Murray Dairy Board of Directors

Tongala dairy farmer, Andrew Tyler, has over 30 years of dairy farming experience to draw on, bringing a working knowledge and an extensive experience base to Murray Dairy.

Andrew has been a past director of the Australian Dairy Conference and is currently the deputy chair of the Australian Dairy Conference Board. He is also a current member of the Dairy Advocacy Reform Team and is the current chair of Rochester Bamawm Dairy Business Network group.

Andrew works as General Manager – Australian Operation for AC Foods, which is a vertically integrated horticulture business owned by a US investment fund. The business includes farming, packing, sales and brand management of Citrus. 

Andrew has spent the majority of his professional career working in agribusiness finance throughout eastern Australia, with the last 14 years spent in the Murray Dairy region and recently developed a 420 ha Citrus farm.

Mark Bailey is the Manager of Resources at Goulburn Murray Water, with more than 20 years experience within the industry.

Mark brings with him a broad skills base, particularly in regard to technical analysis, project management, budget administration and extensive technical and community liaison on policy and operational matters. He has a Bachelor of Engineering (Civil) and a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD).

Tom Acocks is a partner in the family farm at Rochester.

Tom has been involved in working groups across the supply chain and in advocacy that reflect his interests. He was a member of the Australian Dairy Conference Programming Committee in 2013–14 and Chair in 2016.

Tom holds a Bachelor of Agricultural Science from the University of Melbourne and has completed a number of internationally recognised courses across different aspects of business management and leadership development. He has also spent three years working in agricultural businesses in Europe and North America.

As the sharefarmer of a dairy farm in Lockington, Dustin has had extensive experience across all areas of dairy farming. He has completed a Certificate III in Horticulture with Wodonga TAFE, majoring in Arboriculture, and a Diploma with Dairy Australia/TAFE SA, majoring in Agribusiness Management.

Dustin has held roles as president of the Campaspe Young Dairy Network and as a member of the Goulburn-Murray Water Irrigator Customer Representative Committee, and is currently a member of the Young Farmer Ministers Advisory Committee advising Minister for Agriculture, Jaclyn Symes.

Rachael and her partner operate a dairy farm in Deniliquin in the southern Riverina. With over 20 years’ experience in various roles across the industry. Rachael brings a wealth of knowledge in dairy farm operations, business management and staff management to the Board.

Rachael has held various leadership roles within the dairy industry and her local community. She has been involved in priority setting and development of key industry extension programs, such as the farm safety manual. 

Rachael has a passion for flexible farming systems, fostering sustainability and the environment.

Waranga Shores dairy farmer, Hamish Crawford has been involved in dairy advocacy and is currently chair of the Central Dairy Business Network.

Hamish believes both high and low input dairy systems will continue to have a place in the Murray Dairy region.

Hamish has a Graduate Diploma in Business Management.

Jason Scott has over 25 years’ experience in the Agriculture sector helping to make farmers more sustainable on the land.  He has a broad agronomy background built encompassing not only local but a national and international approach to growing winter and summer crops.

Jason sees the dairy sector in the Murray region as an integral part of the regions agricultural and economic future and is looking forward to being a part of this process to help shape and drive the success of our regions producers.

Phil Candy has over 20 years’ experience in the agriculture supply chain to the dairy industry. Over the last 7 years Phil has worked with Fonterra Australia and has been fortunate to work with dairy producers across the World.

Phil priority is to continually grow and develop the Murray Dairy Region in a way that will both benefit all industry participants and communities.