Trustees
Mr Peter Cooper - Chairperson
Category B (Industry Appointed) Trustee
– Appointed 14 November 2018
Parndana, Kangaroo Island, SA
Seed Potato Grower
Peter’s experience in the potato industry began in 2009 when he grew his first Seed Potato crop under a soft hose irrigator. At the age of 23 he was keen and looking to diversify his family sheep farm to allow space for home farming. Today his wife Meg and their three kids Harry, Zac and Charlotte sell 1000 to 1300 tonnes of low generation certified seed potatoes to other seed growers and commercial producers. Growing potatoes is a great challenge and to make a profit it is important to manage a lot of different aspects correctly and on time. Peter is passionate about the future of the potato industry and loves visiting and talking with potato growers from seed, wash and processing industries. Peter is the current SAPIT Chairperson.
Mr Terry Buckley
Category B (Industry Appointed) Trustee
– Appointed 18 November 2009
Mingbool, South East, South Australia
Processing Potato Grower
Terry has had a lifelong involvement with the South Australian potato industry having been a grower member on the South Australian Potato Board during its final years of existence. The residual funds from the potato board (which had been entirely contributed by the states potato growers) are what have now become the SAPIT fund. Terry is a partner in their family business located near Mount Gambier in the states southeast. The property produces prime lambs and approximately 24,000 tonnes of potatoes annually. These potatoes are supplied to Smiths Chips, McCain, “Aus Potatoes” for export to Asia and seed produced for sale and internal use. Terry has been involved in a range of industry bodies over the years, many of have been involved in industry research. He and his partner Jackie have a particular interest in environmentally sustainable practices.
Ms Anna Young
Category B (Industry Appointed) Trustee
– Appointed August 2019
Kalangadoo, Lower South East, SA
Processing Potato Grower
Anna is a potato farmer with her family’s business based in Kalangadoo, South Australia. Prior to returning to the family business in 2011 she worked as an accountant for an Administrator and Liquidator with the aim of learning “what not to do”.
Although her primary focus is on the production of potatoes for processing into both crisps for Smith’s and French fries for McCain, she is also involved in seed potato production. Her role is hands on, especially in the area of seed storage and preparation and growing analysis, but also includes the administration of the business.
As well as being a Trustee of the South Australian Potato Industry Trust she is also involved with the Southeast Potato Growers Association Inc.
She holds a Bachelor of Medical Science, a Bachelor of Accounting and a Diploma in Horticultural Business.
Ms Tamara Rohrlach
Category A (Ministerial Appointed) Trustee
– Appointed April 2019
Senior Industry Advisor - PIRSA
Tamara is an agribusiness and economic development specialist with a unique mix of communication, stakeholder engagement, policy and governance experience. Hailing from the Barossa Valley, Tamara has a deep understanding of family business operations with lived experience in the wine, livestock and grains industries, and professional experience across the horticulture sector. Tamara has a BSc Viticulture from the University of Adelaide, is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (GAICD) and recently completed her MBA at the University of South Australia. Tamara currently works for the South Australian Department of Primary Industries and Regions (PIRSA), as a Senior Industry Advisor where she is responsible for 'translating agriculture into policy'.
Have Questions?
If you have any questions for the South Australian Potato Industry Trust, please contact our Secretary using the details below.
Nikki Ward - Executive Officer
Agri Elements Pty Ltd
Call Us:
Mobile: 0488 018 765
Email Us:
Mail:
South Australian Potato Industry Trust
PO Box 194
St Agnes SA 5097