As manager of the pasture seed blending and coating operations at Upper Murray Seeds, I am responsible for employing and training casual and full-time staff and ensuring sales orders are met within a strict timeline. Responsible for coordinating site maintenance and support functions, I lead WHS initiatives across the business, prioritising safety of personnel and ensuring machinery is running safely and effectively.

This position saw me leading the production operations of a thriving international agricultural business, primarily in Australia but also travelling to and consulting on sites in the US, NZ and Europe. Responsible for a team of eight staff, I managed workflow, coordinated schedules, provided training and induction and recruited where needed. Tasked with ensuring safe and streamlined production, I proactively drove safety and compliance, while identifying opportunities for process improvement wherever possible. • Implemented a series of process improvements, introducing modernisation program and designing new ticketing and bagging systems to ensure labour-efficiency, cutting labour requirements significantly;• Championed safety and compliance, introducing operational process changes to eliminate WHS risk, passing all audits and securing accreditations;• Secured $300K reinvestment in solar and plant machinery over two years, by preparing a case and presenting to senior leadership team.

I started my time at Willamette Farm in a hands-on capacity, involved with drilling, cultivating and harvesting crops, before stepping into a supervisory role managing the seed-cleaning facility. My responsibilities included coordinating staff, streamlining reporting processes and providing administrative support, liaising between production and head office, and ensuring safety and compliance across the business. • Identified need for and implemented WHS initiatives across the business, ensuring safe and compliant operating procedures;• Successfully achieved all quality audits and maintained accreditation to export, critical to Willamette’s continued trading.