Citrus Australia’s head office is based in Mildura, Victoria. Our staff includes a small, dedicated and passionate team of people, working to both develop and support the citrus industry.
Chief Executive Officer
Nathan Hancock
Since his appointment as CEO in late 2017, Nathan has led new initiatives in expanding market access and strengthening biosecurity. He was recognised for his leadership and representation of the citrus industry during the citrus canker outbreak in 2017 and subsequent recovery efforts.
Before taking the reins as CEO, Nathan implemented maturity and quality standards in the national industry and improved industry statistics, including the citrus tree census, national plantings database, and production forecast model.
Executive Assistant to the CEO
Jess Carr
Jess joined our team in March 2021 and you may have already met her as the face of the office or as the voice on the phone. Jess manages the front of house but plays a pivotal support role in areas of accounts, membership and assisting Nathan.
Jess is a Mildura local and before joining Citrus Australia worked as a legal secretary. She has a ‘very small background’ in the world of citrus, owning a 6-acre citrus farm for two seasons with her husband in Curlwaa. Jess loves mandarins and orange juice, and has four children that play football and netball for Irymple – ‘Go the Swallows!’
General Manager Market Development
David Daniels
David has a background in food service with a formal qualification in food technology.
His role at Citrus Australia has recently expanded from Market Access Manager to General Manager Market Development.
David’s role is to engage with the sector and provide technical advice to government to overcome technical trade barriers in the area of biosecurity, agrichemicals and food safety. He also sits on the Freshcare Board of Directors.
Market Development Project Officer
Claire Fitchett
Market Information & Quality Project Officer
Mara Milner
Mara Milner has a biological science degree from Deakin University and has worked in a number of food safety laboratories including almost ten years in one of the citrus industry’s largest export packing houses Mildura Fruit Company.
Mara was successful in obtaining a Citrus Australia travel bursary to attend the 2012 International Citrus Congress in Spain whilst working in the citrus industry.
Mara has experience in food and fruit maturity testing, chemical reside testing, quality and food safety compliance and training, reporting and grower communication.
Agrichemical Manager
Alison MacGregor
Alison MacGregor has worked in the horticulture industry for 30 years – 17 years as a research scientist with DPI Victoria followed by 13 years as an independent consultant to the Australian citrus, table grape, dried grape and wine industries.
Alison brings practical experience to the citrus agrichemical project, having undertaken residue and efficacy trials, made permit applications, integrated pest management and spray application.
In the role of agrichemical manager, she coordinates the annual citrus residue survey, updates the export MRL tables for packers and growers and liaises on behalf of citrus with the APVMA and chemical industry.
Industry Engagement Manager
Stephen Cooke
Stephen Cooke is responsible for keeping growers and other industry stakeholders up to date with information that will benefit their business and the industry as a whole.
Stephen was an agricultural journalist for 20 years before joining Citrus Australia, writing and editing for key rural publications across the country. He has also worked as a senior communications consultant.
One of his key roles as Industry Engagement Manager will be editing the Australian Citrus News.
Media and Communications Officer
Gabby Torpey
Gabby comes from a seventh generation sheep and broadacre family farm in Turriff.
Gabby graduated with a Bachelor of Professional Writing and Journalism from the University of South Australia before joining Citrus Australia as our Media and Communications Officer.
Gabby’s roles include assisting with Citrus Australia’s social media, including producing videos, and writing for the eNews and Australian Citrus News.
Accountant & Company Secretary
Kellie Nulty
Kellie currently holds the position of Accountant and Company Secretary with Citrus Australia Ltd, appointed in August 2012.
Kellie has a strong background in accounting, having worked as a practising accountant for the last 16 years. She is a Chartered Accountant and holds degrees in Business and Computer Science.
Kellie provides accountancy services on a contractual basis to the company, on a part time basis.
Project Officer – Policy and Membership
Kerry Thompson
As part of Citrus Australia’s commitment to advocate members’ interests to all levels of government, Kerry assists the Board and CEO Nathan Hancock in developing Citrus Australia’s policy positions, based on grower consultation and research. This includes issues in some of our most challenging areas of industry, including labour and water. You can read about them here.
In addition, Kerry develops engagement strategies and membership benefits to provide a service most suitable to grower and affiliate members’ needs, consulting with them to develop the aforementioned policies.
Kerry is originally from a wine grape property in Coomealla, NSW, and has previously worked in occupations managing stakeholder relations with all levels of government, most recently being employed as the Policy Officer for the former Federal Member for Mallee.
Seasonal Workforce Industry Support Officer
Jeff Milne
Jeff Milne first joined Citrus Australia as the National Citrus Surveillance Coordinator, but has since moved into the role of Seasonal Workforce Industry Support Officer with the aim of helping growers gain a better understanding of labour options and government assistance. Jeff is also a part of many committees and continues to be an advocate and voice for growers and industry.
Jeff has lived in the Sunraysia region all his life and for much of his career managed a large citrus orchard and vineyard with associated packing house and winery and was actively involved in many horticultural research projects. Other industry roles involved grower liaison, training, and quality system management.
Jeff has managed Victorian government projects in viticulture extension and regional development.
Jeff was a member of the Murray Valley Citrus Marketing Board and until recently operated a family wine grape vineyard.
Jeff will work at Citrus Australia in a part time capacity until mid-2022.
National Citrus Surveillance Coordinator
Jessica Lye
Jess Lye joined Citrus Australia in June 2021 to coordinate activities within CitrusWatch, a national citrus industry biosecurity preparedness and exotic pest surveillance program.
Jess has a background in genetic research, agricultural extension, and plant biosecurity. Jess has been involved in preparedness, response, and management activities for a variety of exotic species, including: Tomato Potato Psyllid, Cucumber Green Mottle Mosaic Virus, Spotted Winged Drosophila, Russian Wheat Aphid and Fall Armyworm.
Prior roles include biosecurity manager for the vegetable and potato industries at Ausveg, and researcher/science communicator at the entomology and environmental research group, Cesar Australia.
Advanced Citrus Traceability Project Officer
Paul Stephens
Paul joined Citrus Australia in October 2021 to work in conjunction with the University of New England, NSW, on the geo-space mapping of citrus farms around Australia. Growers will be able to see this exciting new project on our website in 2022.
Paul comes to Citrus Australia with previous experience in viticulture, and a Bachelor’s Degree in Archaeology.
Paul will work at Citrus Australia in a part time capacity until September 2022.
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