. Hockey is currently her favourite sport, and although she has a fiercely competitive streak and does a lot of running, she seems to have an innate inability to score goals at the critical moment. She also enjoys playing the guitar and piano in her spare time and tending to her (occasionally neglected) vegetable garden.

Contact Details

M 0406 494 927

Education

• ECU - Bachelor of Business (Accounting and Finance)
• FINSIA Perth - Diploma of Financial Planning
• FINSIA Perth - Certificate IV Finance Services (Finance/Mortgage Broking) including WA Licensing
• Curtin School of Business Growth program
• AICD Company Directors program

Professional Experience

Professional Association

• AAAC (WA) Inc
• Australian Institute of Company Directors

Motivators

• Challenging work environment
• Acknowledgement for a job well done
• Seeing clients set and achieve their personal and business goals and being involved in the process
• Long term business relationships

Personal Interests

• Family
• Golf (too much is never enough)
• Fremantle Dockers Australian Rules Football

Contact Details

T 08 9881 1422
M 0428 246 315
E

Education

• 1983 – Curtin University – Bachelor of Business (Agriculture)
• 2004 – Securities Institute – Graduate Diploma of Financial Planning

Professional Experience

October 1987 – Planfarm Pty Ltd – Narrogin – Director and Farm Management Consultant

My general consulting/management services to family farm businesses (mostly based in the H4, M4 and L4 regions) since 1987 providing expertise and guidance in business goal setting/planning, farm production planning, financial management planning, succession planning, property purchase feasibility analysis, lease and sharefarming analysis, with the aim to support these businesses to achieve their goals and outcomes.

2004-2011 – Planfinance Pty Ltd Perth Financial Planner

1985-1987 – Manager of engineering company

1983-1985 – Practical farming in WA central wheatbelt

Professional Associations

AAAC (WA) Inc, General Member

Public Service

• Past member of Wagin Apex Club
• Councillor of Wagin Shire Council (1992-1996)

Contact Details

T 08 9284 1044
M 0427 986 691
E

Background

Pierre was raised on a mixed farm south of Bloemfontein, South Africa. He completed his formal education in Bloemfontein with a tertiary degree in commerce which provided the first stepping stone to a career in banking. Pierre moved to Australia during 2004 and joined National Australia Bank in Bunbury then moved to Narrogin in 2008, specialising in Agricultural Banking in the Great Southern where he managed a wide range of clients including broad acre, livestock, feedlots, processing, small business and large business.

In January 2016, Pierre joined the Planfarm team based out of the Narrogin office.

Qualifications and Membership

• Bachelor of Commerce (Economics) - (Free State University Bloemfontein South Africa, 1995)
• Masters of Business Administration - (Free State University Bloemfontein South Africa, 2003)

Business Area

In his role as Farm Management Consultant, Pierre covers the following business areas:

• Business analysis taking the physical and financial data from farm businesses and analysing this at key performance points to assist in the development of the business.
• Budgeting projecting future cash flows to enable farmers to have a "business map" from which they can operate.
• Benchmarking collecting the data from various clients and comparing the performance of individual farms against those in a similar rainfall zone.
• Property purchases and leases financial analysis and projections relating to purchasing or leasing land.
• Strategic planning assist farmers to develop long term plans from which they can make strategic business decisions.
• Grain marketing provides general information. 

Interests

Pierre has a young family that keeps him busy with their sporting and extra-curricular activities. He is a member of the Narrogin squash club still trying to get his "head around" AFL and supports the Eagles, also following rugby union and cricket.

Contact Details

M 0457 162 484

Hilary has experience in management planning for crop and pasture optimization. Site specific strategic advisor on Pesticides and Herbicides with Rotational and Nutritional expertise.

Qualifications

• Bachelor of Agribusiness (Agricultural Technology) with Honours Curtin University, WA
• Diploma of Agriculture (Agronomy) Wodonga TAFE, Vic

Business Area

In her role as an Agronomist, Hilary covers the following areas:

• Broad acre agronomy, with advice in all aspects of crop and pasture production.
• Strategic nutritional, disease, varietal, rotational and weed management programmes,
• Developing production plans to assist growers in short and long term paddock management.

