Meet our team

Co-operative Farming envoys

The best way for farmers to learn about co-operatives is from other farmers.

As part of the Co-operative Farming project, we selected three envoys to lead, inspire and guide the project. They played a leading role in our mentoring sessions and roundtables, providing other primary producers with helpful insights and advice.

All three are prominent primary producers with a strong background in the co-operative model, and their experience provided valuable insights for farmers, fishers and foresters interested in starting a co-operative or growing an existing one.

Simon Lane

Representing SA, VIC and TAS

Since 1998, Simon and his wife have owned and operated a 200-acre property 50km south of Adelaide. They run 80 cattle, produce approximately 2000L of olive oil annually and look after a 300-hectare eucalypt and pine forest. Simon has a great love of the land and of the people in rural communities. Simon is also the former chair of Almondco Australia Limited, a SA-based almond processing company. Almondco has a powerful cooperative culture focusing on the best interests of its almond grower members. It is a fully vertically integrated company with both domestic and export markets and an annual turnover of approximately $250m. Simon finished this role in early 2020.

Greg Wall AM

Representing WA and NT

Greg is the former Group CEO of Capricorn Society and serves as a director of the International Cooperative Alliance (ICA), the global peak body for co-operatives. He is also the Chair of the ICA Audit and Risk Committee and the Chairman of the Margaret River Wine Association. He has held a variety of relevant directorships including CUSCAL, Edith Cowan University, Automotive Holdings, COOPS WA and Home Building Society. Greg was the Chairman of the Australian International Year of Cooperatives Secretariat, led the formation of the Business Councils of Mutuals and Cooperatives in Australia and was a director.  In 2019 he was honoured as a Member of the Order of Australia, recognising his outstanding achievement and service to business and to the community.

Greg McNamara

Representing NSW, ACT and QLD

Greg has spent his entire life working in the agricultural sector, firstly as a dairy share farmer, then moving to farm ownership in his mid-twenties. Greg currently runs a 300-strong dairy herd in partnership with his wife and son at Goolmangar near Lismore. Greg is also a member of the Northern Rivers Cooperatives Alliance. He is a strong believer in working co-operatively for better outcomes for all. Greg was a Director of Norco Co-operative Limited since 1996 and held the position of Chairman of the Board of Directors from 1999 to 2020.