The New England community is invited to ‘Stand With The Land’ this National Agriculture Day (Friday 21 November) and come together at the UNE Armidale Campus for an event to unpack how agriculture responds to a shifting global landscape.
Hosted by the UNE SMART Region Incubator (SRI), the event will see farmers, researchers and business leaders join forces to unpack how natural capital, supply chains and global markets are shaping choices from the farm gate to the dinner plate.
The day will also feature a ‘Wild Ideas’ panel, where experts present fresh solutions to emerging challenges in agriculture.
Alex Cook, Interim Director, UNE SRI, says it will be a unique opportunity to hear from experts in global procurement and commercial strategy, specialists in optimising agricultural landscapes for biodiversity and profitability, professionals with deep knowledge of natural capital, and experienced leaders in the consumer goods and Landcare agriculture sectors.
“Attendees will hear from people shaping change in farming and across the industry and will leave with ideas they can actually implement in their businesses,” she says.
“The big thing we’re looking forward to, though, is those in-between conversations over coffee and lunch - because sometimes the best takeaway isn’t from the stage, it’s from the person sitting next to you.”
The schedule features short and engaging talks from each speaker, followed by a cross-sector panel discussion moderated by Renée Grogan, Head of Stewardship at JANA Investment Advisors, designed to foster meaningful dialogue about the future of agriculture.
Speakers & topics
- Connor FitzGerald (UNE Alum) - Chief Commercial Officer, FMG Global
Topic: Managing sustainability in McDonald’s supply chain With 20+ years in Australia’s red-meat supply chain, Connor leads global commercial strategy at FMG Global, which coordinates a large share of McDonald’s beef procurement worldwide. He links producer realities with buyer expectations across regions. - Hugh Killen - CEO, Impact Ag Australia
Topic: The importance of understanding natural capital on farm Former MD & CEO of AACo and now leading Impact Ag Australia, Hugh brings deep experience in sustainable finance and large-scale agribusiness, connecting on-farm performance with investor expectations and resilience. - Rachel Lawrence (UNE Alum) - Natural Capital Advisor, NSW Local Land Services
Topic: Environmental market opportunities and risks for farmers A forest ecologist with a PhD focused on natural capital outcomes in livestock systems, Rachel helps farming communities understand emerging environmental markets and how ecological conditions support production. - Todd Redwood - Global Managing Director (Consumer Goods, Retail & Food), British Standards Institution (BSI)
Topic: Sustainability in food and fibre — emerging trends As an international standards leader, Todd oversees BSI’s global sector strategy and collaborates with brands, scheme owners, and accreditation bodies to advance sustainability, digital trust, safety, and product quality across supply chains. - Ang Hammond (UNE Alum) - National Manager, Landcare Agriculture Program
Topic: Natural capital on-farm: why it matters, how to measure it + improve it Angela leads Landcare’s national agriculture program, working with producers, scientists and Landcare groups to turn soil, water, vegetation and biodiversity into measurable assets for resilient farm businesses.
The Panel Moderator will be Renée Grogan, Head of Stewardship at JANA Investment Advisors. With two decades of experience in global sustainability across resources, energy, infrastructure, and natural capital, as well as prior board service with the World Ocean Council, Renee will guide the cross-industry panel discussion.
Tickets for the UNE SRI National Ag Day event are $85 and include access to all talks, the Wild Ideas Panel, morning tea upon arrival, and lunch while networking at the Wright Lecture Theatre at UNE’s Armidale Campus.
Tickets available for purchase via Eventbrite
Media contact
Jessica Bradbery, Regional Connector, UNE SMART Region Incubator
E: jbradbe2@une.edu.au P: 0444 512 153
