Board members

The RAA Board consists of  the Chief Executive and six part-time members who are appointed by the Minister for Primary Industries. In accordance with the Act, two of the part-time members are appointed to represent farmers; two have specific qualifications and experience in banking or finance, farm management or an associated area; and two have backgrounds in social welfare, rural counselling, conservation or other areas the Minister considers necessary to enable the Board to carry out its functions.

The Chair of the Board, and the five other members, are all independent from the NSW Government and are appointed following an externally advertised application process. A Declaration of Interests register is maintained, and at each meeting, Board members must disclose any conflicts of interest in relation to their role or the matters under discussion in the Board meeting.

The term of office for appointed members is for a period not exceeding three years with members eligible for re-appointment for a further three year term.

Chief Executive

Ms Kate Lorimer-Ward, BA (USyd) Grad Cert Climate Change (UMelb) Executive Masters Public Admin (USyd) MAICD, is the NSW Department of Primary Industries (DPI) Deputy Director General, Agriculture (DDG Ag) and Chief Executive of the NSW Rural Assistance Authority. This role is responsible for developing DPIs industry focus on increasing productivity and resilience driven by research and development, workforce capacity building and business and social resilience programs.

Kate brings to the role a strategic and innovative approach that has been reflected in her previous leadership roles within DPI and prior to that, the NSW Catchment Management Authorities. Kate has a real passion for the agricultural sector, founded in more than 20 years experience in the public sector in rural and regional NSW.

Kate is also a partner in a farming enterprise near Orange, a member of the Institute of Company Directors, a Director on the Board for the CRC for High Performing Soils and a Trustee for the Belgenny Trust.

• Appointed April 2018.

NSW Rural Assistance Authority Board

CHAIR

Mr David PALMER, Grad Dip Mgmt (AGSM, FAICD), was the Managing Director of Meat and Livestock Australia (MLA) for five years and prior to his appointment in 2006 served as MLA's Regional Manager in North America. Before joining MLA, Mr Palmer managed food safety and quality assurance programs at the Australian Meat & Livestock Corporation and spent six years as the Executive Director of the Cattle Council of Australia. Mr Palmer was also a director of AUS-MEAT Limited and chaired the MLA Donor Company.

Mr Palmer is a director of Animal Health Australia, Invasive Animals Cooperative Research Centre and the Greater Sydney Local Land Services. He also chairs the NSW Biosecurity Advisory Committee as NSW prepares for the introduction of the new Biosecurity Act in 2017; and is on the review panel for the 2016 Review of I-GAB (Inter Government Agreement on Biosecurity).

• Appointed – 1 July 2012, reappointed – 1 July 2015
• Appointed as Chair – 1 July 2012
• Term End – 30 June 2018

Mrs Kerry ADBY, LLM, FAICD, TFASFA is a senior investment banker and commercial lawyer and is currently the Managing Director of Copernican Securities Pty Ltd, a specialist consultancy providing corporate and strategic advisory services in Australia, Asia and Africa.

Kerry has over 30 years’ experience with large development and infrastructure projects in a range of sectors in Australia and internationally including; financial services, pensions, funds management, infrastructure, utilities, agriculture, research and development, technology and property development.

Kerry’s breadth of experience covers strategy, governance, audit and risk management, major project financing, capital markets and infrastructure, and these skills have given her a broad understanding of the operations, challenges and economics of primary and rural industries.

Kerry chairs the RAA's Audit and Risk Committee, and is a member of several boards including, inaugural chair of the Superannuation Commission, which is responsible for the investment and administration of the Tasmanian public sector defined benefit scheme.

• Appointed – September 2017
• Term End - 30 June 2020

Mr Adam BOYTON - Grad Dip Finance & Investment,  BBus Economics, has over 20 years of experience as a policy advisor and economist. He is a former Managing Director at Deutsche Bank, the Bank’s Australian Chief Economist and Head of Fixed Income Research. He started his career at the Federal Treasury and the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet.

Adam is a regular contributor to the economic and public policy debate in Australia and has a monthly column in the Australian Financial Review. He was also a Policy Director and Chief of Staff to a NSW Opposition Leader.

Adam is a member of the Rice Marketing Board, the NSW Skills Board and he is also a Trustee of the Centennial Park and Moore Park Trust.

• Appointed 3 August 2018
• Term end – 30 June 2021

Mr Robert BROWN - BPsychSc (Hons), MBA, Accredited Family Business Adviser and Director Family Strategy at Peppin Planners, a multi-disciplinary advice business based in Deniliquin, southern NSW.

Mr Brown has extensive career involvement in the situations and issues facing rural families and communities. He is a recognised specialist and speaker on family farm and other businesses, succession research and practice, entrepreneurship, family wealth interactions, business dealings and communication.

Mr Brown is a member of the Regional Assistance Advisory Committee (RAAC) and is also a Board Member of Intereach Limited: a regional provider of community services and programs throughout Southern NSW and Chair of Deniliquin Newspapers Pty. Ltd.

• Appointed - July 2012, reappointed in July 2016
• Term End - 30 June 2019

Mrs Barbara CLARK - BFin Admin, CA, FAICD, is a partner in a mixed farming enterprise situated at Boggabilla in NSW focusing on viability and sustainability and was previously involved in an intensive pecan orchard at Bellingen.

Mrs Clark has been a member of numerous agricultural boards including Wheat Export Authority and Export Wheat Commission. She has also been Chair and member of their Audit Committees.

Mrs Clark is a member of the RAA's Audit and Risk Committee, has extensive experience as an accountant both in Sydney and rural NSW and is a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

• Appointed - July 2012, reappointed July 2017
• Term End – 30 June 2020

Ms Diana GIBBS - BSC (Agriculture with Economics), M.Env.Stud (Environmental Economics), GAICD, is a resource economist with extensive experience as a consultant, primarily involved with the provision of applied economic analyses such as regional development, strategic planning and project evaluation, often in the context of environmental impact assessments.

Ms Gibbs is currently Chair of Regional Development Australia (Riverina), is a Director of the Riverina Local Land Services, a member of the NSW Climate Change Council, a member of the Industry Advisory Panel for the Graham Centre at CSU, and is a member of a number of other voluntary committees.

Ms Gibbs is a partner in a mixed farming operation in the South-West Slopes region of NSW and was the recipient of the 2000 RIRDC Rural Women's Award for NSW for her involvement in the wool industry, and in particular for projects undertaken on behalf of Riverina Wool Growers P/L.

• Appointed - July 2016
• Term End - 30 June 2019