About AFIA

Appointed 2025

Gavin has over 40 years of experience in the hay industry in the Freeling area of South Australia, the property has been in the family same since 1875 (150 years). Along with his wife Sherinne, and three sons, Corbin, Leighton and Harrison, Gavin runs a multi enterprise property, with the main income derived from hay and straw production. They supply local, interstate and export markets as well as animal bedding markets.

As the Manager and Director of Schuster Holdings P/L for 30 years, Gavin has also held numerous positions on various committees including: Chairperson of the Freeling Ag. Bureau, Crop Society, Light Lutheran Parish, Freeling Junior Football Committee, Freeling Rec. Park Committee, and a member of EO (Entrepreneurs Organisation) of South Australia for 10 years.

Appointed 2025

Based in the Lachlan Valley, 8 km south-west of Forbes NSW, Mark has over 45 years of experience in the fodder industry and has been an Australian Fodder Industry Association (AFIA) member since 2003.

Green Partnership focuses on recognised fodder standards, innovation, and collaboration across all stakeholders in the production and selling of fodder. Mark brings extensive knowledge in fodder production and supply chain practices, and is committed to strengthening the resilience and innovation of the Australian fodder sector.

With a strong foundation in fodder production and supply chain management, Mark remains actively engaged in industry developments, continually building his expertise through critical reflection, engagement with emerging trends, and collaboration with peers and industry bodies.

Appointed 2025

Mark is the Professor of Sustainable Agriculture and Manufacturing at Queensland University of Technology and currently leads >$6M of research to improve the nutritional value of crop residues for ruminant livestock.

Supported by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Mark is committed to the development of commercial technologies that will improve feed availability and quality in Australia and the developing world. His research is based on nationally recognised expertise in crop plant structure and chemistry. 

Mark has been an active member of AFIA since 2019 and has also had the opportunity to share his research with the fodder sector at the National Fodder Conferences in 2019, 2024 and 2025.

Appointed 2022

Phil along with his wife Lynda & son Tim have been farming near Tocumwal since 1990. They operate a mixed irrigated farm specialising in lucerne hay production. They invented Hay Caps in 2006 and manufacture them on farm.

Phil is a foundation member Australian Fodder Industry Association & a sponsor with his Hay Cap business. Phil is proud of the benefits Hay Caps have given to the industry. He is currently a director of Murray Irrigation and the National Irrigators Council. He is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and the Peter Cullen Trust Science to Policy Leadership Program.

Phil is passionate about farming in their region. With the next generation now involved in the farm business Phil wants to focus on having it viable and sustainable for future generations.

Appointed 2025

Rob has been a hay grower, contractor and transporter for 40+ years, and before that he helped on his parents’ farm with their hay enterprise in New Norcia, in the wheatbelt of WA. 

As the owner/operator of Anspach Agricultural Contracting, in partnership with his wife Angela, since 1992, they specialise in contract services to agriculture, transportn and earthmoving to local farmers and businesses, and all levels of government and corporate clients.

Rob has been an AFIA member since 2006 and attended several AFIA conferences across the country, as well as various fodder meetings in WA over the years. He has hands on experience with mowing, raking, baling, stacking and transporting all size bales, but primarily large squares, both for their own hay/straw production and on a contract basis. Anspach Ag specialise in growing hay and straw, supplying fodder to the domestic and export markets, coupled with intensive agriculture including feedlots, piggeries and chicken farms.

Appointed 2025

Darryl has been a fodder contractor and producer for over 25 years and a proud, long-term member of AFIA. Throughout this time, the association has played a critical role in supporting their business and he has personally gained great value from being part of the organisation, hence why he wanted to make a contribution and join the board.

With over two decades of hands-on experience as a fodder contractor and producer, Darryl brings a deep understanding of the industry’s challenges and opportunities. Prior to contracting and fodder production, he had over 20 years of management and communication skills in the retail sector.

Darryl is passionate about fostering industry collaboration and has a strong interest in bringing the latest technology to all AFIA members.

Appointed 2025

Growing up on the family cattle farm in Goulburn, NSW at a young age, Harry knew farm and fodder was a big part of their operation. He watched his Pop and Dad play around trying to make hay and silage to feed their growing Angus cattle herd.

In 2016, Harry decided join his family on the farm full time and spent 24 months working and learning everything he could before his pop got sick and passed away.

Harry has persisted with growing grain and fodder to feed their own cattle, as well as producing grain and fodder to the market. Currently producing 2.5 million tonnes of hay on farm and baling a further 3 million tonnes of hay for others, the family business has continued to grow, year on year. Harry maintains 600 breeding cattle and 2000 head of breeding ewes while also supplying a contracting service, allowing him to assist others with their production. 

Reappointed 2023

As the previous Chair of the Australian Fodder Industry Association, and a member since 2006, Louis is dedicated to supporting the industry and fodder growers across the country through his knowledge and relationships. 

With deep experience in fodder and grain production, Louis also extends his business opportunities by breeding pigs.

Based in Jerilderie, a small, rural town in the central Riverina region of south-western New South Wales, Louis manages, maintains, and continues to grow the family business.

Vanessa is an innovative Senior Executive Leader, Business Owner, and Board Director with 20+ years’ experience in B2B Growth, Partnership and Marketing roles across the Technology, Climate & Sustainability, Banking & Finance, Government, Higher Education, and Construction industry sectors.

She is experienced in leading and empowering multidisciplinary teams, strategy development and implementation, market analysis and audience identification, loyalty/corporate program design and management, account management and corporate communications to enable business transformation and growth.

Outside of office hours, Vanessa co-owns and runs Australia’s only 100% off-grid and emissions-free Distillery Door based in the Heathcote wine region of Victoria.

With her husband Brett, son Jack and brother in-law Colin, Karen is running over 9000 acres near Kerang in Victoria. Across irrigation and dryland farms, they produce hay, grain and legumes for both domestic and export markets, as well as run an excavation business. Karen has been managing the business finances and administration of the family’s three entities since 2000.

In addition to her roles with the family business, Karen has taken on the role of treasurer for various community and industry groups over the years, including an ongoing treasurer role with a local farming syndicate. She has also been an active member of the AFIA community since 2004.