Planfarm provides a one-stop professional service utilising Farm Business Consultants, Agronomists and Grain Marketers with hundreds of years’ combined experience in the Australian farming industry.

Gerard O’Brien
Planfarm Chair
Gerard has a diverse background in finance, farming, property and banking. He has held pivotal roles with high profile institutions such as Bankwest, where he was an agricultural consultant, and later switched to corporate finance. Aside from leading the Planfarm board, Gerard has significant personal interests including farm businesses and sits on several boards.

Graeme McConnell
Planfarm Managing Director, Farm Business Consultant & Horticulture Consultant
B.Bus (Agri)
B.Com (Property)
GAICD
Graeme is charged with leading the strategic direction and decisions of Planfarm and additionally partners with clients to ensure they achieve long-term, rewarding outcomes across their entire agri-business. Graeme is renowned for having developed the ‘Planfarm Benchmarks’, now the largest and most comprehensive of its kind in Australia, with cutting edge analysis derived from over 500 broadacre farm businesses in WA.
View Graeme’s LinkedIn Profile
Eric Hall
Director of Grain Marketing, AFIM and Terrawise & Farm Business Consultant
B.Bus (ACC FIN)
GAICD
Following a career in agricultural banking and finance, Eric joined Planfarm in 2004 and adds a wealth of experience to the group, both as an advisor and a valued Director. Eric partners with clients to provide management guidance, as well as being one of our key authorised grain marketing advisors.
View Eric's LinkedIn Profile
Cameron Weeks
Director of Farm Business Consulting & Farm Business Consultant
B.Sc
GAICD
Cameron, a Planfarm director, is widely regarded as a leading expert in broadacre farming in the northern agricultural region (NAR). Cameron partners with clients, many of whom are amongst the state’s largest grain growers, to deliver detailed business analysis, budgeting, financing, business and production planning along with successfully leading many of them through the challenges of farm succession planning.
View Cameron's LinkedIn Profile
Paul Omodei
Director of Horticulture, Horticulture Consultant & Farm Business Consultant
B.Sc Agri (Hons)
Paul is one of the state’s most respected pasture and livestock systems Agronomist's and brings to Planfarm a wealth of experience in integrated operational management and sustainability. Before joining our board, Paul held senior management roles with ag giant, CSBP. Today, Paul partners with clients to deliver outstanding support, advice and analysis across the full agri-business spectrum. He also proffers significant experience in family succession planning and sits on several client advisory boards.
View Paul’s LinkedIn Profile
Jerome Critch
Director of Grain Marketing & Grain Marketing Advisor
B.Sci (Agri)
Jerome has more than 10 years of experience as a grain marketing advisor and partners with his clients to provide tailored advice, management and analysis, including strategy, brokerage and derivatives trades. Born into a farming enterprise in Mullewa (WA), Jerome previously held an area management position within AWB. Jerome has also performed voluntary roles with the WAFarmers Grains Council and GRDC, and completed a Nuffield Fellowship. Jerome is an authorised AFS representative for dealing in grain derivatives and foreign exchange.
View Jerome’s LinkedIn Profile
Richard Quinlan
Director of Agronomy & Agronomist
B.AgSc
With more than 30 years of industry experience, inclusive of both research and senior management roles in high profile, publicly listed enterprise, Richard is one of Western Australia’s leading Agronomists and partners with our clients and industry bodies to provide blue-chip, independent technical advice and corporate leadership.
View Richard’s LinkedIn Profile
Graeme McConnell
Planfarm Managing Director, Farm Business Consultant & Horticulture Consultant
B.Bus (Agri)
B.Com (Property)
GAICD
Graeme is charged with leading the strategic direction and decisions of Planfarm and additionally partners with clients to ensure they achieve long-term, rewarding outcomes across their entire agri-business. Graeme is renowned for having developed the ‘Planfarm Benchmarks’, now the largest and most comprehensive of its kind in Australia, with cutting edge analysis derived from over 500 broadacre farm businesses in WA.
View Graeme’s LinkedIn Profile
Eric Hall
Director of Grain Marketing, AFIM and Terrawise & Farm Business Consultant
B.Bus (ACC FIN)
GAICD
Following a career in agricultural banking and finance, Eric joined Planfarm in 2004 and adds a wealth of experience to the group, both as an advisor and a valued Director. Eric partners with clients to provide management guidance, as well as being one of our key authorised grain marketing advisors.
View Eric's LinkedIn Profile
Cameron Weeks
Director of Farm Business Consulting & Farm Business Consultant
B.Sc
GAICD
Cameron, a Planfarm director, is widely regarded as a leading expert in broadacre farming in the northern agricultural region (NAR). Cameron partners with clients, many of whom are amongst the state’s largest grain growers, to deliver detailed business analysis, budgeting, financing, business and production planning along with successfully leading many of them through the challenges of farm succession planning.
View Cameron's LinkedIn Profile
Paul Omodei
Director of Horticulture, Horticulture Consultant & Farm Business Consultant
B.Sc Agri (Hons)
Paul is one of the state’s most respected pasture and livestock systems Agronomist's and brings to Planfarm a wealth of experience in integrated operational management and sustainability. Before joining our board, Paul held senior management roles with ag giant, CSBP. Today, Paul partners with clients to deliver outstanding support, advice and analysis across the full agri-business spectrum. He also proffers significant experience in family succession planning and sits on several client advisory boards.
View Paul’s LinkedIn Profile
Walter Millsteed
Farm Business Consultant
B.Bus (Agric)
Grad Dip Fin Plan
Walter is a highly respected and experienced agricultural expert and long-term member of Planfarm. Walter partners with clients to provide critical expertise and guidance in business goal setting, financial and farm production planning. He is also particularly adept in the areas of succession planning, property purchase feasibility analysis and the assessment of leasing and share-farming opportunities.
View Walter's LinkedIn profile
Peter Newman
Farm Business Consultant
B.Sc Agri (Hons)
One of Western Australia’s highest-profile agricultural experts, Peter has developed and lead the implementation of the hugely successful ‘Planfarm Academy’. An acknowledged herbicide-resistant weed expert, Peter partners with clients to share his invaluable research and management experience, improving the outcome for farm businesses throughout Australia.

