Group Members
The AVID Group Members are highly respected and successful individuals from both the Government and private sectors. The members oversee the AVID Group and are closely involved with industry. They have undertaken to work towards achieving the strategic directions identified by the ‘Taking Stock and Setting Directions’ report.
AVID Group Members
The AVID Group has nine Members, comprising:
- Richard Bovill, Chairperson,
- Michael Badcock, Chairman AUSVEG Ltd,
- Peter Cochrane, VFF Horticulture Group President,
- Wendy Erhart, Managing Director, Withcott Seedlings
- Sergio Canale, Executive General Manager – Supply Chain of Simplot Australia,
- John Mercer, Director of Mercer Mooney,
- Ian Pavey, National Business Manager, Coles Supermarkets and
- Nigel Steele Scott, Chair, Horticulture Australia Ltd
Richard Bovill
Chair, Australian Vegetable Industry Development Group
Mr Bovill established Freshgro P/L in 1982 as a joint venture company with Woolworths to manage their Northern Tasmanian fruit and vegetable buying and distribution. Mr Bovill has 20 years experience in produce buying and distribution, including sea freight logistics, imports, warehouse design, transport logistics, product storage compatibility, pre-packing, retail promotions. Mr Bovill was also the Woolworths Tasmanian produce buying and distribution manager for four years until 2001 and he was instrumental in Woolworths import replacement of New Zealand Cherries with Tasmanian Cherries and New Zealand apricots with Tasmanian apricots.
Mr Bovill has extensive knowledge of fresh vegetable production, from growing through to retail. He is involved in a joint family business growing various crops and cattle on 1600 hectares in various parts of Tasmania. He is a member of the Tasmanian Food industry Council, a Director of Lemonthyme Lodge and Vice president of the Cradle Mountain Tourism association.
Michael Badcock
Chairman AUSVEG Ltd
Michael has had many senior roles in agriculture over the past 18 years, including Director of AUSVEG since 1994, and Chairman since September 2002. He has been successfully farming for the past 36 years. Based in Forth, Tasmania, he farms 360 acres including cabbage, cauliflower, poppies, potatoes, beans, tulip bulbs, daffodil bulbs, oriental lily bulbs and pyrethrum.
Michael has been instrumental in developing the peak industry body for the vegetable industry – AUSVEG. He has also successfully campaigned to raise awareness of industry issues and gained significant support from consumers and the Australian Government.
Peter Cochrane
VFF Horticulture Group President
Peter Cochrane has extensive experience in horticultural production and in 2005 was elected as President of the Victorian Farmers Federation (VFF) Horticulture Group. Mr Cochrane runs the family farm with his wife Julie and supplies produce to the major retailers and also the Melbourne Market. He was previously VFF Horticulture Group Deputy President and Chairman of the VFF Agricultural and Veterinary Chemicals Committee.
Wendy Erhart
Managing Director, Withcott Seedlings
Withcott Seedlings was established in 1983 and is now the largest supplier of vegetable, fruit and plant seedlings in the southern hemisphere, producing 310 million seedlings each year for Australian farmers. In 2004 Withcott Seedlings was ranked 110 in Queensland's Top 400 privately owned businesses. Ms Erhart was winner of the 2004 Premier of Queensland Smart Award for Agribusiness for the new Smart Salads arm of the company, a Queensland finalist in the Telstra Business Women's Awards, won the 2005 Veuve Clicquot businesswoman of the year Award and also became the 2005 Australian Business Woman of the Year. Ms Erhart is a member of the National Food Industry Council.
Sergio Canale
Executive General Manager – Supply Chain of Simplot Australia
Sergio trained as a Chemical Engineer and was with Monsanto for twelve years in various Manufacturing roles in a large, diverse chemical plant in Melbourne. He later held roles as Plant Manager for Cussons soaps, Sara Lee Household and Bodycare and the Kraft Nabisco site, then Lanes Biscuits. He joined Simplot in early 2000 as Plant Manager of the Kensington 4n20 bakery site, and then became Regional Operations manager for Victoria. In September 2004, Serge was appointed Executive General Manager – Supply Chain, responsible for the safe and efficient operation of the five manufacturing sites, and the Agricultural Services, Procurement and Logistics operations.
John Mercer
Director in Mercer Mooney
John is a Director in Mercer Mooney, a third generation Wholesaler in the Perth Markets that has been in Business in WA since 1915.
The company employs 120 people and is involved in the supply of fresh fruit and vegetables to chain stores, independent retailers and to export markets.
John has been involved in many industry committees such as : President of the Chamber of Fruit and Vegetables WA inc, Member of the Perth Market Authority, Chairman of the Australian Banana Wholesalers, Board Member Australian Chamber, Director of Freshcare Australia and Member of the Curtin University Horticulture Advisory Group.
Ian Pavey
National Business Manager, Coles Supermarkets
Ian Pavey is National Business Manager- Fresh Produce for Coles Myer Supermarkets responsible for the Coles, Bi-Lo and Pick -N Pay brands. Ian has over 25 years experience in supermarket retailing in Australia with both Woolworths and Coles and in New Zealand as Director of Produce with Dairy Farm International. Ian has worked with various industry bodies.
Nigel Steele Scott
Chair, Horticulture Australia Ltd
Dr Steele Scott graduated with a PhD in Agricultural Science from the Waite Institute from where he went to the CSIRO Division of Food Preservation. He retired from CSIRO as Deputy Chief of Plant Industry in 2003. He is a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Technological and Engineering Science. He has had extensive experience in a wide range of Horticultural crops and has led major collaborative research and development initiatives in horticultural and other agricultural industries. As a scientist he has been involved in the molecular genetics of plants since the inception of the science. He is a frequently invited speaker to scientific, industry and community meetings in Australia and overseas and was awarded a Centenary Medal for services to Australian Horticulture.
