VFF CEO Brendan Tatham resigns: effective this Friday

Victorian Farmers Federation chief executive Brendan Tatham has resigned.

Victorian Farmers Federation chief executive officer Brendan Tatham has resigned after two and a half years in the job, finishing up this Friday.

Mr Tatham joined the VFF in November 2022, hot on the heels of his predecessor Jane Lovell, who spent 18 months in the role.

Mr Tatham said ‘’I came in to rebuild the organisation, which is done and it’s time for someone else to take the VFF forward”.

But the cost of that rebuild has been high, with the VFF’s 2023-24 financials showing a $4.4 million decline in equity as it sold down the remainder of its Grain Group’s $9 million deed poll fund to offset borrowings and was forced to devalue Farrer House in the wake of a slump in CBD property values.

The 2023-24 annual report stated “the loss for the group after providing for income tax amounted to $3.758,587 and the total comprehensive loss amounted to $4,394,174”.

VFF president Brett Hosking thanked Mr Tatham for his work and wished him all the best for the future.

He said the federation would now begin the recruitment process for the next VFF CEO.