Glen Brayshaw
Farm Business Consultant & Grain Marketing Advisor
B.AgBus (Marketing)
Before joining Planfarm in 2009, Glen enjoyed a successful career with NAB Agribusiness. Today, Glen uses his financial expertise to partner with our clients and provide exceptional advice in business analysis, budgeting, benchmarking, commodity marketing, property and strategic planning.
View Glen’s LinkedIn Profile
Pierre Maartens
Farm Business Consultant
B.Com (Econ & Bank)
MBA
Prior to joining Planfarm in 2016, Pierre built a successful career in banking and finance, specialising in agriculture and covering disciplines including broadacre, livestock, feedlots and processing. Today, Pierre partners with clients to provide whole of business advice and analysis, taking the physical and financial data from operations and considering key performance points to assist in continual improvement.

Rob Grima
Farm Business Consultant
B.Sc Agri (Hons)
Rob brings to Planfarm an enviable professional history spanning more than 20 years. Beginning as a Research Economist with the Department of Agriculture, he later took on a role for almost a decade as an Agronomist with Elders before reverting to economic research where he specialised in the economics of crop protection and innovative livestock management options. Today, Rob is well known in the industry particularly in the northern agricultural region with clients right across the Geraldton zone. He applies his unique experience to partner with clients to deliver outstanding results, service and support.

Tyson Fry
Farm Business Consultant & Horticulture Consultant
B.Sc Agri Econ (Hons)
Prior to joining Planfarm, Tyson worked with prominent Australian grain accumulation and export business, Plum Grove. In this role, he was responsible for managing grain pool products in several states, gaining extensive experience in global grain markets, commodity trading and risk management. These are just some of the skills he has brought with him to Planfarm, where he partners with agribusiness clients from a number of sectors to deliver business analysis, advice and support.

