The current Managing Director of AgriFutures Australia Mr John Harvey, approaching the final year of his second five-year term, informed the Board that he would not be seeking an extension of his contract. John has made an outstanding contribution to the organisation and to Australian agriculture more broadly. More will be said about that in due course, but in the meantime, I'd like to acknowledge John's professionalism in giving the Board early notice to ensure ample time for recruitment of and transition to a new Managing Director.
Pursuant to the Primary Industries Research and Development (PIRD) Act 1989 (Division 9 and Section 86), the Board (excluding the current Executive Director) is responsible for the recruitment and appointment of the Executive (Managing) Director.
The AgriFutures Board has commenced an executive search, led by Omera Partners , to appoint our next Managing Director. Executive search is a targeted, proactive process that maps the market, approaches high-calibre leaders (including those not actively looking), and assesses fit against the Board's brief. The Board has chosen this approach over a more traditional recruitment process with a view to identifying exceptional candidates, possibly from outside the usual RDC and agriculture ecosystems. Omera Partners has been selected based on reputation and successful previous placements across multiple sectors.
To ensure an open process and reach people who may not be on the search firm's radar, EOIs are also being sought through advertisements, with all responses and enquiries directed to Omera Partners. While EOIs close 11 August 2025, advertisement is only a minor component of the process, with the proactive search continuing beyond this date to ensure the right leader is appointed. If you do know someone who you think could be an exceptional Managing Director of AgriFutures, please direct them to Omera Partners at
The transition to a new MD/CEO is both an exciting and potentially uncertain time for any organisation. The Board of AgriFutures is determined to ensure that our operations during this period proceed full steam ahead according to our current strategies, with no impact to program delivery or commitments, under John's very capable leadership.
I and my fellow directors are deeply appreciative of the commitment of John and the leadership team to serve our levied and emerging industries and deliver our diverse research and capacity building programs so professionally over the transition to a new Managing Director.
We look forward to that person working closely with the Board, staff, our industries, research partners and stakeholders, to develop, finalise and deliver a new strategic five-year R&D plan as required by the PIRD Act.
Thank you for your ongoing support for AgriFutures Australia and our crucial mission.
Cathy McGowan – Chair, AgriFutures Australia
