Dairy Australia announces DataGene boss Matthew Shaffer will lead the organisation into a ‘new era' as CEO
Dairy Australia has announced the appointment of DataGene boss Matthew Shaffer as its new chief executive to help lead the organisation into a 'new era'.
Mr Shaffer was selected after an 'extensive' recruitment process for his vision for the organisation, knowledge and passion for the dairy industry, and strong commercial experience in agriculture.
His appointment comes at a time when the dairy industry is facing climate-induced disruptions, fluctuating farmgate prices, high operating costs and global headwinds.
Dairy Australia chair Paul Roderick said Mr Shaffer brings a wealth of experience and a proven ability to deliver meaningful change.
'After consulting farmers around Dairy Australia's strategic direction, we are preparing to launch a new five-year strategy,' he said.
'Matt will contribute to shaping our future direction and play a critical role in implementing a strategy that supports farmers to unlock the potential of their farm business, innovate for future success, while ensuring a sustainable dairy industry.'
Mr Shaffer has extensive experience in agricultural economics and corporate leadership within the dairy industry.
He was most recently chief executive of DataGene, before which he was chief executive of Holstein Australia.
Mr Shaffer also spent time in an international operations role at US-based Hancock Agriculture Investment Group.
He will succeed managing director David Nation — who announced his decision to step down in late 2024 after seven years in the role — on July 16.
Mr Roderick said Mr Nation challenged the status quo and championed initiatives that have had a lasting impact on the dairy industry.
'His leadership in research and innovation through partnerships with DairyBio and DairyFeedbase has been exceptional,' he said.
'He also played a key role in enhancing Dairy Australia's support for the industry's sustainability agenda, building community trust, and strengthening regional connections with farmers.
'Under his guidance, Dairy Australia has become a more people-focused organisation with a clear commitment to delivering value for the industry.'
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Age
2 hours ago
- The Age
After two days of talks, Trump's China trade deal is right back where it started
After almost 20 hours of marathon trade talks across two days, US and Chinese negotiators arrived back at the starting point they had brokered one month ago. Given the fragility of US-China relations and the worldwide consequences of when they sour, any progress along the path of de-escalation is welcome. But the key takeaway from Tuesday's incremental outcome is about as prosaic as the new agreement was underwhelming. Trade wars are easy to start, easy to escalate and extremely difficult to unpick, let alone win. Holed up for two days in London's opulent Lancaster House, officials from both camps emerged late in the evening with what appears, at best, to be a Groundhog Day agreement to wind back the clock to the May 12 tariff ceasefire brokered in Geneva. Unlike last time, there was no joint statement outlining the agreed terms, just a handful of remarks to reporters by the lead negotiators, where the main line of consensus appeared to be on what to call this bare-minimum breakthrough. 'The negotiators have negotiated a handshake agreement to seek sign-off to agree that a previously agreed agreement is still their agreed-upon agreement' Justin Wolfers, US economist 'A framework' for implementing 'the Geneva consensus' is how both US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and Chinese Vice Commerce Minister Li Chenggang referred to the end product of the protracted negotiations. Under the Geneva truce, both sides agreed to scale back their eye-watering tariffs for 90 days – a deal that immediately wobbled when China continued to strangle the export of rare earth minerals and magnets, and the US retaliated with new curbs on semiconductor software and plane engine parts. After the London discussions, there is no solid resolution on these issues, just an in-principle agreement to withdraw the knives.
Sydney Morning Herald
2 hours ago
- Sydney Morning Herald
After two days of talks, Trump's China trade deal is right back where it started
After almost 20 hours of marathon trade talks across two days, US and Chinese negotiators arrived back at the starting point they had brokered one month ago. Given the fragility of US-China relations and the worldwide consequences of when they sour, any progress along the path of de-escalation is welcome. But the key takeaway from Tuesday's incremental outcome is about as prosaic as the new agreement was underwhelming. Trade wars are easy to start, easy to escalate and extremely difficult to unpick, let alone win. Holed up for two days in London's opulent Lancaster House, officials from both camps emerged late in the evening with what appears, at best, to be a Groundhog Day agreement to wind back the clock to the May 12 tariff ceasefire brokered in Geneva. Unlike last time, there was no joint statement outlining the agreed terms, just a handful of remarks to reporters by the lead negotiators, where the main line of consensus appeared to be on what to call this bare-minimum breakthrough. 'The negotiators have negotiated a handshake agreement to seek sign-off to agree that a previously agreed agreement is still their agreed-upon agreement' Justin Wolfers, US economist 'A framework' for implementing 'the Geneva consensus' is how both US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and Chinese Vice Commerce Minister Li Chenggang referred to the end product of the protracted negotiations. Under the Geneva truce, both sides agreed to scale back their eye-watering tariffs for 90 days – a deal that immediately wobbled when China continued to strangle the export of rare earth minerals and magnets, and the US retaliated with new curbs on semiconductor software and plane engine parts. After the London discussions, there is no solid resolution on these issues, just an in-principle agreement to withdraw the knives.
Perth Now
2 hours ago
- Perth Now
500 jobs axed in major Jetstar move
Qantas has announced it will close Jetstar Asia, its Singapore-based budget airline after two decades in the air, as it looks to focus on the domestic market. In an announcement to the ASX Qantas said the closure of Jetstar Asia will enable the airline to recycle up to $500m in capital and support its fleet renewal program. The airline said it would redirect 13 Jetstar Asia Airbus A320 aircraft to be progressively redeployed to Australia and New Zealand, adding 100 local jobs in the process. The decision will have zero impact to all of Jetstar and Jetstar Japan's flying into Asia. None of the highly popular routes they operate into Indonesia, Vietnam, Japan, Singapore are affected. The restructure could see up to 500 jobs axed from its Singapore operation. A statement to the ASX said employees of Jetstar Asia would be provided with redundancy benefits and employment support services, and Qantas was working to find job opportunities elsewhere in the group or with other airlines in the region. Qantas announces it is axing its Jetstar Asia flights. NewsWire / Luis Enrique Ascui Credit: News Corp Australia The airline said the closure would have a cost of approximately $175m due to one-off redundancy and restructuring costs with the first third coming this financial year, with the rest coming in 2026. Qantas Group CEO Vanessa Hudson said Jetstar Asia has been a pioneering force in the Asian aviation market for more than 20 years, making air travel accessible to millions of customers across Southeast Asia. 'We are incredibly proud of the Jetstar Asia team and the work they have done to deliver low fares, strong operational performance and exceptional customer service. This is a very tough day for them. Despite their best efforts, we have seen some of Jetstar Asia's supplier costs increase by up to 200 per cent, which has materially changed its cost base.' Qantas chief executive Vanessa Hudson thanked the Jetstar Asia crew. Qantas/NewsWire Credit: Supplied 'I want to sincerely thank and acknowledge our incredible Jetstar Asia team who should be very proud of the impact they have had on aviation in the region over the past two decades.' Qantas said the closure came after a deterioration in Jetstar Asia's earnings, with the airline facing strong competition from AirAsia and Singapore's own national carrier. Qantas said it expected the subsidiary to post an underlying earnings loss of $25 million in the six months to June 30.