Stephen Cocking
Farm Business Consultant
B.AgSc (Hons)
B.Com
Steve has enjoyed a successful career that began in commercial banking, eventually leading to his last role with Rabobank. In this role, he supplemented his passion for agriculture with a strong understanding of sustainable farm systems, profit drivers, price risk management and long-term business strategy. Joining Planfarm in 2019, Steve partners with clients to provide valuable performance analysis, strategic/capital planning and development of business capacity.

Carter Johnson
Farm Business Consultant & Horticulture Consultant
B.AgBus
A strong interest in economics and biological sciences led Carter to Curtin University and a Bachelor of Agribusiness, which in turn led to a graduate role with Planfarm. Carter has developed valuable expertise on Horticulture and Broadacre farming through driving the preparation of Horticulture Benchmarks and Broadacre Benchmarks.
As Carter builds his knowledge and skillset of both Western Australian agriculture and Planfarm’s dynamic and diversified client base, he will also contribute to the future of our continual growth and improvement.

Andrew Jones
Farm Business Consultant
Grad. Dip FBM
Prior to joining Planfarm Andrew has had a successful career in Agribusiness Finance and the Corporate Agriculture sector over a period of more than 20 years. During this time he has had a strong focus on crop production in wide range of environments in Australia as well as significant exposure to Rangelands production, the feedlot cattle industry and the Live Export trade. Today, Andrew brings a broad range of financial management experience coupled with a practical operations background. He is known for his skills at financial modelling for budgets, production analysis and planning for future requirements.
View Andrews Linkedin profile
Sang Ravindran
Graduate Consultant
B.AgBus
A graduate consultant and an exciting component of Planfarm’s future, Sang began her professional journey whilst still at school, in year twelve winning a coveted PICSE scholarship, and later completing a Bachelor of Agribusiness. Using her enthusiasm, academic prowess and professional experience, Sang partners with the Planfarm team and clients to provide cutting edge, current advice and analysis.

Bronson Gledhill
Graduate Consultant
B.Agric
Bronson was a targeted recruit and joined Planfarm immediately upon graduation from Curtin University, where he successfully completed a Bachelor of Agribusiness. His final year of study included an internship with a farm management firm and bolstering his readiness for professional life. Bronson partners with our consultancy team and clients to manage review preparation and workflow operations.

Eric Hall
Director of Grain Marketing, AFIM and Terrawise & Farm Business Consultant
B.Bus (ACC FIN)
GAICD
Following a career in agricultural banking and finance, Eric joined Planfarm in 2004 and adds a wealth of experience to the group, both as an advisor and a valued Director. Eric partners with clients to provide management guidance, as well as being one of our key authorised grain marketing advisors.
View Eric's LinkedIn Profile
Emily Dempster
General Manager of Grain Marketing & Grain Marketing Advisor
BEC (Hons)
With qualifications focusing on finance and economics and a background in banking, Emily joined Planfarm in 2012. Emily partners with clients to proffer expert grain marketing advice and individualised strategies to manage price risk, brokerage and position management and judicious leadership in the areas of global grain supply, demand and price.

