Rice, sheep, and walnut farmer Peter Herrmann has been elected Vice President of the National Farmers’ Federation (NFF).
Mr Herrmann was elected at the NFF’s Annual General Meeting on Monday, 26 October. He was already an NFF Director and is a former president of the Ricegrowers’ Association of Australia.
He runs a mixed farming operation of rice, sheep, and walnuts at Murrami in NSW. He has been involved in the rice industry for decades. He holds a Bachelor of Laws with second-class honours (Division A) in Environmental Law from the Australian National University.
Mr Herrmann is known for his passion for improving land and water use to create abundance, and for better public policy outcomes.
NFF President Hamish McIntyre congratulated Mr Herrmann on the election.
“Peter’s rice farming qualifications, alongside his environmental law degree, mean he is a font of knowledge, especially in the realm of agricultural land and water use,” Mr McIntyre said.
“I welcome Peter to this new role and acknowledge the valuable input he’s already made to the NFF through his time as Director.”
Mr McIntyre said he was also looking forward to continuing to work with Dr Tracy Sullivan, who has kept her role as Director.
He thanked the outgoing board and committee members for their service, and singled out outgoing Vice President John Hassell.
“I’d like to acknowledge the lengthy service that outgoing Vice President John Hassell has given to the ag industry,” Mr McIntyre said.
“His passion for farmers, especially those in the West, is undeniable.”
Malcolm Holm, Tony York, Angus Atkinson, and Bron Christensen are also finishing their terms as committee chairs.
“I thank them all for their expertise and dedication to the NFF, and more broadly, to Australian agriculture.”
Four new committee chairs have been named:
- Ange Hutchinson, Sustainable Development and Climate Change Committee.
- Perin Davey, Water Committee.
- John Lowe, Economic Policy and Farm Business Committee.
- Stephanie Terry, Workforce Committee.
Peter Thompson stays on as chair of the Telecommunications and Social Policy Committee. Chris Groves stays on as chair of the Farming Systems Committee.
The new Vice President and committee chairs will take up their roles after the 47th NFF Members’ Council meeting on Friday, 30 October.
Mr Herrmann’s move to Vice President leaves a casual vacancy on the NFF Board. Directors will fill it at a later date.
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