Mr Cameron is currently executive officer of GippsDairy, the Dairy Australia Regional Development Program serving the Gippsland dairy industry, a position he has held for the past six years.
In announcing the CEO appointment, Gardiner Foundation chair Dr Len Stephens said: “Allan brings to the CEO role extensive senior executive experience with a good ability to balance commercial, strategic, stakeholder and cultural issues, all critical capabilities in a role, which covers the diverse range of dairy activities Gardiner Foundation engages in.”
Mr Cameron brings to the Gardiner CEO role strong financial and business planning experience from previous roles and has been at the forefront of developing and rolling out the dairy industry’s seminal Our Farm, Our Plan program, which aims to equip dairy farmers with their own practical farm business plan.
“Allan comes to the Gardiner CEO role with well-established dairy networks,” Dr Stephens said.
“He has built strong relationships across the industry – from farmers through to milk processors, all levels of government, United Dairy Farmers of Victoria, research institutions and his colleagues within Dairy Australia.
“He has a good understanding of the political and emotional dynamics of working with and influencing a team of people and numerous industry stakeholders.
“The Gardiner Foundation board and staff team are looking forward to working with and supporting Allan in his new role.”
Dr Stephens paid tribute to outgoing CEO Dr Clive Noble and thanked him for his outstanding contribution for the past four years, highlights of which included Gardiner Foundation’s investment in major research, development and extension through DairyBio, in partnership with Dairy Australia and Agriculture Victoria; his contribution to the development of the Australian Dairy Plan, and to the recently launched Dairy Industry Leadership Strategy.
Mr Cameron will take up his new role at the end of September.
