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Farmers’ CEO to challenge UNE dinner guests

August 31, 2005

BenF.thumb.jpgThe Chief Executive Officer of the National Farmers’ Federation, Ben Fargher, will return to Robb College at The University of New England next week to deliver a thought-provoking address to students and visitors.

Mr Fargher (pictured here) will be keynote speaker at the annual Robb College Rural Focus Dinner on Tuesday 6 September. A Churchill Fellow, Mr Fargher has a Master’s degree in Economics from UNE (where he was a resident of Robb College), a Bachelor of Agricultural Science degree from the University of Adelaide, and a Diploma from the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Points for discussion at the dinner will include opportunities for the future in rural Australia and the contributions that today’s graduates could make. Mr Fargher will also highlight the challenges of trade and globalisation, sustainable resource use, and research and development issues. He will be keen to confront students and visitors to consider strategies that today’s graduates can develop in order to benefit their communities and industries.

Mr Fargher was appointed Chief Executive Officer of the National Farmers' Federation (NFF) in February 2005 and previously held the position of the NFF's Senior Policy Manager, Trade. In this position he was responsible for international trade negotiations and quarantine. He has also represented the NFF as Secretary of the NFF Trade Committee, the Cairns Group Farm Leaders Forum, and the NFF Quarantine Animal Health Taskforce.

Since joining the NFF in 1999, he has held the positions of Senior Policy Manager, Director of Rural Policy, and Secretary of the Australian Farmers' Fighting Fund (AFFF). Prior to joining the NFF, Mr Fargher was a Policy Officer with the Cattle Council of Australia. He grew up on a mixed cropping, wool and beef property at Warren in central west New South Wales.

The Master of Robb College, Michael Maas, said it was a great pleasure to welcome Mr Fargher back to Robb College as guest speaker. “We are very proud of our Robb College alumni,” Mr Maas said, “and our current students, our guests, and the public will certainly be inspired by Ben’s achievements.”

The public is welcome to attend the lecture, but should book through the College office on 02 6773 1700. For more information, please phone Michael Maas on 6773 1701.


Media contact: Michael Maas (Master, Robb College, UNE) on (02) 6773 1701 or
John Kauter (UNE Public Relations) on (02) 6773 2779.

Posted by Jim Scanlan at August 31, 2005 01:42 PM