Background

Hilary grew up moving around Victoria and NSW and was associated with farming though family friends. Visiting farms as a child lead to a keen interest in agriculture. Later she moved to Perth, going to high school at St Hilda's ASG and graduating from Curtin University, Muresk Campus, which included studying abroad for a semester at the University of Saskatchewan, Canada.

After graduating, she worked for Landmark, in Narrogin, for a couple of years developing her agronomic skills Hilary then joined Planfarm in 2012 with an excellent science background, having won several scholarships including, the GRDC Undergraduate Honours Scholarship (2010) and the Grower Group Alliance Student Scholarship (2010).

Interests

Hilary has a love for anything outdoors and being involved in as much sport as possible including netball, hockey, swimming, kayaking & water-skiing. Hilary and her husband live on a farm north east of Cuballing where Hilary will offer a hand on the farm when possible. In her spare time, she enjoys gardening and working on projects around the house.

Contact Details

M 0488 553 523

Dani is experienced in broad-acre crop and pasture management. She provides strategic nutritional and pest management expertise.

Qualifications and Membership

Bachelor of Science (Agricultural Science), Honours University of Western Australia

Bachelor of Commerce, University of Western Australia

AAAC WA member

Business Area

In her role as an agonomist, Dani covers the following areas

• Broadacre crop and pasture agronomy
• Developing nutritional, weed, pest and disease management plants
• Producing production plans for rotational, long term paddock management

Background

Dani grew up on the family farm in Kondinin. After completing high school in Perth, Dani went on to study at UWA where she undertook an honours project with the Australian Herbicide Resistance Initiative researching herbicide resistance in wild radish.  For her honours thesis Dani won the GRDC Undergraduate honours Scholarship (2011) and the Ag Institute (WA) Young Professional in Agriculture Award (2012).  After graduating Dani spent a few years working in Merredin and Southern Cross as the Landmark Agronomist.  Dani joined Planfarm in 2015.  She currently consults to 30 farm businesses in the wheatbelt and lakes region delivering technical advice with an economical focus for crop and pasture management. She enjoys working with her clients and seeing them achieve their goals.

Interests

Outside of work, Dani is often found on a hockey field, or running around the farm with her dog.  She is also an avid traveller.

Contact

M 0429 811 244

Background

Hannah was raised on a mixed crop and livestock farm in Kondinin WA, where her parents and older brother still farm. She completed her tertiary degree at Muresk in 2012. From University Hannah joined the accounting world with RSM Bird Cameron for 2 years, where she was responsible for small business and individual tax returns. In January 2015 she made the move to Planfarm to cover benchmarking and business review preparation, where her role has evolved into numerous different areas throughout the company.

Qualifications & Memberships

• Bachelor of Agribusiness (Curtin University 2012)
• Postgraduate in Agricultural Consulting (Currently Completing)
• AAC Member

Hannah is currently 1 of 9 representatives Australia wide, participating in a Livestock Internship funded my MLA (Meat and Livestock Australia) and run by Meridian Agriculture. This involves a 2 year project and the completion of a Postgraduate in Agricultural Consulting through the University of New England.

Interest

Hannah and her husband are kept busy doing renovations inside and out, on their 5 acres in Cuballing. She is also a keen horse rider and involved with the Dryandra Regional Equestrian Association and water skier in summer.

• Office Administration
• Planfarm Marketing Company finance
• Client Budget Preparation

Interests

Music, gardening, walking (for exercise), reading and spending time with the grandies.

Contact Details

T 08 9881 1422

• Office Administration
• Agrimaster Data Entry
• Client budget preparation
• Publications

Education

• Curtin University - Muresk Institute of Agriculture   Bachelor of Business (Agriculture)
• Curtin University - Bachelor of Commerce (Property) (Valuation)
• Curtin School of Business Growth program
• AICD Company Directors program

Professional Experience

1999 – Current
Planfarm Pty Ltd – Northam – Director/ Farm Management Consultant

Providing farm business consulting and valuation services to clients in the central and eastern wheatbelt region, including setting business direction and strategy, analysis, feasibility and advice for purchase and lease of farming properties (individual or client syndicates), marketing and general planning.

