Future Farmers Network (FFN‪)‬ Future Farmers Network

This episode of the FFN Mentor of the Month series sees FFN Director Lauren Roellgen speak with Jaime Painter.

Jaime works in strategy at Loam Bio, a fast-growing Australian biotech company enabling farmers to capture and store stable carbon in the soil by utilising the power of microbes.

Jaime is a little different to our usual guests – she didn’t grow up on a farm, and she didn’t study agriculture, nor is she now in what most would consider a traditional agricultural role. She’s an engineer by training and spent two years at a top-tier management consulting firm before venturing into the world of agriculture, first in Africa and then back on Aussie soil.

As one of ag’s newest recruits and having taken a path less trodden, Jaime shares a little about how she got to where she is and why she chose agriculture to be where she makes her next mark.

Tune in for an exciting story.

In celebration of International Women's Day this year, we've put together 5 rapid-fire questions to ask some inspiring and influential women in Australian agriculture. With the United Nations' theme for 2022 being "Breaking the Bias", we've asked our guests what we can do to make a difference.

Episode 20 of the FFNs mentor of the month see's director Amelia Shaw interview Aly Bunton. Aly Bunton is the public affairs manager for Bayer’s Australian crop science business, looking after government and stakeholder relations in Australia and New Zealand.

Born and raised in Sydney and Newcastle, Aly had little exposure to the agriculture sector before her first full-time job at the Federal Department of Agriculture.

There, she worked on issues including biosecurity, coal seam gas, water, and grains policy before moving to industry body NSW Farmers’ Association.

At NSW Farmers, Aly led a national campaign to increase Q fever awareness and improve access to the Q fever vaccine; she also covered grains, horticulture, biosecurity and ag vet chemical policy, and managed the NSW Young Farmer Council.

Tune in for an amazing chat

Episode 19 see's FFN director Amelia Shaw interviewing Tristan Baldock. Tristan operates a 6,000ha cropping enterprise at Buckleboo in South Australia.  In 2020, the Baldock's were named Cropping Farmer of the Year by the Weekly Times .Tristan is passionate about agriculture and the challenge that has been given to farmers to feed the world in a way that is sustainable given the earth’s finite resources, and in a way that is safe and enjoyable for employees. He considers the search for and adoption of new practices to always be a driver, and has an ongoing role within the Buckleboo Farm Improvement Group committee. Tristan is also a member of the GrainGrowers' National Policy Group.

Episode 18 of the FFN's 'Mentor of the Month' see's director Tim Flynn catch-up with Nigel Kerin. Nigel is Founder and Director of Kerin Ag. Kerin Ag is based on approximately 4000ha near Yeoval in Central West NSW. Encompassing the industry leading @kerinpollmerino Stud, a livestock trading business and around 1000ha of pasture cropping. Nigel is a prominent figure in the Australian agriculture industry and has developed amazing set of communication and leadership skills to compliment his extensive agricultural knowledge. Listen in to this informative chat about Australian Ag!

Episode 17 of the FFN 'Mentor of the Month' see's Dan Coulthurst catch up with good friend AJ Riley. AJ is the principle and part owner of Ray White Rural Roma specialising in rural property and livestock sales. The Roma heartthrob is a part time cowboy, plays nearly every sport available to him, is the vice president of the Roma Echidnas Rugby Club and president of the local cricket side. AJ will try his hand at most things regardless of the consequences. After growing up in Tamworth, AJ went north in search of wide open spaces, working as a jackaroo outside of Julia Creek, North West Queensland. Following that, AJ started as a livestock salesperson for Ray White in Roma. AJ has been in the industry since 2015 and after just 3 years, went in to partnership with Jack Clanchy in 2018 by purchasing half share of Ray White Rural Roma.