Nominations open for GPSA board

There are four director positions and the chairman’s position up for election as the terms of directors are for two years.

These positions are held by incumbents David Malpas, Stephen Ball, Wade Dabinett, Max Wilksch and chairman Garry Hansen.

GPSA chief executive officer Darren Arney says to nominate a director, a grain producer must be a GPSA member and complete the nomination form, which requires the support of five other GPSA members.

Nominations must be received by GPSA between Wednesday, July 13, and Wednesday, July 20.

“Being part of GPSA is a great opportunity to contribute to your industry’s future,” Mr Arney said.

“The position of board member requires the commitment of attending up to eight meetings annually in Adelaide and regional SA and being available for telephone conferences as needed.

“There is also the opportunity to represent GPSA nationally on other commodity or issue groups.”

Yeelanna grain producer Max Wilksch, who will retire from the board at the next annual general meeting, is encouraging other producers to consider what they may offer the industry through being part of GPSA.

Mr Wilksch says the skills a GPSA board director needs are the capacity to think independently, read widely, be articulate, develop an informed argument and then be able to defend it, and keep on working for a common cause if your viewpoint is not accepted.

“The rewards come when one can mount an argument for our position, have that argument questioned or attacked, and then conclude that under pressure, we were validated and credible,” he said.

“The rewards are when we make progress in stifling or preventing some proposed bureaucratic impediment, or enlightening someone in an influential place who finally sees our case, and works to assist, not to impose.

“GPSA is important because advocacy for, and defence of, our industry has been regarded as the poor cousin to agricultural research, and the dollars have been spent on one and not the other,” he said.