Food & Fibre Welcomes experienced Lead

11 Dec

Written By Food and Fibre Great South Coast

Food & Fibre Great South Coast is pleased to announce the appointment of Andrew Jeffers as interim CEO, welcoming his extensive leadership and vast experience in the water sector, regional advocacy, and his broad knowledge of the wider Great South Coast region and its communities.

Food & Fibre GSC Chair Oonagh Kilpatrick said that Mr Jeffers, former Managing Director of Wannon Water and recently appointed Chair of Great Ocean Road Regional Tourism, was the ideal candidate to strengthen collaborations and connections for a more resilient, productive, and profitable local agricultural sector and value chain within the region.

“Agriculture, Forestry, & Fishing in the Great South Coast is one of the largest in the country, generating $1.9 billion in gross value added, making up 21.5% of the region's total GVA and ranking as the largest industry by output, employing 8,062 workers locally,” Ms Kilpatrick said.

“Beyond its economic strength, the region is a hub for research, innovation, and sustainability, driving advancements in agricultural technology, resource management, and renewable energy solutions,” she said.

“I am delighted to welcome Andrew to the helm; he brings depth of understanding and a demonstrated commitment to improving our local communities through the advancement of local industry and sustainably using our abundant natural resources to grow our food and fibre industries. Through his previous role at Wannon Water, Andrew also brings strong networks with different levels of government and local organisations. By fostering these partnerships and attracting investment, Food & Fibre Great South Coast hopes to build an even stronger agricultural sector that benefits not just our region, but economies far beyond.”

Mr Jeffers said he is excited to step in as interim CEO, given the importance of our food and fibre industries to the prosperity of the wider community.

“My experience has shown that any increase to the value of our food and fibre industries in the Great South Coast flows on to the wider community. It is imperative that we sustainably utilise the incredible resources we have in this region to further grow the prosperity of the region, our state, and our nation,” he said.

“I look forward to working with the Food & Fibre GSC board to continue this important work.”