Main Conference Speakers

A seasoned public servant, he brings extensive experience in governance, having previously served as Minister of Social Development, Sport and Cultural Affairs, Finance, and Agriculture, as well as Leader of Government Business. His leadership across these portfolios has been marked by consistent efforts to strengthen service delivery and economic resilience.

He began his career in education in 1986, serving as a teacher and principal, before moving into organised agriculture as Executive Director of Agri SA, where he played a key role in shaping discourse on food security, sustainable agriculture and transformation. He served as CEO of the Afrikaanse Handelsinstituut (AHi), promoting entrepreneurship and the growth of small and medium enterprises.

She is passionate about empowering emerging farmers to become commercial Angora goat farmers, and strives to uplift them and, in so doing, strengthen the mohair industry.

His show commitment began in 2001 with the Nowra Show Society, where he served as President (2005–2010) as well as Ringmaster and Chief Steward of Attractions.

She has been the CEO of the Royal Agricultural Society of WA since 2022, the first female CEO in 193 years. Robyn is leading the society through a growth period including redevelopment of the Showground and runs the Perth Royal Show which is WA’s largest community event.

Jenni is a Waikato farmer and businesswoman who has been on the board for more than a decade and also served as Vice President for three years. She brings a wealth of experience to agriculture, having spent more than four decades in farming and governance, and being the first female Nuffield Scholar and the first woman chair of Environment Waikato.

In January 1995, Melt became a founding member of the Fair Cape Dairies Group of Companies and has served as its Managing Director ever since. Under his leadership, Fair Cape has grown into one of South Africa’s most respected dairy organisations, earning industry-wide recognition and numerous awards at the South African Dairy Championships over the past six years.

Francois began his career in 2018 after completing his studies in Agricultural Economics at Stellenbosch University, joining his family’s table grape farming business in the Hex River Valley.

From the outset, he was immersed in the operational, financial and strategic aspects of a highly competitive and export-driven industry. Working in one of South Africa’s leading grape-producing regions, Francois has gained hands-on experience across all areas of the business, including production planning, cost management, logistics, and market alignment. This exposure has allowed him to bridge the gap between agricultural theory and practical implementation, while developing a strong understanding of the sector.

Shannon hails from Kuilsriver, Cape Town. Her passion for agriculture was ignited by her grandparents who were subsistence farmers from Jamestown, Stellenbosch. After school, Shannon obtained a BSc degree in Conservation Ecology and Entomology at Stellenbosch University.

Before her position as Assistant Livestock Manager, she did an internship at Boschendal where she was exposed to different farming practices, providing her the opportunity to gain experience in working with plants, soil, insects and livestock. It was at the livestock sector where her true passion for agriculture was highlighted and recognised – so much that the position of Assistant Livestock Manager was offered to her.

With 25 years across food, farming and land use systems, Emily brings practical insight from farm to policy level.

Originally qualified as lawyer before undertaking an MSc in Sustainable Agriculture, her career has taken her from family business to global PLC, with time spent in Brussels and across the UK.

His influence spans key industry structures, including long-standing involvement with the Milk Producers’ Organisation (MPO) as national chairperson, along with 15 years of regional service, and contributions to the Large Herds Conference. He has served on the board of Milk South Africa since 2012, where he continues to assist in research, development and enterprise growth. Recently, he led the Humansdorp Co-op through a complex merger with SSK, strengthening the long-term resilience of agricultural businesses in the Eastern Cape.

After school, she completed a combined degree in law and accounting at Stellenbosch University and began her legal career at ENS, Africa’s largest law firm, in 2010. She specialised as a Corporate Commercial attorney in a high-performance environment before joining Dommisse Attorneys, where she became a director.

Driven by a lifelong passion for farming, Stefan returned to agriculture and identified an opportunity to apply the same principles that have helped build successful wine brands to South Africa’s wool industry. This vision led to the growth of Gerber & Co, a business dedicated to transforming African wool into high-value textile and technical products.

After completing a degree in Agriculture at the University of Reading, Will began his career managing one of the United Kingdom’s largest dairy herds, gaining valuable practical experience in livestock production and farm management. He later specialised in agricultural sustainability, joining Alltech E-CO₂, where he worked with farmers, retailers, and processors to measure carbon emissions and develop practical, profitable sustainability solutions across agricultural supply chains.

Tobie has worked across government and industry, including as Advisor to a Federal Senator in the Australian Parliament and as Agriculture Advisor to the New South Wales Minister for Agriculture, with policy responsibilities spanning agriculture, biosecurity and forestry. He contributed to major initiatives, including the unprecedented floods in NSW, livestock recovery efforts and emerging biosecurity threats that continue to threaten Australia today.

Christopher (Chris) Riddle is a respected figure in the UK agricultural sector, with a lifelong commitment to agricultural societies and industry organisations. Based in North Cornwall, he currently serves as Honorary Secretary of the RASC, following many years as a Trustee.

He began his career with the Royal Cornwall Agricultural Association in 1979 and was appointed Secretary in 1989 at the age of 25, becoming one of the youngest to hold such a position at a major UK agricultural show. He served in this role until his retirement in 2024, continuing a remarkable family legacy, with his father having held the same position from 1957 to 1989.