The people-centred legacy of Chris Reichstein was in action during a career session supported by his Mt Burdett Foundation at the Perth GRDC Updates.

Grain industry career opportunities were showcased in an inaugural special focus session at the February GRDC Perth Updates, convened by the Grains Industry Association of Western Australia (GIWA), when a panel of renowned national industry leaders shared their stories and advice.

Session chair Bob Nixon, a GRDC director and grain grower, began the session by paying tribute to the late Chris Reichstein, founder of the Mt Burdett Foundation, which supported the event. This support enabled 68 tertiary and postgraduate students from Murdoch University, Curtin University and the University of Western Australia to attend both the focus session and the first day of the Perth Updates to learn about the latest developments in the grains industry.

As part of the session, five early-career audience members were selected by Mr Nixon to sit in a ‘hot seat’ and share their experience and ask questions of the panel. This concept served as a way of bridging the generation gap, and Mr Nixon created a warm, relaxed environment for discussion – a conviviality his good friend Chris Reichstein would have endorsed.

On the panel

Members of the panel shared their career journey and insights and illustrated the breadth of opportunities available in the grains industry. They discussed why and how they entered the grains industry, and pivotal events and lessons from their experience.

Mr Nixon operates a farming business in Kalannie. He sits on the WA Soil and Land Conservation Council and is a member of the Liebe Grower Group. He completed a Nuffield Scholarship in 2014 looking into mitigating risk in dry and variable climates and was awarded a GRDC Seed of Light in 2019 for his work in managing soil constraints.

He was joined on the stage by:

WA Minister for Agriculture and Food Jackie Jarvis. Before entering politics, Ms Jarvis established a career in the finance industry and a vineyard in Margaret River with her husband. Ms Jarvis said that the grains industry is the biggest export industry after the mining and resources industry in WA and is a mature and dynamic industry in which to work.

GRDC managing director Nigel Hart. Mr Hart grew up in southern New South Wales and spent more than 25 years working in executive and leadership positions in large-scale infrastructure, port, warehousing and supply chain operations for the grains sector, both within Australia and internationally.

CBH Group chair Simon Stead. Mr Stead runs a mixed farm in the Esperance port zone. He is a member of the advisory board of the University of Western Australia Institute of Agriculture and a founding member of the Association for Sheep Husbandry, Excellence, Evaluation and Production.

InterGrain chief executive Tress Walmsley. Ms Walmsley previously worked at the WA Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) for more than 10 years. She is also chair of Australian Crop Breeders, a member of Grains Australia’s Barley and Oat Councils and a director of the Chemistry Centre WA. In 2020, she was a finalist in the Telstra Business Women’s Award and in 2015 the WA Rural Woman of the Year.

Grower Group Alliance chair Peter Roberts. Mr Roberts is formerly a grain grower from Dunn Rock, WA. He is a graduate of Harvard Agribusiness Seminars and the Australian Institute of Company Directors. He is a member of the WA Agricultural Research Collaboration Steering Committee. He was a past chair of the South East Premium Wheat Growers Association and a member of the Mt Burdett Foundation.

In the hot seat

First to take the hot seat was Chaiyya Cooper, who grew up in Esperance and started working at DPIRD after a gap year. She has subsequently completed an agribusiness degree at Curtin University. She is currently working with the DPIRD frost team.

Chaiyya Cooper (left) from the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development was the first to take the ‘hot seat’ to ask a question of Jackie Jarvis in an interactive career session facilitated by Bob Nixon at the February Perth GRDC Updates. Photo: Lumens Photography/GRDC

Her question to the panel was: “How do you attract and retain people in agriculture?” This was acknowledged as a challenge in the current employment climate where there is a high level of competition for graduates and particularly competition from the mining sector. Ms Jarvis responded about the importance of being a good employer, paying above-award rates and being responsive to employees to manage their expectations. Mr Hart added that there is a need to reframe the invitation for graduates to participate in the grains sector.

Dr Gaus Azam, a research scientist at DPIRD and a GRDC “Recognising and Rewarding Excellence Award” winner was second in the hot seat. Dr Azam leads the GRDC-supported ‘Reengineering Soils’ project. He shared his enthusiasm for working in the grains industry and driving step changes in productivity, specifically in WA. Dr Azam challenged Simon Stead on whether the CBH Group 2030 network expansion plan was ambitious enough to cater for his forecast productivity gains in a humorous exchange.

Associate Professor Fran Lopez-Ruiz was next in the hot seat. Having gained research experience in four countries, he has called Australia home for the last 12 years. He shared his tips of establishing a career in grains by valuing people and networks and always being honest and authentic. His experience of collaboration between institutes has been a career highlight in Australia.

InterGrain national communication manager Shannen Barrett then took the hot seat. Ms Barrett emphasised the importance of networking and choosing a place to work where you are a good fit for a team. A 2024 Nuffield Scholar, she exemplifies the benefits of seeking out opportunities. She has been fortunate to work for a supportive company as her boss Tress Walmsley encourages her staff to stretch themselves. She says her career development has been a by-product of taking opportunities.

Kristen Batten was the last to take the hot seat. Presently a student at Murdoch University, she hails from a sheep farm in Boyup Brook and started her tertiary education considering a veterinary pathway, which has now changed. She stated that she was very impressed with the innovation on show at the GRDC Updates.

Peter Roberts wrapped up the session when asked a question from the floor about the advice he would give his younger self.

“Be more courageous, inquisitive, ask questions and explore,” he responded.

He finished by acknowledging Chris Reichstein’s legacy and projecting an image of Chris, together with one of Chris’s quotes: “Fear of change is the greatest barrier. We must be prepared for innovation.”

About the Mt Burdett Foundation

The foundation was the concept of Esperance farmer Chris Reichstein, owner of Mount Burdett Farm, looking to return some of his good fortune to the community and potentially encourage others who have prospered in the region to do the same.

Chris’s passion for philanthropy was contagious and the foundation brought together a core group of people who shared his drive to create positive change. Together they worked to establish the Mt Burdett Foundation and, by 2019, had the bones of the operation in place.

After a battle with cancer, Chris passed away at Mount Burdett Farm in July 2021. He had succeeded in making the foundation operational and established directions and a team of people to carry the foundation forward.

The foundation is a charitable organisation funded by income from Mount Burdett Farm and currently managed by a board consisting of five members – David Falconer, William Ryan, Fiona McDonald, Holly Phillips and Marnie Fels.

The board takes guidance from two separate committees that have been set up to review and recommend projects for funding. The Esperance Community Advisory Committee is focused on supporting initiatives in the Esperance region. The Rural and Regional Advancement Foundation Committee cast their net further afield throughout rural and regional WA. Each group works to support projects within set funding criteria.

A farm advisory committee has also been formed to secure the longevity of the foundation through strong management of the farm.

https://www.mtburdettfoundation.org.au/

More information:  Bob Nixon, 0429 662 150