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National Farmers' Federation

Our Team

Meet our Team

The National Farmers’ Federation (NFF) team is made up of highly-skilled and experienced professionals who are dedicated to the cause of furthering the opportunities for Australia’s farmers.

The NFF team has a strong passion for Australian Agriculture and making sure the sector continues to grow for years to come….

Liz Bulley

Executive Assistant

Liz Bulley

Tonami Deed

Policy Officer, Natural Resource Management

Tonami Deed

Tonami recently graduated from The Australian National University with a Double Degree majoring in Sustainability Studies and International Relations. He recently joined the NFF Team in March 2023 as a Policy Officer in the Natural Resource Management Portfolio.

Emily Hoang

Events & Leadership Coordinator

Emily Hoang

Emily joined the NFF team in June 2024. Emily first started her career in the Brisbane Market with her family business then venturing to working at other farming businesses as well as for Fair Farms. With her extensive background in the horticulture industry, she also studied a Bachelor of Agribusiness at the University of Queensland. Emily is passionate about agriculture and continues to advocate for the industry and for our farmers.

Haylee Murrell

Outbound Project Officer, AgCAREERSTART

Haylee Murrell

Haylee hails from the Liverpool plains which is where her love for agriculture came from. She is about to complete her Bachelor of Agriculture at the University of New England. Haylee comes from a recruitment background and has a history of working in the Agricultural industry. She is passionate about the future of Australian Ag and helping today’s youth take advantage of the opportunities the industry can provide for them.

Warwick Ragg

General Manager, Natural Resource Management

Warwick Ragg

Warwick was raised on a farm in the NSW Southern Highlands and has almost 30 years experience in rural and regional advocacy. Prior to joining NFF Warwick had been working in the Commonwealth Government in stakeholder engagement roles and had previously spent a decade with NSW Farmers' Association and a further decade as chief executive of Australian Forest Growers.

Amanda Tankey

General Manager, Governance & Corporate Services

Amanda Tankey

Amanda joined the NFF in 2012 and has a broad range of experience in the public, private and not-for-profit sectors in the areas of agriculture, transport, education, health, and human resources.

Charlotte Wundersitz

General Manager, Rural Affairs

Charlotte Wundersitz

Charlotte joined the NFF team in 2022 as the trade and economics policy officer. She has a background in law and is originally from a broad acre cropping farm in South Australia. Charlotte has previously worked as a policy analyst for Grain Producers SA.

Chris Young

General Manager, Trade & Economics

Chris Young

Chris joined the NFF in 2022 as the General Manager of Rural Affairs and now moved to the Trade & Economics portfolio. He has a background working in agriculture, with a focus in the livestock industry.

Steffie Vaiphei

Projects & Leadership Coordinator

Steffie Vaiphei

Steffie joined the NFF Team in August 2023 as our Projects & Leadership Coordinator. Originally from diverse India, Steffie has a background in Rural Planning, Project and Supply Chain Management. Steffie coordinates various Leadership programs as well as Indigenous Agricultural Product Framework project.

Gabi Ceregra

Data Policy Manager - Farm Data Code

Gabi Ceregra

Gabi Ceregra is the Data Policy Manager at the National Farmers’ Federation and Food Agility CRC. Specialising in data governance, Gabi brings a wealth of experience in managing data across health, financial services, and agriculture. With a track record of successfully delivering small and large-scale data projects, Gabi has led operational data governance teams and developed policies and standards dictating how data is handled within projects and organisations.

Chloe Dutschke

Training and Career Development Coordinator, AgCAREERSTART

Chloe Dutschke

Chloe joined the NFF team in February 2022 as part of the AgCAREERSTART program. She studied a Bachelor of Animal Science at the University of Adelaide and is passionate about the future of young people in agriculture. Chloe joins the NFF after spending two years working on a merino sheep station.

Stevi Howdle

Executive Officer, Farmsafe Australia

Stevi Howdle

Stevi came on board as Executive Officer for Farmsafe Australia in March 2020, taking on an ambitious three-year project to overhaul the branding and organisational structure, bringing Farmsafe into the modern era to serve Australian farmers better.

Chrissy Kerin

Policy and Project Officer - Farming For the Future

Chrissy Kerin

Chrissy joined the NFF team in May 2024 as a Project and Policy Officer in Natural Resource Management. She comes from a broadacre farm in Western Australia and has spent several decades working in natural resource management, agriculture and communications, for both government and not for profit organisations.

