The National Farmers’ Federation (NFF) Horticulture Council has appointed Paul Burke as its new independent Chair, bringing extensive experience in agricultural industry representation, governance and advocacy to the role.
Mr Burke’s appointment follows a rigorous, merit-based recruitment process undertaken by the Council over recent months. He succeeds Jolyon Burnett, who has chaired the Council since 2023.
Mr Burke was a founding member of the Council while serving as CEO of NT Farmers. His industry representation career also spans CEO of the Northern Territory Cattlemen’s Association (NTCA) and State Operations and Membership Manager at AgForce Queensland, alongside service on numerous state, territory and national policy committees.
As CEO of NT Farmers, Mr Burke led negotiations with government and industry partners to deliver a pathway for seasonal workers from Vanuatu during the COVID-19 border shutdown, work that helped keep the Territory’s horticulture industry operating through one of its most difficult periods.
He brings a breadth of governance experience spanning corporate agribusiness and grassroots enterprise development. Mr Burke is a director of ASX-listed Duxton Farms, where he chairs the ESG Committee, an independent director of MG Corporation and Kimberley Cotton Company, Independent Chair of the North Australia Beef Research Council, and Chair of the Northern Territory’s Pastoral Land Board.
He was also the driving force behind the Yirrkala Horticultural project in Arnhem Land, which has created sustainable career pathways for local Aboriginal people and now supplies fresh produce to community stores, hospitality venues and mine sites across the region.
NFF Chief Executive Officer Mike Guerin said Mr Burke’s blend of grassroots representation experience and contemporary governance expertise made him an outstanding appointment.
“Paul has been part of the Horticulture Council since its earliest days, and he understands what it takes to represent farmers because he’s done it – at AgForce, at NTCA and at NT Farmers, he’s sat across the table from government and industry on behalf of primary producers and gotten results,” Mr Guerin said.
“Few people can point to a career that runs from negotiating a seasonal workforce solution during a pandemic border shutdown to chairing the ESG committee of an ASX-listed agribusiness and building a horticulture enterprise from the ground up in Arnhem Land. That range is exactly what the Council needs as it works through a significant period of pressure and change for the sector, in the field and along the supply chain.”
Mr Burke said he was looking forward to working with the Council’s member bodies and key stakeholders.
“I was a founding member of the Horticulture Council, so I have an existing network, along with a strong history of policy development, advocacy and industry knowledge,” Mr Burke said.
“The agriculture industry is my passion. There is no industry I would prefer to be in. Whether it’s a pastoral land board, an ASX-listed boardroom or a grower policy committee, I’ve always found the job comes down to bringing the right people together, building trust, a common understanding, to solve complex issues, and that’s exactly what I’ll bring to the Council.”
Mr Guerin also thanked outgoing Chair Jolyon Burnett for his outstanding contribution to the Council and the horticulture industry in a career spanning four decades.
Mr Burke’s appointment takes effect immediately.
About the Horticulture Council
The Council is the recognised peak body for forming policy and advocating on behalf of the national horticulture industry. Established in 2017, it now comprises 19 national commodity and state-based horticulture bodies.
It is a member of the National Farmers’ Federation, free to establish and advance its own policy positions and responses issues impacting the horticulture industry.
