Andrew Goyder

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA — Andrew Goyder has been named chairman of Grain Trade Australia. He succeeds Peter Reading, who retired after six years in the position.

Goyder currently is principal of GrainLink Pty Ltd., a medium-size grain marketing business in Western Australia. He also is a member of the GTA board of directors.

“I am humbled and gracious that the GTA board has shown confidence in me to provide leadership to GTA and the grains industry, and I look forward to working with the board, GTA staff and importantly GTA members and continuing the focus on delivering value to GTA members and the grains industry.”

GTA is a focal point for the commercial grain industry within Australia, and GTA members are responsible for more than 95% of all grain storage and freight movements made each year in Australia. Over 95% of the grain contracts executed in Australia each year refer to GTA grain standards and/or trade rules.

“GTA knows it does not have a right to exist, and that it must continually provide value to members,” Goyder said. “We will continue to work hard on ensuring our products and services including the trading standards, contracts, trade rules and the Australian Grains Industry Code of Practice meet the needs of our members and the broader industry. One of the great strengths of GTA is the support it receives from its members, but we never take this for granted, not for one second.”

Reading said the time to step down as chairman was right from both an industry and organization perspective.

Peter Reading

“It has been my absolute pleasure to serve both the grains industry and GTA members, and I am pleased to be passing the role to a person of Andrew’s caliber,” Reading said. “I know he will provide strong leadership and guidance to GTA going forward.”

In early July, GTA and the Australian Grain Exporters Association (AGEA) reached an agreement to combine, part of a larger effort to improve efficiency and effectiveness of industry representation within the grain industry in Australia.

As part of the effort, AGEA said it will eliminate its current structure and re-form as the Australian Grain Exporters Council (AGEC). AGEC will become the first sector council to establish a new model for representation being offered through GTA.

The new structure will allow the different councils to meet, form policy, discuss and influence issues without administrative costs involved in operating separate organizations.