Ben Cant

Chair

Ben Cant is a third generation citrus grower, packer, marketer and exporter. He has spent the last 15 years running a modern pack house in his family business, a supplier to both major supermarket chains and export markets. During this time Ben has implemented changes to increase efficiency, out-turns and retail packaging options. He has a broad experience in orchard and packhouse operations, biosecurity and logistics. Ben was previously on the Board of Riversun Export and has a Bachelor of Performing Arts.

Richard Byllaardt

Deputy Chair – Grower Director

Richard Byllaardt is the former Managing Director of Seven Fields, and together with Greg McMahon he grew the company to become one of the largest and most successful citrus growers in Australia. As head of growing and marketing, Richard travelled regularly to South Africa, Italy, Spain, USA, China, Japan, United Kingdom, Korea, Thailand, Indonesia and Hong Kong, establishing an excellent network of people around the world in the citrus industry. In 2016, Seven Fields was sold to The Nutrano Group. Richard believes it is essential for all horticultural industries to have strong organisations like Citrus Australia as key drivers in the future direction of our industry.

Shane Kay

Grower Director

Shane Kay is a citrus grower, packer and manager in Western Australia. Shane has been actively involved in Western Australian citrus industry bodies and industry development and is a current Committee member of WA Citrus.

Iain Evans

Independent Director

Iain is a former South Australian politician who has held respected roles on industry, Cabinet and Government committees. Iain was elected to the South Australian Parliament in 1993 and retired in 2014 and has held various Ministerial/Shadow Ministerial portfolios including Treasury, Industry & Trade; Industrial Relations and Small Business. Iain served as the Leader of the Opposition as well as a Member of the Murray Darling Basin Ministerial Council. Iain has been a CEO of a food export business and is currently the Chair of the Lenswood Coldstores Cooperative Society. He is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Megan MacDonald

Grower Director

Megan and husband Hamish have 40,000 mandarin and lemon trees on 110 hectares over three sites on the Burnett River in Queensland.

Megan manages the packing shed and marketing of their fruit. The MacDonalds are also accredited labour providers.

Megan said being an owner/manager with Hamish of a smaller citrus business, and a working mother, will frame her contribution to the strategic direction of Citrus Australia.

Greg Fraser

Independent Director

Greg Fraser was CEO of Plant Health Australia from 2008 to July, 2020. He has also been Chair of the Plant Biosecurity Research Initiative since July, 2018, and is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Greg worked with Citrus Australia CEO Nathan Hancock and other stakeholders in the citrus canker response in the NT and northern WA.

Greg brings experience in stakeholder engagement from PHA, whose members are all levels of Government and industry bodies. He and his family own a 200 hectare grazing farm, with some irrigation, at Wee Jasper, north of Canberra.