The National Farmers’ Federation (NFF) is pleased to announce Su McCluskey as interim Chief Executive, effective Monday 1 September. Ms McCluskey will lead the NFF through the process of the 2025 Members Council and AGM and the recruitment of a permanent CEO.
“Ms McCluskey joins us fresh from her role as Special Representative for Australian Agriculture, where she was a strong and passionate advocate for sustainable Australian agriculture and brings deep expertise in agricultural policy at both national and international levels,” said NFF President David Jochinke.
“Leadership transitions can be challenging, but our focus remains firmly on delivering outcomes for our members and the sector. I’m confident Ms McCluskey is the right person to champion agriculture on behalf of our members and producers across Australia.”
Her appointment comes as Parliament gains momentum and the NFF rolls out key initiatives, including its flagship event AgXchange in September and ongoing leadership programs.
“Australian agriculture faces major shifts, from global market volatility to significant economic and environmental reforms,” Ms McCluskey said.
“My priority is to ensure the NFF contributes strategic thinking and strong policy ideas, guided by our members’ priorities, as well as ensuring the daily operations of the NFF continue to run smoothly.
“I look forward to working with the NFF family to shape policies that secure a bright future for Australian agriculture and regional communities.”
Ms McCluskey’s credentials run deep: she’s a farmer, former CEO of the Regional Australia Institute and a current Director of the Australasian Pork Research Institute, and was recently appointed Chair of The Crawford Fund. She also led the GST transition for farmers, working closely with NFF members. Ms McCluskey also worked at the NFF as Director of Taxation and as General Manager, Policy.
“Ms McCluskey’s no stranger to the NFF and brings a wealth of experience. We look forward to her leadership,” Mr Jochinke said.
The NFF remains committed to recruiting a permanent CEO. At its AGM in October, members will elect a new President and two Directors to its seven-member board.
“With significant board turnover ahead, it’s prudent the new board appoints the permanent CEO,” Mr Jochinke added.
“I believe Ms McCluskey will hit the ground running. She has the connections in Government, industry and in Parliament House to continue the NFF’s critical work.
“I want to thank and pay tribute to the NFF team who have been incredibly supportive as we work through this process.”
Media note
Images of Su McCluskey here.
About Su McCluskey
Ms McCluskey was Australia’s inaugural Special Representative for Australian Agriculture. With an increasing focus on more environmentally sustainable production, Ms McCluskey worked to promote and demonstrate Australia’s commitment to climate-smart sustainable agriculture, and counter prescriptive policy that could negatively impact Australian agriculture and global food security. Ms McCluskey brought a depth of knowledge to this role, being a cattle producer herself, as well as a Director of LiveCorp, Crawford Fund and the Australasian Pork Research Institute, a member of the CSIRO Food and Agriculture Advisory Group and an ATSE Fellow. She was most recently a Director of Australian Unity, Commissioner for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR), and previously held positions as a Commissioner on the National COVID-19 Advisory Board, a member of the Charities Review, CEO of the Regional Australia Institute and the Council of Rural Research and Development Corporations and the Executive Director of the Office of Best Practice Regulation. She has also held senior positions with the Business Council of Australia, the National Farmers’ Federation and the Australian Taxation Office.
Ashleigh Whittaker