1990 – 1999
Bankwest – Rural Consultant/Manager

Providing a broad advisory and support role including manager training, assisting the bank’s risk management division, client analysis (inc creating and developing “Bankwest Benchmarks”), setting the banks rural valuation policy, industry analysis, valuations. With Bankwest I serviced clients in the northern, central and eastern wheatbelt of Western Australia from bases in the Agribusiness Centre (West Perth), Geraldton and Merredin.

Professional Expertise

I am a director and senior consultant with Planfarm along with being one of the larger shareholders of the group.

In addition to my role as a leader within Planfarm, I consult directly to a large client base in the central and eastern wheatbelt of Western Australia, including managing property for foreign corporate interests. My experience is dominated by broadacre cropping (Cereals, oilseeds and legumes) and livestock (sheep and cattle). The clients I work with are focused on achieving long term, mutually rewarding outcomes and include some of the most profitable farming businesses in the state.

Within Planfarm we encourage stability by our own actions including working with many high performing businesses for well over 10 years.

While with Bankwest (now a subsidiary of the Commonwealth Bank of Australia) I created and developed a benchmarking analysis of the banks farming clients, then later after joining Planfarm effected the merger of the Planfarm and Bankwest surveys to create the Planfarm Bankwest Benchmarks.

This analysis is now the largest and most comprehensive of its kind in Australia including detailed analysis derived from over 530 broadacre farm businesses in Western Australia (this will be close to 20% of the viable farm businesses in the state).

I have presented key papers at the ABARES (Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics) National Outlook Conference in Canberra, the Australian Farm Institute, GRDC (Grains Research and Development Corporation) Crop updates, GRDC Business updates and others.

I aim to provide the tools to assist all businesses we come into contact with improving their performance and capacity.

Professional Associations

• Member of the Australian Association of Agricultural Consultants (WA) Inc
• Member of the Australian Property Institute
• Licensed Valuer No. 044085
• Australian Institute of Company Directors

Background

I am from a farming family in Dandaragan, Western Australia, I maintain an active interest in our property and our local region. Along with a young family, farming is my passion and motivation.

Contact Details

T 08 9622 8202
M 0418 900 065
E

Glen is experienced in Budgeting, Cashflow and Business mapping. With specialist Strategic Planning and assisted decision making using Benchmarking and Commodity Marketing advice.

Qualifications and Membership

• Bachelor of Agribusiness (Marketing), Muresk (Curtin University).
• Member Australian Association of Agricultural Consultants (AAAC) WA.

Business Area

In his role as Farm Management Consultant, Glen covers the following business areas:

• Business analysis - taking the physical and financial data from farm businesses and analysing this at key performance points to assist in the development of the business.
• Budgeting - projecting future cashflows to enable farmers to have a 'business map' from which they can operate.
• Benchmarking - collecting the data from various clients and comparing the performance of individual farms against those from a similar rainfall zone.
• Property purchases and leases - financial analysis and projections relating to purchasing or leasing land.
• Strategic planning - assisting farmers to develop long term plans from which they can make strategic business decisions.
• Grain marketing - provide general information.

Background

Glen grew up in Perth but regularly travelled to Narembeen to visit Grandparents and relatives which sparked his interest in Agriculture. This led to Ag School in Narrogin followed by four years at Muresk. Glen was employed by the National Australia Bank with his first 12 months located on the Murray River in Mildura. After eating a lot of oranges and grapes from the irrigated farms, Glen moved back to WA and worked with NAB in various Wheatbelt locations such as Kondinin, Corrigin, Geraldton and Three Springs. In November 2009, Glen joined the Planfarm team based out of the Northam office.

Interests

Glen has played football in all towns he's worked in and plans to continue this tradition in Northam.

Contact Details

M 0437 704 613

Emily offers timely and tailored grain marketing advice. Along with individualized strategies to manage price risk in the face of production risk and time-saving brokerage and position management experience.

Qualifications and Membership

• Bachelor of Economics (Hons) (UWA - 2007).
• Member of Australian Association of Agricultural Consultants (ACCC) WA.