Mikaila Lipinski

Community Engagement Coordinator - AgCAREERSTART

Mikaila Lipinski

Growing up in the picturesque Fleurieu Peninsula, Mikaila found her love for all things Agriculture. Mikaila comes from a Human Resource background, on both National & International levels and specialises in Blue Collar sectors. She is a passionate advocate for future proofing Australian Ag and educating youth to the endless opportunities within the industry.

Zac Rayson

Senior Policy Officer, Rural Affairs

Zac Rayson

Hailing from a small farm in NSW’s Manning Valley, Zac joined the NFF in 2024 as Senior Policy Officer for Rural Affairs. Zac has a background in media and is passionate about mental health, sustainability, AgTech, and increasing diversity in agriculture.

Guy Nicol

Policy Officer – Economics

Guy Nicol

Guy joined the NFF in September 2023. He is a recent graduate from the Australian National University, studying a Bachelor of Environment and Sustainability majoring in Environmental Science and Agricultural Innovation alongside a Bachelor of Design. Guy is passionate about agriculture and works as a policy officer in the Natural Resource Management portfolio.

Richard Shannon

Executive Officer, Hort Council

Richard Shannon

From growing up on the family farm on the northern Darling Downs, Richard has built a career and reputation as an industry advocate and public policy professional, working across agriculture, trade, renewable energy, healthcare innovation and Indigenous education. He joined the NFF team in September 2022.

Bec Wilde

Leadership & Events Manager

Bec Wilde

Bec brings a background in design, coordination and implementation of national ag events and leadership programs as well as experience in the not-for-profit and financial industries. Hailing from Central West NSW, Bec is passionate about building the capability and relationships between individuals, businesses and government in the industry.

Stacey Davidson

Media & Communications Manager

Stacey Davidson

Stacey joined the NFF team in February 2022 as communications and media coordinator. Growing up on a sheep and cattle property in outback South Australia, Stacey followed a career in regional journalism across the state. She also spent time working in a regional electorate office while also running her own copywriting business specialising in agriculture and regional Australia.

Kayla Evans

Program Manager, AgCAREERSTART

Kayla Evans

Kayla joined the team in Jan 2022 to spearhead the AgCAREERSTART program as Project Manager. Originally from a family farm in QLD, Kayla has run several agricultural careers, education, and capacity building projects in Western Australia for organisations such as the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, and the Grain Industry Association of Western Australia.

Louise Hegarty

Industry Skills Officer

Louise Hegarty

Louise, originally from rural Co Limerick in Ireland, joined the NFF in March 2024. Louise has worked in various organisations in Ireland, the UK and Australia with a strong focus on stakeholder engagement and skills development.

Tony Mahar

Chief Executive Officer

Tony Mahar

Tony comes from a farming background in south western Victoria and has worked in and around agriculture for the majority of his working life. He has experience in working with global food manufacturers, major Australian agribusinesses and the Commonwealth Department of Agriculture. He was appointed NFF CEO in March 2016 after holding the positions of Trade and Economics manager and Deputy CEO. He has tertiary qualification in agricultural commerce from Sydney University and a masters degree in industry policy from ANU.

Ben Rogers

General Manager, Workplace Relations & Legal Affairs

Ben Rogers

Ben Rogers joined the NFF team in June 2017 bringing his experience in workplace relations and law to the role of General Manager, Workplace Relations and Legal Affairs. Ben comes with a wealth of experience in the Industrial Relations/Workplace Relations area as Principal Solicitor in the ACT Government, and previously with Comcare and private legal practices in New South Wales.

Charles Thomas

Deputy Chief Executive Officer

Charles Thomas

Charlie helps establish partnerships with likeminded organisations to enhance our advocacy and initiatives, as well as guiding campaign strategy and online communications. Raised on a farm near Condobolin, NSW, Charlie started his working life with a prominent law firm before pursuing a career in political advocacy.

Emily White

Project Officer, Australian Agricultural Sustainability Framework

Emily White

Emily joined the NFF team in June 2023 as Project Officer for the AASF. Originally from Canberra, she has spent time working as an agronomist in NSW Southern Tablelands. Prior to joining the NFF she managed a vineyard in the ACT and has experience across viticulture and winemaking.

Barry Young (Xu Yang)

Policy Officer - Workplace Relations and Legal Affairs

Barry Young (Xu Yang)

Barry (Xu) joined the NFF team in July 2024. He graduated from ANU with a Bachelor of International Relations with Honours, focusing on international agricultural development and public opinion. After university, he joined the Queensland Government as a Project Support Officer, strengthening his knowledge of state government structures. He has always been passionate about policy development in agriculture, an interest sparked from a young age by his upbringing.

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