Agricultural shows Australia

Governance - Board of Directors
Dr Robert Wilson

Dr Robert Wilson

Chair

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.

Brock Gilmour

Brock Gilmour

Company Secretary

Mr Gilmour has a strong background in venue and financial management, business analysis and strategic planning.

Mr Gilmour is the Chief Executive of the Royal Agricultural Society of NSW (RAS) where he oversees all activities conducted by the RAS – Business strategy and development, Council and corporate affairs, Government and Stakeholder relations.  With over 20 years’ experience at the Royal Agricultural Society of NSW and holds a Bachelor of Science and Mathematics and a Bachelor of Economics and Accounting. Mr Gilmour has a thorough understanding of all business operations, with an education to match.

Directors Representing Regional Members

David Peters

David Peters

Director, AgShows NSW

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 Capp

Tim Capp

Director, AgShows NSW

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 Bennett

Brian Bennett

CEO, Royal National Agricultural & Pastoral Society of Tasmania (RNAPS)

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.

Directors Representing Royal Members

 

Brendan Christou

Brendan Christou

Chief Executive, RNA

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.

Michael Millner

Michael Millner

President, Royal Agricultural Society of NSW

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.

Brad Jenkins

Brad Jenkins

CEO, Melbourne Royal

Brad is an accomplished, trusted and commercially astute leader who has more than 25 years of senior management experience. He has worked for a variety of highly respected organisations across a range of sectors including agriculture, events, venues, hospitality, entertainment, leisure, sport, and media.

Brad has an outstanding track record in achieving desired outcomes predominantly for member based organisations including but not limited to: successfully leading, planning and delivering large events and projects; maximising commercial outcomes; enhancing member value and growing membership; reinvigorating brands and events; developing new events, promotions, products and brands; developing new markets and business opportunities; and developing and leading teams recognised as high performers and achievers.

His specific areas of expertise include but not limited to: event and venue management, membership, marketing, commercial rights, business growth and development, branding, strategic planning, customer experience and engagement, PR and communications.

Brad commenced at Melbourne Royal ® (Royal Agricultural Society of Victoria Limited) in April 2008 as General Manager, Marketing and Business Development and in 2018 became Chief Commercial Officer.

In October 2019, he was appointed Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Melbourne Royal.

Robyn Sermon

Robyn Sermon

CEO Royal Agricultural Society of Western Australia (RASWA)

Robyn is an Executive Leader and Board Director with extensive experience developing strategy, transforming teams and business leadership.

She was born and raised on a farm in the wheatbelt region and has 30 years’ experience across the education, agriculture, mining and health sectors focusing on regional development, stakeholder engagement and community infrastructure.

She has lived and worked in regional WA and Queensland and also spent time working overseas.  She has worked for a federal government Minister, Rio Tinto, UWA and WA Country Health.  She has experience leading large redevelopments of regional mining towns and community infrastructure, managed 6 pastoral stations and operated an innovative hay growing project from mine dewatering in addition to extensive work in environment, Indigenous agreements, community and social impact.

She joined the Royal Agricultural Society of WA as the CEO in March 2022 and is the first female CEO of the organisation in its 193 years. Robyn is leading the society through a growth period including redevelopment of the Showground site. As part of the role Robyn runs the Perth Royal Show which is WA’s largest community event.

She has a Bachelor of Arts in Industrial Relations (UWA) and post-graduate diplomas in Journalism (Murdoch University) and Cross Sector Partnerships (Cambridge University). She is a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, an alumnus of Leadership WA and has served long periods on not-for-profit boards including the Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS) in WA and as a National representative.

Directors Representing Emerging Leaders Members

 

Carla Miladinovic

Carla Miladinovic

RNA Future Directions Committee

Carla grew up in western Queensland on her family’s property ‘Victoria Downs’, a merino stud which has been in her family since 1906.

While she no longer lives out west, Carla maintains a passion for agriculture and views the Ekka as an event that brings a taste of her upbringing to the city for the people of Queensland to enjoy. In 2014, Carla managed 56 events over the Ekka show period as part of the internal events schedule and acted as tour guide for the Royal Agricultural Society of the Commonwealth pre- conference tour.

Carla has been a member of the RNA Future Directions Committee since 2016 and Deputy Chair from 2018-2020, a life member of the RNA for 25 years and a steward at the Ekka for nearly 20 years in the sheep and wool section.

Since 2020, Carla has been part of ASA Emerging Leaders and has enjoyed contributing to the compilation of the groups strategic plan and direction for moving forward. She looks forward to actively participating as part of the group as we look to sustain the future of agricultural shows through a next generation approach.

Carla has extensive experience in event, sponsorship and project management and currently works as an Events and Sponsorship Manager at The University of Queensland.

Brianna Hockey

Brianna Hockey

Emerging Leaders Director – ASA Board

Brianna is a rural solicitor based in her hometown of Monto, Queensland where she is also Junior Vice President of the Monto & District Show Society. 

Brianna has been involved with the Monto Show her entire life and it was through the Show and its various youth competitions that she was afforded opportunities to become involved at a Sub Chamber, State and National level.  Currently the Burnett Sub Chamber Secretary, Treasurer and Young Judges coordinator, Brianna has also held roles as 2019 Queensland Rural Ambassador Runner Up, having an opportunity to attend the 2021 ASA National Rural Ambassador final in Sydney in 2022, was a Director of Queensland Ag Shows, former Chair of the Queensland Rural Ambassador committee and with the Queensland Ag Shows Next Generation Committee as Treasurer and then President.

Brianna’s proudest achievement as an emerging leader within the Show Movement was the partnership between ASA and Queensland Ag Shows Next Generation which delivered the 2020 Agricultural Shows of Australia Inaugural Conference at the Gold Coast. 

Her community also sees her hold the roles of Director of North Burnett Community Enterprises Limited which operates the Mundubbera Bendigo Community Bank Branch Franchise and as Honorary Solicitor to a number of Agricultural Shows throughout the Burnett.

ASA Board Charter

This charter sets out the role, structure, responsibilities and operation of the Board of ASA and its delegation of authority to management. 

ASA Board Skills Matrix

 A matrix of the desired skills and experience has been developed as a guide in identifying individuals who have a wide range experience and skills and who will be able to contribute collegiately as Directors and the Board as a whole. 

promoting the role and significance of Australian Agricultural Shows to the wider community

About Ag Shows Australia

Agricultural Shows Australia represents over 580 shows nation-wide and works to engage, influence and promote the essential value of Australian Agriculture.

Ag Shows