Business Area

Grain marketing - general advice regarding cost of production, sales planning and grain marketing alternatives

Background

Emily grew up in Zimbabwe and was associated with farming through her grandparents' farm and a number of years spent living on a tea estate. She moved to Australia in 2004. Emily joined Planfarm as a grain marketing advisor at the start of 2012, and was originally at our Wembley office. She is now based out the Northam Office. After finishing university, she worked at the Reserve Bank for four years looking at commodity prices and exports, as well as investment. Moving into grain marketing, she brings with her an understanding of financial markets and derivatives products. She notes that the economics of supply, demand and price applies the world over, be it specific industries like grain markets, or whole economies.

Interests

Emily's interests vary on what is available - ballet isn't as easy to come across out in the country so failing that, netball and golf with a bit of gardening and helping her husband with the sheep will typically fill her weekends up.

Contact Details

M 0410 789 164

• Office Administration
• Agrimaster Data Entry
• Client budget preparation

Contact Details

T  08 9622 8202

Education

1982 UWA – Bachelor of Science (Agriculture) (Honours)

1991 UWA – Bachelor of Commerce

Professional Experience

2003 –            Managing Director of Planfarm Pty Ltd

1992 – 2003   Partner in Planfarm Pty Ltd based in Geraldton

1988 – 1991   Farm Management Consultant Planfarm Pty Ltd

1986 – 1988   Research Officer WA Department of Agriculture Marketing and Economics Branch

1982 – 1986   Research Officer Murdoch University School of Environmental Science

Area of Professional Expertise

In my current position I lead the Planfarm group while still also advising clients on the management of their farm business enterprises.

During my time as Managing Director of Planfarm the business has expanded its services to include specialist agronomists and grain marketing professionals. We now have a staff of 25 professionals dealing with over 480 farm businesses. An increasing area of work is assisting absentee owners with property selection and management of their agricultural investment. Planfarm are also engaged by research organisations including the Grains Research and Development Corporation, UWA, CSIRO, the WA Department of Agriculture and the Australian Meat and Livestock Corporation. Our publications include the annual Planfarm Bankwest Benchmarks which is used extensively as a reference by the agricultural industry.

As a consultant my focus and passion is assisting clients to identify and implement changes to their farm business management to lift overall performance. My education, training and experience dealing with some of the state’s most successful farm businesses allows me to recognise problem areas and advise on the most appropriate remedial action.

My expertise and experience has led to my involvement with numerous committees including the Australian Association of Agricultural Consultants (WA), Crop Updates Steering committee (Chairman), Executive committee and Treasurer of the Grain Industry Association of WA and the Investwest Agribusiness Alliance Steering committee. I am also currently an independent Director of WAMMCO, Western Australia’s largest lamb exporter with annual turnover of $270 million.

I am in demand as a speaker at Agricultural conferences having spoken at events including Crop Updates, Agcon, Liebe Group Womens Day, AAAC(WA) Outlook events and the Mingenew Irwin Group field day. I have experience as an expert witness in the area of farm management and farm finance.

Professional Associations and appointments

• Member of the Australian Society of Certified Practicing Accountants (CPA)
• Member and past president of the Australian Association of Agricultural Consultants (WA) Inc
• Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors

Interests

Sailing, travel, West Coast Eagles and anything to do with agriculture

Contact details

T 08 9284 1044
M 0427 428 400
E

Education

• Bachelor of Science – Deakin University, Vic
• Australian Association of Agricultural Consultants (WA) Inc
• Member Australian Institute of Company Directors
• Family Business Australia

Professional Experience

Cameron is a Director and Senior Consultant at Planfarm. He has been working in Agriculture in Western Australia since 1990.

He holds a Bachelor of Science Degree, is a member of the Australian Association of Agricultural Consultants (WA) as well as the Australian Institute of Company Directors and Family Business Australia.

Cameron is now based in Planfarm’s Floreat Office having previously been based in the Geraldton Office where he led our Consulting team for the past 10 years.

Cameron has unique knowledge of broadacre farming in the Northern Agricultural Region (NAR) where he is widely regarded as one of the industry experts.

