Celebrity chef Matt Golinski will pay homage to Queensland farmers next month at AgForce's agriculture education summit.
The culinary wizard will join a pioneering line-up of guest speakers at the biennial event, which will see industry leaders and teachers flock to the Sunshine Coast for a three-day learning extravaganza.
The Food, Fibre and Agricultural Educators Conference is a part of AgForce's School to Industry Partnership Program (SIPP), and aims to "future-proof" the industry by ensuring educators have access to the latest information in order to best promote agriculture, science, hospitality, and technology as career options.
AgForce's General Manager of Media and Community Engagement Tanya Nagle said the event was a highlight of the agricultural calendar.
"Quite simply it ensures that the best of agricultural education is being delivered to Queensland students," she said.
"Agriculture is an incredibly innovative and fast changing industry, and a lot of the jobs we have now didn't exist 20 years ago.
"It's up to teachers to able to speak to children and show them what a career in agriculture looks like today and also in the future, and our conference gives those teachers the knowledge to do just that."
Ms Nagle said AgForce's intervention and work with school students was already starting to benefit the industry.
"It's fantastic to see students attend our programs who are so motivated that they then go on to find work in the agriculture industry," she said.
"Students are seeing jobs they didn't know existed and are wanting to get involved."
The conference runs from April 4 - 6 at the Surfair Conference, Wedding & Event Centre, Marcoola.
Those interested in attending can register here.
Speaker information:
Matt Golinski
Based on the Sunshine Coast, Matt is one of Australia's best-loved chefs, with a passion for creating cuisine using fresh, seasonal and local ingredients.
In 2018, he joined the Peppers Noosa Resort & Villas team, developing menus that consolidate his knowledge and love of Queensland producers.
Bryce Camm
Hailing from the Darling Downs, Bryce is the CEO of Camm Agricultural Group, an integrated beef and cropping enterprise.
He is also the Chair of Beef Australia and immediate past President of the Australian Lot Feeders' Association.
Callan Daley
Currently the Field and Operations Lead for AgTech start-up MEQ Probe, Callan is an extremely passionate advocate for rejuvenating rural and regional Australia.
Luciano Mesiti
Luciano has 30 years' experience as an agriculture educator in university and high school settings.
He grew up on a farm and has a strong focus on the need to contribute primary industry resources to best assist teachers across Australia.
Michael Murray
As General Manager of Cotton Australia, Michael uses his own extensive experience and alliances to develop and advocate for policies that affect growers.
A specialist water policy manager, Michael also covers coal seam gas and policy areas specific to Queensland.
Emma Greenhatch
Emma has been CEO of the Food and Agribusiness Network (FAN) since 2016, and will outline the importance of collaboration between industry led clusters and the education sector to create meaningful pathways for students seeking employment in the food and agribusiness industry.
Ross Wilson
Principal Education Officer (Agriculture, Earth and Environmental Science at Queensland Curriculum and Assessment Authority (QCAA).
Prior to QCAA Ross worked as an agricultural science teacher for a number of years.
Bridie Schultz
Bridie believes that children should be taught the necessary skills as early as possible, coupled with ongoing support, to have a successful, impactful career in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths.)
Oli Le Lievre
Hear about what led Oli to start Humans of Agriculture - a platform to promote the true faces, real stories and authentic experiences of those that make up the agriculture landscape.
