Rob has been Chair of the ASA since 2016. Rob is recognised for his significant contribution to the Australian Pork Industry, through his expert knowledge of intensive animal production, animal welfare, environmental and waste management systems and commercialization of innovative technologies. Rob’s expertise also extends to research and development funding and management and has strong cooperative relationships with pork producers, R&D providers, biotechnology and agribusiness companies and government agencies.

Currently Rob also holds additional complementary roles including Immediate Past President – Royal Agricultural Society of WA, Chairman – Curtin University Health Innovative Research Institute, Director – Advisory Board, Harvest Road Group Pty Ltd & Director – Food Agility CRC.

David Peter’s Show involvement started at age 15 as a volunteer worker at his local Show, Lithgow. He has been the Show Secretary, Vice President and then President plus Ringmaster. He started attending Group meetings in 1980 representing Lithgow.  He represented the Group at AgShows NSW from 2002, becoming a Vice President in 2010 and President in 2016. He was a member of the inaugural board of Agricultural Shows Australia in 2016 becoming the first Chairman of ASA’s National Competitions Working Group.

His occupations have been Engineering and Science related. Currently operate a small Beef Cattle operation in the Blue Mountains area of NSW.

He sees Agricultural Shows as an integral part of Australian Country life, imbedded in culture and a true community-based organisation that not only promotes agriculture but also provides a local event where all walks of life gather. Shows provide support and a focus for Rural communities in good and bad times.

Tim is a 5th generation beef cattle producer located at Gresford in the lower Hunter Valley of New South Wales. The area is renowned for it’s cattle, both beef and dairy, thoroughbred horse breeding and is a significant wine producing region of Australia. 

Tim joined AgShows NSW in 2009 and is currently immediate past President. He has been chairman of the Horse, Showgirl, Rural Achiever and Education Committees during his time with AgShows NSW which has provided a deep understanding of all aspects of the Agricultural show movement. He has attended the National Young Judges and Paraders championships since 2013 giving him a thorough knowledge on all National competitions and guidelines.

During his time at AgShows NSW he has been instrumental in developing and maintaining liaisons with state and local ministers ensuring agricultural shows are seen as relevant and uniquely important to our communities. Recently after consistent negotiations a $5,000 country shows sponsorship package was secured for all regional NSW agricultural shows through a non-competitive application process. 

Other organizations he has been a member of include the Rural Lands Protection Board of NSW, Native Vegetation Committee (Hunter Valley), NSW Farmers Association and past President of his local Ag Show.

Brian is a Fellow of the Australian Marketing Institute and the CEO with the Royal National Agricultural & Pastoral Society of Tasmania (RNAPS). Prior to joining RNAPS he was employed with the Australian National Railways Commission (ANRC) for a period exceeding 23 years in a variety of roles in Administration, Finance and Business Development.  He is a Life member of the Poultry Club of Tasmania and Wyandotte Club of Tasmania as well as a member of the Tasmanian Poultry Fanciers Association Hall of Fame.

Longford (Tas) is his local agricultural show which he has exhibited there since 1966 and volunteers as a Steward since 1968. He joined the Committee in 1988 as Chief Steward of the Poultry Section, a position he still holds which now includes pigeons and canaries.  He is a past President and Life member of the Longford Show Society.

His passion for poultry and employment regularly takes him to all parts of our great country to be involved in what is normally the largest attended event in local communities, their agricultural show.  Regardless of size or location it is essential that we work together to retain the culture and relevance of agricultural shows and to ensure their sustainability for future generations.

BBus QUT MBA Curtin CPA

Brendan Christou was appointed Chief Executive of the RNA in 2012, after serving as Deputy Chief Executive / Chief Operating Officer since 2009. A Certified Practicing Accountant, Mr Christou started at the RNA in 2004 as the association’s Financial Controller. His previous experience spans across the retail, engineering and financial services industries. He holds a Bachelor Business (Accountancy) from QUT and completed his Master of Business Administration from Curtin University in 2008. Mr Christou is a former board member of the International Association of Fairs and Expositions (IAFE) and is also the immediate Past President of The Committee for Brisbane.

Mr Michael Millner, recently appointed Royal Agricultural Society of NSW President, has joined the ASA Board as a casual director and shall seek appointment at the April 2021 AGM should he wish.

Mr. Michael John Millner, M.A.I.C.D. serves as a Principal of Rosedale Charolais Stud, a farming and
grazing operation in New South Wales. He has over 45 years’ experience in the rural industry and has extensive experience in the investment industry. Mr Millner has exhibited Cattle at the Royal Easter Show for 38 years and Exhibits Steers in the RAS Beef Challenge Feedlot Trial. He supports local schools with steers to exhibit at the Royal Easter Show.

Matt Coleman was appointed as a Director of the RASV in 2011 and subsequently elected President in 2016.  He owns a 400-cow commercial dairy farm in Gippsland, approximately 100 kms south east of Melbourne.

Matt recognises the fundamentally important role agricultural societies have to promote and celebrate farmers and their produce as well as continuing to educate mainstream society on the role of farmers in land stewardship and in the reliable supply of food and fibre.  ASA demonstrated during COVID-hit 2020 the very important role it can play in being a national unified voice for the show movement.

Prior to purchasing and returning to his family dairy farm in 2010, Matt held significant roles in the Federal public service directly relevant to agribusiness.  Those roles were initially in commercialising the primary-production use of Indigenous-held land and then subsequently liberalising the export of bulk wheat from Australia.

Matt holds a Bachelor of Agricultural Science from Melbourne Uni. and a Masters of Agricultural Economics from The University of London.  He is a current Director of Showground Nominees Pty Ltd (the holding entity for the Melbourne Showgrounds).

Edward Scott has been extensively involved with the Agricultural Show movement. At regional level Edward has been involved with his local Country Show – Port Elliot Show with focus on the Horses in Action and main area activities. Through the local Countr yShows, Edward was nominated for the Young Rural Ambassador in 2008 and was Runner-up in the Rural Ambassador in 2013.

He has been involved with the SA Next Generation Group since its inception as a steering committee in 2010 and President of the Group in 2015 and 2016 and still an active Executive committee member of the Group. Edward’s involvement in the Group has necessitated on-going development to get to the stage where the SA Next Gen Group is now its own incorporated body.

He has also been involved with the Royal Agricultural and Horticultural Society of SA (RA&HS) since 2009 where he was initially a Steward for the Pastoral Committee and since 2014 has been a Steward with the Horses in Action and Main Arena events. From 2015-2017 Edward was appointed to the role of Youth Councilor on the RA&HS Council as part of the Agribusiness committee. Further to this role Edward has worked with the RA&HS to engage and increase youth involvement in the RA&HS, utilizing the Next Generation Group as a network to encourage greater involvement with the Show movement.