Jerome Critch
Director of Grain Marketing & Grain Marketing Advisor
B.Sci (Agri)
Jerome has more than 10 years of experience as a grain marketing advisor and partners with his clients to provide tailored advice, management and analysis, including strategy, brokerage and derivatives trades. Born into a farming enterprise in Mullewa (WA), Jerome previously held an area management position within AWB. Jerome has also performed voluntary roles with the WAFarmers Grains Council and GRDC, and completed a Nuffield Fellowship. Jerome is an authorised AFS representative for dealing in grain derivatives and foreign exchange.
View Jerome’s LinkedIn Profile
Jacqueline Warr
Grain Marketing Advisor
Jacquie’s agricultural journey began in 2000 with the Australian Wheat Board – evolving into a Grain Marketing Advisor role which sees her years of industry experience benefit growers across WA. Highly engaged and motivated, Jacquie partners with growers to provide tailored grain strategies in line with current local and global environments.
View Jacquie’s LinkedIn Profile
Glen Brayshaw
Farm Business Consultant & Grain Marketing Advisor
B.AgBus (Marketing)
Before joining Planfarm in 2009, Glen enjoyed a successful career with NAB Agribusiness. Today, Glen uses his financial expertise to partner with our clients and provide exceptional advice in business analysis, budgeting, benchmarking, commodity marketing, property and strategic planning.
View Glen’s LinkedIn Profile
Adrian Mondy
Grain Marketing Advisor
B.Bus (Agric)
Raised on the family farm in Mukinbudin, Adrian worked in farm management for over a decade before starting his ag journey as a Customer Quality Officer with CBH Operations. After four years as WA Regional Manager for Flexi Grain, Adrian joined the Planfarm team where he enjoys working closely with growers to provide them with the support, planning, market analysis and advice they require to achieve their grain marketing goals.
View Adrian's LinkedIn profile
Nic Sewell
Grain Marketing Advisor
B.Com
GradDip AgBus
Nic proffers in-depth and wide-ranging expertise in all aspects of grain marketing including brokerage, strategy, individual market planning, logistics and market analysis.
Nic partners with clients to create rewarding and enduring relationships, as well as an extremely high level of informed grain marketing advice and general farm business strategy.

Chad Jefferis
Grain Marketing Advisor
Prior to establishing his career in grain marketing, Chad was a professional farmer for 13 years primarily involved in broadacre cropping and livestock management. Since 2012, Chad has garnered an incredible wealth of experience and exposure to local and global grain markets and today partners with clients to provide unique support, strategic direction and advice.

Richard Quinlan
Director of Agronomy & Agronomist
B.AgSc
With more than 30 years of industry experience, inclusive of both research and senior management roles in high profile, publicly listed enterprise, Richard is one of Western Australia’s leading Agronomists and partners with our clients and industry bodies to provide blue-chip, independent technical advice and corporate leadership.
View Richard’s LinkedIn Profile
Nick McKenna
Agronomist
B.Sc
An experienced Agronomist with international experience ranging from the efficacy of harvest weed seed control to the development of herbicide resistance traits in sunflowers and sorghum, Nick adds a fantastic dynamic to our Agronomy team. Still completing various academic undertakings whilst working, Nick partners with clients and his peers to impart valuable, current advice and a level of unparalleled professional support.

Simon Leake
Agronomist
B. Sc, B. Com
Simon has 5 years of industry experience working in research and advisory positions since completing his extensive university studies. Originating from a mixed farming enterprise in Pingelly, Simon has excellent hands-on experience in broadacre farming and this combined with his attention to detail acquired from trial work in the Mid-West and knowledge from agronomy in Kojonup and Katanning makes Simon a fantastic addition to the team.

Graeme McConnell
Planfarm Managing Director, Farm Business Consultant & Horticulture Consultant
B.Bus (Agri)
B.Com (Property)
GAICD
Graeme is charged with leading the strategic direction and decisions of Planfarm and additionally partners with clients to ensure they achieve long-term, rewarding outcomes across their entire agri-business. Graeme is renowned for having developed the ‘Planfarm Benchmarks’, now the largest and most comprehensive of its kind in Australia, with cutting edge analysis derived from over 500 broadacre farm businesses in WA.
View Graeme’s LinkedIn Profile
Paul Omodei
Director of Horticulture, Horticulture Consultant & Farm Business Consultant
B.Sc Agri (Hons)
Paul is one of the state’s most respected pasture and livestock systems Agronomist's and brings to Planfarm a wealth of experience in integrated operational management and sustainability. Before joining our board, Paul held senior management roles with ag giant, CSBP. Today, Paul partners with clients to deliver outstanding support, advice and analysis across the full agri-business spectrum. He also proffers significant experience in family succession planning and sits on several client advisory boards.
View Paul’s LinkedIn Profile
Tyson Fry
Farm Business Consultant & Horticulture Consultant
B.Sc Agri Econ (Hons)
Prior to joining Planfarm, Tyson worked with prominent Australian grain accumulation and export business, Plum Grove. In this role, he was responsible for managing grain pool products in several states, gaining extensive experience in global grain markets, commodity trading and risk management. These are just some of the skills he has brought with him to Planfarm, where he partners with agribusiness clients from a number of sectors to deliver business analysis, advice and support.

