Chairman
David Blackburn
David Blackburn is the non-executive founding Chairman of SQP.
David has been a Director of Southern Quality Produce Co-operative Ltd since 11th November 2001, which he chaired from inception until November 2005.
He has over 30 years experience in the operation of a mixed-farming business south of Lake Bolac Victoria, producing wool, sheep meat, beef and grains.
David is also a Director of Zirky's Apartments (Mt Hotham) Pty Ltd, and has held the position of Group Officer of the Westmere Fire Brigades' Group in Region 16 of the Country Fire Authority (CFA) since June 1999. David has completed an Innoven Leadership Effective Company Director course.
Deputy Chairman
Michael Chaseling
B.App.Sci (Systems Agriculture) UWS
Mike is Deputy Chairman of SQP Pty Ltd and Chairman of SQP’s Risk Committee, and is actively involved with the National Agricultural Commodities Marketing Association (NACMA), where he is a director representing mid-size companies (level b2), is Chairman of NACMA’s Corporate Governance Committee and is a registered trade arbitrator.
Mike is also the Deputy Chairman of Emerald, appointed in 2007 following three years as a founding Executive Director. He is a major shareholder and Chairman of the Board’s Risk Management Committee. Mike is Chairman of Emerald’s South Australian joint venture E P Grain Pty Ltd.
Mike has approximately 20 years experience in the Australian grains industry, and has previously held senior trading and management roles at a number of national and international corporations. At AWB Ltd (formally Australian Wheat Board), he was responsible for wheat trading within Australia and was trading manager for NSW. Mike then led the Australian trading operations of us food giant ConAgra Inc for five years, overseeing its expansion from a small base to in excess of one million tonnes annual throughput. Following his successful trading career Mike was appointed CEO of co-operative marketing group NETCO.
Pursuing his private interests Mike formed Ag Bureau, a private consulting group which specialised in commodity risk management. His clients included the Sydney Futures Exchange (SFE), where he performed a major critical review of the SFE’s agricultural commodities business.
Mike has held director and/or committee positions for a range of industry organisations including Rural Marketing and Supply Association (RMSA), Grain Legume Association of Australia (GLA), Australian Producers Cooperative, and the NSW Cooperatives Federation.
Non-executive Director
Rod Laidlaw
Rod Laidlaw is a non-executive Director of SQP Pty Ltd, and Chairman of the Customer Services Committee. Rod also served as Chairman of Southern Quality Produce Co-operative Ltd, a position he held from November 2005 until December 2008; he has been a Director of the Co-operative since November 11th 2001.
Rod is a grain and livestock producer based near Tatyoon, Victoria; a member of the Victorian Farmers’ Federation and an active member of the CFA. Active in local sporting clubs, school councils and community groups, Rod holds a Diploma of Financial Markets from the Securities Institute of Australia (SIA) of which he is also an affiliate member, and has completed an Innoven Effective Company Director Course.
Non-executive Director
Garry Meek
Garry Meek is a non-executive Director of SQP Pty Ltd, and a member of the SQP Risk Management Committee. Garry is also a Director of Southern Quality Produce Co-operative Ltd, of which he was a founding Director on 11th November 2001.
Garry has operated a mixed-farming operation near Mininera Victoria for 25 years, specialising in canola, wheat, barley and superfine wool production. Garry has completed an Innoven Leadership Effective Company Director Course. He is an active member of his community through his involvement in the Mininera Fire Brigade, School Council and Superfine Wool Group.
Non-executive Director
Mick Cattanach
B.Bus (Ag Commerce) Syd
Michael (Mick) Cattanach is a non-executive Director of SQP Pty Ltd, and a member of the SQP Risk Management Committee. .
Mick is also the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Emerald and was one of the founding Executive Directors of Emerald, and is a major shareholder in the company.
Mick has considerable experience in agriculture, and has in excess of 15 years experience in a variety of agribusiness pursuits in both corporate agribusiness and primary production. He has overseen grain marketing and wool production activities for several businesses, including senior trading roles with DR Johnston and us food group ConAgra Inc during the 1990s.
For three years from 2001–03 , he was General Manager Marketing for national co-operative group NETCO, the peak body for nine agricultural co-operatives around Australia, representing 5000 family-farm units.
Mick grew up in wheat/sheep country around Hay, NSW and he maintains strong links in south western NSW through agribusiness responsibilities as a director with farming company Elginbah Pty Ltd – overseeing the family wool and sheep meat farming interests.
Managing Director SQP
Executive Director
Ben Fleay
B. Ag SC Melb
Ben Fleay is Managing Director of SQP, and sits on all three Committees. Ben held the position of General Manager of Southern Quality Produce Co-operative Ltd from May 2003 until June 2007, and was responsible for growing the business to 120,000mt of grain and $25M in turnover.
Prior to joining the Co-operative, Ben was involved in the Australian cotton industry for six years, working as Senior Agronomist for Lachlan Farming Ltd and Twynam Pastoral Co, where he was responsible for the agronomic management of over 10,000 hectares of irrigation. Ben has a Degree in Agricultural Science from Melbourne University.