He currently consults to some of the largest grain growers in the Region providing detailed farm business analysis, budgeting, business planning, succession planning, grain marketing, production, property management and general business advice.

Cameron also works closely with industry to manage research projects of various types.

He has considerable experience chairing ‘Farm Advisory Boards’ which see farm business owners working with independent members to bring a high level of professionalism to their family businesses.

Areas of Expertise

• General farm management
• Budgeting and financial analysis
• Farm business financing
• Farm business analysis
• Farm business organisation
• Property management
• Strategic planning
• Succession planning
• Research and development

Contact Details

M 0427 006 944
E

Jerome specialises in advice, analysis and strategy for grain marketing.  With experience in implementation of strategy, including brokerage, optimisation and load allocations.  With in depth understanding of client positions, ensuring risk exposures are kept within client thresholds.

Qualifications and Membership

• Bachelor of Science (Agriculture), UWA, 2001.
• Masters of Applied Finance, Kaplan, Currently enrolled.
• Member Australian Association of Agricultural Consultants (AAAC) WA
• Australian Financial Services Representative

Business Area

Jerome joined Planfarm Marketing in 2013 as a grain marketing advisor in the Wembley office, working alongside Emily Dempster and Nathaniel O'Hare.

Background

Jerome grew up on the family farm in Mullewa and attended high school in Geraldton before completing a Bachelor of Science at UWA. Upon graduating in 2001, Jerome spent 3 years with the AWB, based in Geraldton as an Area Manager. During his time there he gained a good understanding of the entire grain marketing system, from the accumulation and logistics of moving the physical grain, the hedging and management of price risk, through to the quality and end user requirements.

After his time at the AWB, Jerome embarked on a 5 year world tour, travelling and working in far flung corners of the globe. Much of the time was spent working for a tourism business in Barcelona, Spain, but he also spent time teaching English, making pizzas, working with charity organisations and even working on a Argentinian ranch as a wannabe gaucho. Each year Jerome would return home to the family farm to do harvest and/or seeding so he could spend time with the family and enjoy the farm life (i.e. to top up the bank account).

Jerome returned from his overseas adventures in 2010 and commenced working as grain marketing advisor, based in Geraldton, before moving to Perth in 2012. He is very proud of the fact that many of the strong client relationships he formed with farmers back at the AWB in 2002 are still alive and strong today and he looks forward to maintaining and growing these relationships for many years to come.

Interests

It would come of little surprise that Jerome's biggest passions are travelling and culture and loves nothing more than getting out of his comfort zone to challenge himself and expand his horizons. When his feet are on the ground in WA he enjoys the usual myriad of sport and socialising, in particular tennis, football (heave ho), hockey and endurance events. Jerome is also an active member of the Swanbourne Nedlands Surf Lifesaving Club.

Contact Details

M 0488 404 848

Nick has national crop variety grain marketing and research experience. He is an expert in individual marketing planning based on profit targets with return optimisation through depth of knowledge in seed varieties and agronomy research.

Qualifications and Membership

• Bachelor of Agribusiness, Curtin University
• Advanced Diploma of Management, Australian Institute of Management

Business Area

Nick joined Planfarm as a Grain Marketing Advisor in the spring of 2014 at the Perth Office.

Background

Nick grew up on the family farm in Kukerin where he spent the large majority of his time until mid-way through 2004. At the end of 1996 after five years of boarding school in Perth he spent a year working full time on the family farm. He then attended the Muresk Institute of Agriculture for the next two years, drifting home for seeding, harvest, cricket and football. Deciding to have a break from studies, Nick spent the next two years gaining industry experience working for Elders in Cunderdin, before returning to complete the final two years of study in 2002, graduating at the end of 2003.

Following graduation, Nick spent 10 months on the family farm and then travelled to Europe from a London base, having some memorable adventures before returning home for header duties in 2005. Nick joined Agrisearch as a Project Biologist based in York for two years managing various agronomic research trials. He then joined Pacific Seeds in the role of WA Territory Manager , primarily specialising in canola. Nick held the position of National Marketing Coordinator and Senior Marketing Manager for Western Australia with wheat breeding company, Australian Grain Technologies from 2010 prior to joining Planfarm Marketing in Spring 2014.

