Cotton Australia

Nigel Burnett

Chair

Grower, Emerald (QLD)

Nigel has been Managing Director of Colorada Cotton, an irrigated and rain-grown cropping enterprise in central Queensland since 2004. With a passion for myBMP and Australian cotton sustainability, Nigel has presented at the Cotton Leads Conference in Hong Kong, the Better Cotton Initiative Conference in Shanghai and the Export Market Development Tour to Qingdao and Nantong. Nigel has a Bachelor of Rural Science (UNE) and is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Cotton Australia representation:

Chair - Transgenic and Insect Management Strategies (TIMS) Committee
Cotton Australia Corporate Governance Committee
Cotton Breeding Australia Scientific Committee
Fitzroy Partnership for River Health Management Committee

Elizabeth Stott

Deputy Chair

Grower, Leeton (NSW)

Elizabeth is a partner in a family owned and run irrigation farming business near Leeton, NSW and has been growing cotton for over 10 years. Liz is a public relations professional with qualifications in science and leadership and has held roles in policy and communications across a diverse range of agriculture and water related industries. She is a strong and passionate advocate for rural issues.

Liz is a graduate of the Australian Rural Leadership Program (2014) and is currently a member of the National Water Grid Advisory Body.

Daniel Kahl

Grower, Wee Waa (NSW)

Having grown up on the family farm at Wee Waa, Daniel attended the University of Newcastle, obtaining a Bachelor of Commerce, before working in procurement with a major cotton merchant in the Australian market. In 2014, Daniel returned to Merced Farming as Business Manager. He has led several on-farm sustainability initiatives, including annual carbon audits and Merced Farming’s involvement in the Biodiversity Project, partnering with Landcare Australia and Country Road.

Daniel was awarded a Nuffield Scholarship in 2017 and is the current Chair of the Lower Namoi Cotton Growers Association, as well as a Director of Namoi Water.

Bernard Bierhoff

Grower, Rowena (NSW)

Bernard is the overall Farming Manager for Avondale Ag - a mixed farming enterprise at Rowena, NSW. He has 30 years’ experience in cotton and was the recipient of 2018 Agririsk High Achiever of the Year Award.

Cotton Australia representation:

Deputy chair, Transgenic and Insect Management Strategies (TIMS) Committee
Representative, Cotton Breeding Australia (CBA)

Other industry representation:

Chair, Walgett Cotton Growers’ Association
Chair, bio-tech panel of the TIMS Committee

April Cavanagh

Director/Senior Executive

Originally from outback New South Wales, April Cavanagh is a high-energy Director/Senior executive with experience in financial services, agriculture and manufacturing, having worked in Brisbane, Sydney, London and regional Australia.

Highly regarded for her leadership and outcomes focus, April is a strategic thought leader and influencer with advanced relationship skills and an extensive network.

As an experienced Director, April plays a key role in several organisations including the Toowoomba Surat Basin Enterprise, the Toowoomba Grammar School and Cotton Australia.

Rob Dugdale

Industry representative, Lower Namoi Cotton Growers' Association (NSW)

Rob is an experienced company executive, having worked within major multinational and local companies in research, sales, marketing and management capacities.

Matt McVeigh

Grower, Dalby (QLD)

Matt is a third generation farmer from Dalby, Queensland, where he and his family operate dryland and irrigated cropping land on the Darling Downs.

He is passionate about the cotton industry and representing the next generation of growers. Matt was a 2015 Nuffield Scholar and participant in the Future Cotton Leaders Program. Matt is current Vice Chair of the Gowrie-Oakey Creek Irrigators’ Association, Director of Central Downs Irrigators Limited and committee member of the Darling Downs Cotton Growers’ Association.

Cotton Australia Representation:

Cotton Australia Farmer Advisory Panel.

Angus O'Brien

Grower, Warren (NSW)

Angus is a fourth-generation mixed farmer from the Macquarie valley where his family have been growing cotton since 1984. The business is now a diverse portfolio of dryland and irrigated cropping as well as grazing on a mix of leased and owned land.
He has been Chairman of the Tenandra Irrigation Scheme since 2010 and oversaw the modernisation of the system in 2012/13. He is also on the committee of Macquarie River Food and Fibre, is a long-term CSD trial co-operator, and is a vocal and passionate advocate for the cotton industry.

Arthur Spellson

Industry representative, ADM Trading Australia Pty Ltd

Arthur is Cotton Manager, Australia for ADM Trading Australia Pty Ltd. He has worked in various marketing and logistics roles in the Australian cotton industry since 1994, as well as being involved in numerous aspects of industry research, promotion and development. Arthur has been a director of the Australian Cotton Shippers Association since 2005 and has served two terms as Chairman during that time.

Other Industry Representation:

Director, Australian Cotton Shippers Association

Bruce Connolly

Currently Farm Manager at Tipperary Group of Stations. Bruce was a founding member of the Northern Territory Cotton Growers Association and is the inaugural President of the association. Bruce has many decades of experience in broad acre cropping across Australia and is a passionate advocate for regional issues.