Nominations open for next National Farmers’ Federation president
Jostling has begun over who will become the next head of Australia’s peak farming advocacy body, ahead of the group’s annual general meeting in October.
The search is on for the next president of the National Farmers’ Federation, with nominations opening on Thursday, ahead of current president David Jochinke’s term expiring later this year.
Two director positions on the board will also be vacant come the NFF’s annual general meeting in October.
One expected to throw her name in the ring is current board member and Durong, Queensland, farmer Georgie Somerset, who if elected would be the second female president of the NFF after Fiona Simson.
Another contender could be fellow Queenslander Hamish McIntyre, St George-based cotton grower and managing Director of McIntyre Agriculture, a family-owned farming and livestock business, who joined the board in 2023.
The NFF Board currently comprises the president and vice-president, along with five directors, all elected annually by the Members’ Council.
Current vice-preseident John Hassell from East Pingelly, Western Australia, is also likely to put his hand up for the presidency.
Current president David Jochinke has served the maximum allowable term. He was elected in October 2023, ahead of Ms Somerset, and Western Australian farmer Tony York, after previousl serving as vice-president to Ms Simson since 2017.
It is not uncommon for the NFF vice-president to then step up into the highest role, with Mr Jochinke, and previous presidents Brent Finlay and Duncan Fraser all serving as the deputy first.
However, it is not always the case, with Fiona Simson serving as president of NSW Farmers for four years before taking the top job at the NFF in 2016.
The next president will be the 14th to represent Australian farmers, the first being Sir Donald Eckersley who served from 1979 to 1981.
The elections will take place ahead of October’s AGM, while the group is still on the search for a chief executive after Troy Williams left the group in July after only four months in the role.
