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The Hort Connections 2017 Gala Dinner celebrated the outstanding achievements and contributions
made to the Australian horticulture industry by growers, researchers and supply chain members.
2017
NAT IONAL AWARDS FOR EXCELLENCE
L-R: Daniel Adams (winner) and Dow AgroSciences
Horticulture Business Manager John Gilmour.
YOUNG GROWER OF THE YEAR
L-R: Diane Staatz, Anthony Staatz (winner) and
Syngenta Corporate Affairs Manager Rob Cairns.
GROWER OF THE YEAR
L-R: PMA A-NZ Head of Marketing and Member
Engagement Renee Harrison, Matt Stillwell (winner)
and Produce Plus journalist Gabrielle Easter.
MARKETER OF THE YEAR
Peninsula Fresh Organics Land and Quality Manager
Lisa Brassington.
WOMEN IN HORTICULTURE
Watermark Advisory Services Russell Gooch and Trainee Patent
and Trade Marks Attorney Renee White looked at building a
brand for the Asian market and its traceability.
Nicholas Bennett from Syngenta focused on innovation
through collaboration and the importance of choosing value
chain partners, while Len Tesoriero, a Senior Plant Pathologist
with the New South Wales Department of Primary Industries,
spoke about managing fungicide resistance in vegetable crops.
The tomato-potato psyllid (TPP) was also brought to the
audience’s attention by Plant & Food Research New Zealand
Research Associate Dr Rebekah Frampton, who spoke about
the history of TPP and zebra chip spread across New Zealand.
There was a detailed discussion on TPP diagnostics (both
laboratory and field-based) and the diversity of host plants.
Nursery and Garden Industry Australia National Biosecurity
Manager John McDonald also discussed the ways to reduce
the biosecurity risk in planting material, including on-farm
biosecurity, industry biosecurity preparedness and awareness,
plus the minor use program.
Davin Phillips from the Australian Competition and
Consumer Commission (ACCC) rounded out the presentation
and provided advice about the Horticulture Code of Conduct,
and how it can be used to assist growers and traders in the
horticulture industry.
NETWORKING OPPORTUNITIES
In addition to the speaker sessions, the annual Women in
Horticulture networking event also took place on Wednesday
afternoon. Around 100 delegates gathered to recognise and
celebrate the pivotal role that women play in the industry and
highlight the ways that they can get involved and add value to
their businesses.
Held at the InterContinental Adelaide, the event was
hosted by Tonya Roberts and opened by Senator Ruston,
who spoke about her rise in politics and her passion for her
agriculture portfolio.
Susie White from Eat.Drink.Innovate sparked plenty of interest
with her presentation ‘Creativity hacks for innovative product
creation’, which again looked at the idea of SCAMPER.
Horticulture Innovation Australia’s Christian Patterson
followed with a presentation about the organisation and his
role as a Relationship Manager in the industry.
Delegates were also treated to an entertaining cooking
demonstration from celebrity chef Geoff Jansz, before the
Women in Horticulture award winner was announced.
Lisa Brassington of Peninsula Fresh Organics in Victoria
received the award in recognition of her passion for
promoting the diverse role of women in the industry and her
ongoing contribution to the organic sector.
In addition, the NextGen Young Grower event got
participants’ adrenaline pumping after they completed an
Adelaide Oval roof climb. It was also a chance for younger
industry members to get to know each other and establish
vital networking connections.
HONOURING THE BEST
As the groundbreaking Hort Connections 2017 came to a
close, delegates turned out to the Adelaide Convention
Centre in their finest evening wear for the Gala Dinner. This
was the night for AUSVEG and PMA A-NZ to celebrate the
best and brightest in the horticulture industry.
Honoured for his outstanding work across all aspects of
vegetable production was Queensland grower Anthony
Staatz, who picked up the Grower of the Year Award.
Third generation Brussels spout grower, Victorian Daniel
Adams, was named the Young Grower of the Year for his
on-farm innovation, as well as demonstrating a high level of
commitment to the wider industry. The full list of award
winners can be found on page 11.
AUSVEG would like to thank PMA A-NZ for its partnership
in hosting Hort Connections 2017, as well as the support from
industry co-hosts, strategic partners, delegates, speakers and
exhibitors. Without this ongoing collaboration and support,
the event would not have been such a success.
AUSVEG looks forward to Hort Connections 2018, which
will be held in Brisbane from 18-20 June.
Assistant Minister for Agriculture and Water Resources Senator the Hon.
Anne Ruston with Tonya Roberts at the Women in Horticulture event.
Around 1,200 delegates attended the Gala Dinner to
celebrate the best and brightest in the horticulture industry.