Carter Johnson
Farm Business Consultant & Horticulture Consultant
B.AgBus
A strong interest in economics and biological sciences led Carter to Curtin University and a Bachelor of Agribusiness, which in turn led to a graduate role with Planfarm. Carter has developed valuable expertise on Horticulture and Broadacre farming through driving the preparation of Horticulture Benchmarks and Broadacre Benchmarks.
As Carter builds his knowledge and skillset of both Western Australian agriculture and Planfarm’s dynamic and diversified client base, he will also contribute to the future of our continual growth and improvement.

Colin Rose
Project Manager
B.AppSc PE
Colin forms the very important nucleus of Planfarm and its varied professional divisions. He has significant expertise across a range of diverse business disciplines and partners with our entire team to develop and guide policies, procedures, efficiencies and indeed the integral direction of the Planfarm brand and ethos.

Karen Borrett
Administration
Karen’s previous banking management skills have provided Planfarm with a highly skilled accounts employee to manage the creditors and debtors and invoicing throughout the entire Planfarm group. Based out of Planfarm's Northam office, Karen is essential in providing valuable consultant support as well as being responsible for the Planfarm groups wages. Karen provides input on HR, consultants farm business budgets, and management of Planfarm's herbicide app.

Shirley O’Farrell
Administration
Following an extensive banking background, Shirley is now an essential component of the Narrogin office's Admin team. Shirley works on Planfarm Marketing's compliance and accounting as well as handling budget bookings and coordination and Consultant support. Shirley’s excellent communicative and client liaison skills ensure every visitor to the Narrogin office experiences a professional and warm and friendly visit to Planfarm.

Rachael Ferguson
Administration
Rachael’s meticulous nature and previous banking experience has ensured she is a highly valued member of Planfarm's Narrogin team, fulfilling a range of administrative roles, including Consultant support, budget coordination and preparation, and internal training for Planfarm's support team members including the graduate program. Rachael’s highly credentialled and regarded administrative skills are utilised by many of her Planfarm teammates throughout all the offices in WA to great effect.

Hannah Franz
Administration
B.Agric
Post academia, Hannah launched her professional career with global accounting and business services firm, RSM. Just one of nine individuals selected nationally by Meat & Livestock Australia to participate in a Livestock Internship, Hannah joined Planfarm in 2015 and now partners with our team to provides brilliant administrative guidance, benchmarking and business review preparation.
View Hannah's LinkedIn profile
Marnie Thurkle
Administration
From a Mid-West farming background, Marnie worked all over WA before settling in Geraldton. Here she puts her qualification in Business Management to excellent use, supporting the Geraldton offices’ Business Consultants and Agronomists throughout the year as well as publishing Planfarm's various newsletters, media releases and event flyers, coordinating Planfarm’s various social media and communication platforms, and providing assistance across all things Planfarm Academy.
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Client Testimonials
We’ve had the principal farm for 80 years and, like any business, you can get a little comfortable. Partnering with Planfarm gives us another perspective and allows smarter, independent decision making and analysis. We better understand the profit drivers in our business which has led to the opportunity to expand our operation via acquisition and lease.
– James and Margaret Couper
We moved from South Africa two years ago, as potato and summer crop farmers, broadacre grain and sheep was a whole new experience. My son JP has taken on the full responsibility of farming our farm after the loss of my husband in South Africa only weeks before we moved. Planfarm have been critical in strategic planning and educating us on Australian farming conditions and accessing and building historical production records. Planfarm is an important factor in our succession planning as our situation is not a simple, standard plan, their role is vital for our future as a young family.
– Samantha Van De Velde
We’ve partnered with Planfarm for three generations. They help to keep us level headed and to approach farm operations, succession planning and general business with a balanced view. They are a great sounding board for our ideas and bring many of their own to the table. Importantly, Planfarm’s historical records of the business allow us to review data and make informed decisions. I’ve also participated in Planfarm Academy which has been very beneficial.
– Paul Ward