AUSCITRUS BOARD
Executive committee members are elected from Auscitrus delegates at the Auscitrus Annual General Meeting.
The committee meets at least quarterly with the Auscitrus Manager, to decide on general operational and policy issues. A copy of the associations constitution can be viewed here.
Gary Eyles
CHAIRMAN
Gary began working in the Family Nursery at the end of 1969 after leaving High School. He completed a Certificate of Horticulture in 1972. This began a life-long interest in the Citrus and Nursery Industries.
In the late 1970’s Gary took over from his father representing industry on the Horticultural Propagation Co-Operative Society Ltd. This body eventually became Auscitrus. The value of using Clean tested propagation material can never be overrated. The best way to promote plant health is to begin with clean material. This is why Gary has been committed to the success of Auscitrus over a long period.
Wayne Parr
VICE CHAIRMAN
Wayne Parr is a fourth generation citrus grower with practical experience spanning over 40 years as a commercial grower. Wayne currently owns and is involved in two business operations in Australia: Variety Access Pty Ltd, an Intellectual Property Management Company for the commercialisation of new citrus and subtropical fruit varieties, and Golden Grove Qld Pty Ltd, a commercial citrus and fruit tree nursery.
Golden Grove is one of the largest fruit tree production nurseries in Australia and is accredited with the Nursery Industry Accreditation Scheme of Australia. The nursery has been supplying Queensland commercial citrus growers since 1987 and is currently supplying over 200,000 nursery trees per year into the Queensland Citrus Industry and other fruit tree Industries. Wayne is involved in a number of industry bodies including the Hort Innovation Citrus Strategic Investment Advisory Panel, and the International Society of Citrus Nurserymen.
Jonathan Chislett
ORDINARY MEMBER
Jonathan is a third generation farmer who grew up on the family’s citrus orchard at Kenley, Victoria.
After completing a Bachelor of Chemical Engineering and Business, he began a career in mineral processing where he gained valuable experience in technical and operational roles.
Following a return to Kenley in 2012, Jonathan has been responsible for the family’s wholesale container citrus nursery. In the position of General Manager Nursery he has implemented systems and technology to improve product quality, reliability and efficiency.
Under Jonathan’s leadership the business has experienced a significant increase in production capacity.
The Chislett Farms Nursery is NIASA accredited and Member of the international society of citrus nurserymen.
David Arnold
ORDINARY MEMBER
David completed a Bachelor of Agriculture (Horticulture) in 2001, and completed post graduate studies in Irrigation. He worked for Netafim Australia for 7 years before returning to the family orchards. Along with his wife Belinda and brother Shaun, they manage GM Arnold & Son which operates orchards and management services for 230 acres of citrus, feijoas, pomegranate and quinces.
GM Arnold & Son has worked hard over the last 10 years to innovate and bring new technologies to their business, with the goal of producing higher quality fruit, with higher and more even cropping.
David has been involved on many industry bodies including recently Citrus SA, SACIS, and Hort Innovation SIAP for citrus.
Steve Burdette
ORDINARY MEMBER
Senior executive with a strong background in agribusiness, ranging from field packing, logistics and marketing to commercialising intellectual property rights, restructuring/mergers and developing extensive national and international contacts and relationships. Expert in all aspects of horticultural supply chain; from orchard development (including drought mitigation strategies and environmental sustainability) through to market.
Pragmatic experience is complimented by extensive knowledge in R&D tax, chairing a number of national and regional committees including Biosecurity, Fruit Fly, Variety and Rootstock leadership and seasonal worker programs. Founded two variety commercialisation companies and formed grower clubs in order to maximise the returns and market opportunities. Author and co-author of a number of technical publications.
Tim Herrmann
AUSCITRUS MANAGER
Tim comes from a horticultural family in the Riverland SA, obtaining an Applied Science Degree in Agriculture (Horticulture stream) in 1988. He began his career in the nursery of the PIRSA Research station in Loxton, then moved to Adelaide to manage the nursery for the SA Plant Quarantine Station. After a short stint as an AQIS export inspector and auditor he moved to the private sector, relocating to Mildura.
He has been Manager of Auscitrus since 2004, planning and coordinating the development of the current seed and budwood facility in the Coomealla district of NSW. Tim sits on the Citrus Australia Pest and Disease Prevention Committee, Varieties committee, and Biosecurity Surveillance steering committee, as well as the Post Entry Quarantine Plants Users group. He is also a member of the International Society of Citrus Nurseryman.