Interests

Nick has a young family and when the opportunity presents he can usually be found surfing or playing Masters Football in winter. When not in the water or changing nappies Nick follows most sports particualrly supporting the mighty Geelong Cats in the AFL.

Contact Details

M 0488 303 070

Sophie offers timely and tailored grain marketing advice. Along with individualized strategies to manage price risk in the face of production risk and time-saving brokerage and position management experience.

Qualifications and Membership

• Bachelor of Commerce (Economics), Bond University  

Business Area

Grain marketing - general advice regarding cost of production, sales planning and grain marketing alternatives

Background

Sophie grew up on her family’s mixed farm in Arthur River, where she developed a love for animals and all things outdoors. After completing her high school studies at Methodist Ladies’ College, she received a scholarship to study Economics at Bond University on the Gold Coast. This enabled her to fast-track her degree to complete it in two years. Whilst at Bond, Sophie enjoyed participating in a range of sports, including beach volleyball and basketball. She also completed an internship at a financial services firm, where she gained knowledge of a range of financial products. After graduation, Sophie spent six months working on the family farm, driving the chaser-bin during harvest and helping with sheep work. Sophie joined the Planfarm Marketing team at the Floreat office in October 2016. 

Interests

Sophie enjoys travelling, photography and is a keen gardener. On weekends, she tries to visit the farm as much as possible, to tend to her ever-growing flock of pet sheep. She has recently become a novice apiarist (beekeeper) and is likely to remain one until stung. 

Contact Details

M 0431 489 623

Colin's vast experience includes business profile analysis with Company, Product Marketing and Branding. Client relationships, recruitment and retention.

Colin has a varied background commencing with working in the education sector (teaching), running his own business, working in the sports industry and spending quite a few years in the area of Business Development.

Business area

The skill set Colin brings to Planfarm has allowed him to work in a number of areas and value add to Planfarm including:

• Establishing systems within the Planfarm structure to enhance efficiency and quality control
• Develop strategic and operational planning
• Provide a marketing and communication strategy to support and assist the Consultants in their recruitment, servicing and retention of clients
• Employ business analysis strategies to assist in the growth of the company
• Identify and implement recruitment strategies
• Develop a database system that supports the business
• Provide HR structure and support to employees of Planfarm

Interests

Away from the working environment Colin is kept extremely busy with his 4 boys. All are heavily involved in sport with football, surfing and cricket. Free weekends and holidays are taken up with their love of the outdoors, camping, snorkelling, surfing, beaching, bushwalkiing, swagging, tenting and sight seeing. Travel provides a great escape from the rotuine and committment of work and sport.

Contact Details

M 0413 343 888

• Office Administration
• Agrimaster Data Entry
• Publications
• Accounts
• Pays
• BAS preparation

Alex has had some unique experience through his exposure to the corporate world of farming throughout Australia, as well as the valuable background of being raised on the family farm in Western Australia.

Background

Alex grew up on the family farm in Gnowangerup and attended boarding school at Hale in Perth, WA. On completion of High School, Alex attended the University of Western Australia (UWA) where he completed an honours project looking at the comparison of weight gain in sheep using traditional trail feeding and the more recently adopted controlled “lick” feeders. After graduating from UWA, Alex spent 12 months travelling through Europe and working on the family farm before moving to Melbourne to work for AAG Investment Management. Alex started out as an Analyst and later as an Asset Manager working across a range of small and large scale farming operations including sheep, grains, dairy, and horticulture throughout Australia. During his time in Melbourne, Alex gained experience working for institutional, family office and individual investors to provide services across property identification, acquisition, operational & financial management and disposition.

Alex moved back to Perth to be closer to friends and family and joined Planfarm in February 2017 based out of the Floreat office.

Qualifications and Membership

• Bachelor of Science – Agriculture with Honours
• Bachelor of Commerce - Corporate and Investment Finance

Business Skills

• People management
• Agricultural asset management
• Investment capital structuring
• Risk management
• Financial reporting
• Liaising with clients
• Annual operating plans for farm assets
• Budget forecasting

Interests

Contact Details

M 0428 125 821