About

Lachlan McKenzie (Founding Director)

Lachie is a co-founder and current managing director of one of Australia's largest fruit and nut propagation and supply businesses. 

He is often called upon by horticultural industry bodies to deliver workshops and lectures on both orchard establishment and produce processing.​

Lachlan has a history of being involved with the establishment of both commercial and community-based projects that are to ensure the prosperity and longevity of rural and regional communities.

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Robert Atkin (Founding Director)

Robert has a breadth of active interests across the arts, tourism and agriculture with a Diploma of Agricultural Science. 

He has taken lead positions in organisations concerned with landcare and water.

His past self-employment in broad-acre primary production enterprises backgrounded his move to new horticulture ventures prior to the millennium drought which eventually lead to the closure of the Wimmera Irrigation Area and his ventures. For many years he has managed QWP's hulling and drying facility.

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Hilary Jankelson (Founding Director)

With thirty years in the health industry, Hilary brings to the QWP Board an understanding of human motivation and its impact on production and performance. 

In partnership with her husband, she owns a number of nut orchards in Victoria and southern NSW and has hands on involvement in the management, processing and marketing of the produce. As a previous chair of QWP and a current executive member of AWIA she pursues an interest in expanding the walnut industry nationally. 

A creative and innovative cook, Hilary uses her knowledge of ingredients to enhance the appreciation of food and to refine its appeal to customers. 

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Russell Hilton (Independent Director)

Russell is also a director of Cramenton Pty Ltd, a company that sources and secures all requisite government approvals, for land suitable for large scale nut orchards. 

Russell was for 23 years on the Grains Research and Development Corporation panels where he led program committees responsible for market intelligence, pulse processing and the assessment of new crops for Australia. He was one of three reviewers of 'Crop Improvement in the Australian Grains Industry' designed to evaluate and provide direction for plant breeding in the Australian grains industry. 

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Ian Geddes (Independent Director and Chair)

Ian has extensive industry experience. He was previously Managing Director of Johnson & Johnson Indonesia, General Manager of Australia Posters (Australia's largest outdoor media company), Managing Director of Letona Cooperative (fruit & vegetable processing).

Ian was Principal of a Corporate Advisory Firm specialising in business, marketing and strategic planning in the food and agribusiness sectors as well as a director of a major family-owned dairy company specialising in value-added products. 

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Jeremy Rorke

Jeremy is an owner of a local electrical business and is a pioneer in the application of solar technologies to agriculture. 

Jeremy has recently established himself as a walnut grower.

He has also been instrumental in the development of the community ownership model and ongoing operation of the Lockington Hotel as well as involvement in district activities via his family.

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