Annual General Meeting - 2025

Five nominations for director were received by the Company Secretary.

The nomination for Alasdair Smithson was received after the deadline for nominations. Consequently, it was treated in the same manner as a nomination from floor at the AGM.

Greg Paynter

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Greg has worked in the Organic agriculture sector for 35 years, as a practitioner, Organic Grain Grower on 1630 acres, consultant to National Certification Body’s Certification and Review processes (auditing the auditors reports to determine certification level for clients and products), trainer in organic agriculture, government project officer in organic agriculture (QDPI), and project leader LWA-HSSF program. 

Greg has been a high profile industry leader over this time through:

• membership of the OISCC (NS) and Standards Australia (AS6000) standards committees
• consultant in organic farming system development, certification, transition to organics, O/S  projects -Pacific, Asia  and Romania
• director of ORICoop
• Con Joint Research Fellow at Southern Cross University Centre for Organic Research
• past member of the Organic Federation of Australia (OFA), as well as Board Member and chairman of OFA
• co-author of a Book (QDPI) on “Organic Farming:Is it for You? “
• Diploma Organic Agriculture TAFE

Greg's goal is to grow the Organic Farming sector into a vibrant leader within Australian agriculture.

Ian James

Ian has been a director of OIA Ltd since 29/11/2021.

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Ian grew up in the marginal areas of the central wheatbelt in Western Australia on a large broad acre wheat and sheep property. Educated in Perth, Ian began working on sheep stations in the rangelands further north before returning to the family farm to settle down and raise a family.

Ian has 4 grown children and now lives and works together with his wife Jodi on their organically certified property near Meckering, 2 hours east of Perth. Ian has previously been involved in politics as a candidate for both state and federal parliament in 6 election campaigns for the WA Greens.

Ian has a keen interest in working to secure a strong future for organic operations in Australia.

Peter Hislop Speers

Peter has been a director of OIA Ltd since 29/11/2021 and Chair of the Board of Directors since 18/08/2023.

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Peter has been involved in the organic industries since the early 1990s, and was a part of the first organic banana exports from Cairns to Osaka, Japan which at the time was a significant collaboration project between retailers and organic producers.

From early 2000s, Peter established an organic specialist account management firm called Palotus Pty Ltd (www.palotus.com). Within this company, Peter and his team initiated the first direct organic vendor to a major retailer. This became a significant contributor to the retailer brand, and in the years to follow became a leading organic food brand.

In supporting organic producers, Peter has developed knowledge in supply chain products and services that enhance the organic food chain, including paper-based punnets which replaced plastic packaging on supermarket shelves from 2017. In 2020, Peter deployed certified compostable film on a national organic product range—a significant achievement toward removal of single use plastics in food packaging and, perhaps more importantly, a step toward sustainable packaging solutions for organic products.

Peter brings knowledge and experience in organic production, supply chain and retail environments.

Vincenzo Velletri

Vincenzo is a chef and the owner of Il Paiolo Events Catering, a business renowned for its dedication to authentic, seasonal cuisine and local ingredients.

Vincenzo has been actively involved with the Slow Food movement for over 25 years, has been Chair of Slow Food Swan Valley and Eastern Regions Inc. since its inception in 2011, and currently also serves as Slow Food International Councillor for Australia and Oceania. He is also a Committee Member of Experience Gidgegannup and the Gidgegannup Progress Association.

Having lived in the Perth Hills for over 33 years, Vincenzo is deeply passionate about food, food culture, and the sustainable development of tourism and agritourism. His philosophy strongly aligns with both the Slow Food and organic principles of sustainability, biodiversity, and fairness in food production. He is a committed advocate for building resilient local food systems that support small producers and nurture the health of people, communities, and the planet.

Alasdair Smithson

Alasdair is a modern day pioneer in the Organic Food & Farming Industry and was one of the first 7 people in the world to achieve an honours degree in Organic Agriculture, from Aberystwyth, University of Wales. He has extensive practical experience in Organic Farming both in Europe and Australia and has the ability to apply scientific theory into practice.

After working for Riverford as an Organic Field Manager and the UK Soil Association for a number of years, Alasdair emigrated to Australia in 2005 and worked as Business Development Manager for Australian Certified Organic in Brisbane.

He then ventured to Far North QLD and managed the largest certified organic sweet corn and sweet potato farm at the time in Australia, comprising of 100 acres. In 2007 he founded and built from the ground up, Munch Crunch Organics, an online organic home delivery food box based in Byron Bay, delivering directly from his own farm and the farm network he created to homes between Ballina and Brisbane weekly, selling the business in 2017 after a decade.

Throughout this time, Alasdair has helped many farmers change to organic farming methods through his Organic Knowledge and was previously a member of the UNE Organic Research Group, co-authored the Australian Organic Market Report 2008, was on the Organic Federation of Australia Producer Council, was Chair of the Australian Certified Organic Horticulture Working Group, and was former President of the New Brighton Farmers Market.

He runs Organic Knowledge, is an accredited USDA, EU, Southern Cross Organic and Regenerative Farming Auditor, part time Organic Farmer, and Managing Director at Growtunnels.