About Us
What we do
We’re a leading Australian agribusiness and processing company that has partnered with growers and producers for more than 100 years, to connect them with domestic and international customers.
Through the skills and capabilities developed in accumulating, storing and handling agricultural commodities over many decades, we now manage a wide range of grains, pulses and oilseeds and produce edible oils, biofuel components and animal feeds, as well as oils and shortenings for the food production industry.
With innovative processes and leading technology, we’re finding new ways to make our supply chain even more efficient, without compromising on the superior Quality Assurance we’ve become known for.
From developing infant formula products, shipping woodchips, collecting Used Cooking Oil to make biofuel components or investing in the development of an eco-friendly new animal feed from Australian seaweed, our interests are diverse.
Outside of Australia, we also source locally from producers in the UK and Ukraine as well as through our joint venture in Canada. With our marketers in China, India and Singapore, we utilise our global network of grain, pulses and oilseeds specialists to ship our products around the world to help meet the challenges of feeding the world.
We celebrate the diversity of our people and our businesses. No matter where we are, we work together as one team and one GrainCorp with a vision to lead sustainable and innovative agriculture through another century of growth.
Our History
Amidst the First World War and increasing challenges of vermin, the New South Wales (NSW) State Government passed the Grain Elevators Act in 1916, which would provide construction of 200 grain terminals and silos in the state of New South Wales. The network would be connected by rail to shipping and it would be a move towards bulk handling for grains across the state.
The construction of the first silo began in 1918 at Peak Hill. It was originally a single-cylinder concrete bin that could store 50,000 bushels of wheat (roughly less than 1400 tonnes). The site’s capacity is now 35,000 tonnes.
The NSW Government controlled the elevators and terminals until 1989, when the NSW Grain Handling Authority was corporatised, paving the way for privatisation.
In 1992, a group of grain farmers banded together to buy the company from the NSW Government. Since then, GrainCorp, as it became known, has transformed from a NSW-based grain handling company into an international agribusiness with a diversified revenue stream.
The company was listed on the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX) in March 1998, and soon after added operations in Victoria and Queensland, and later in North America and beyond through a series of mergers and acquisitions.
Board of Directors
Peter Richards
Chairman and Non-executive Director
Peter Richards joined the GrainCorp Board in November 2015 and was appointed Chairman in March 2020. Mr Richards is a member of the People, Remuneration and Nominations Committee and the Safety, Health and Environment Committee.
Mr Richards was appointed Chairman of Spenda Limited (formerly Cirralto Limited) in January 2018, having served as a Non-executive Director since December 2017. He was previously Chairman of Elmore Limited (retiring in December 2021) and EMECO Holdings Limited (resigned May 2024).
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Mr Richards has over 40 years of business experience with global companies, having worked in operational and business development roles in Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States.
Mr Richards has extensive experience acting as chairman and director on public company boards.
Robert Spurway
Managing Director & CEO
Robert Spurway joined GrainCorp as Managing Director & CEO in March 2020. He was previously Chief Operating Officer, Global Operations for Fonterra Co-operative Group in New Zealand. Prior to this, Mr Spurway held a number of senior executive roles with Fonterra.
In his time at Fonterra, Mr Spurway held the roles of Chairman of Kotahi Ltd, Deputy Chairman of Prolesur S.A. in Chile and Director of DFE Pharma GmbH & Co.
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Between 2008 and 2011 Mr Spurway held CEO positions in Australia at Mrs Crocket’s Kitchen and Salad Fresh, in the prepared salads industry.
Mr Spurway has extensive leadership and operations experience across the food & agribusiness sector and has held executive and senior operational roles across Australia and New Zealand.
Mr Spurway holds a Bachelor of Engineering (Chemical and Materials) from the University of Auckland; is a Graduate of the INSEAD AVIRA Executive programme; and is a Member of the Institute of Directors in New Zealand.
Kathy Grigg AM
Non-executive Director
Kathy Grigg joined the Board in December 2019. Ms Grigg is Chair of the Audit and Risk Committee and a member of the Sustainability Committee.
Ms Grigg has an extensive background in finance and operational management, including as Finance Director of the Australian Wool Research and Promotion Corporation and leadership roles in agriculture sector organisations.
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Ms Grigg is currently a Non-executive Director of Agricultural Innovation Australia Limited.
Ms Grigg’s previous directorships include Director of SPSL Limited (formerly Suncorp Portfolio Services Ltd) (resigned September 2022), Director and Chair of the Audit and Risk Committee of Australian Pork Limited (resigned February 2020), and Director and Chair of the Audit Committee of Navy Health Limited (resigned November 2019). Ms Grigg was previously a member of the Audit Committee of the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission and a Council member and Deputy Chancellor of Deakin University.
Ms Grigg is a Fellow of both the Australian Institute of Company Directors and CPA Australia and has a Bachelor of Economics, Accounting and Finance from the University of Adelaide.
Clive Stiff
Non-executive Director
Clive Stiff joined the Board in October 2021. Mr Stiff is Chair of the Sustainability Committee and a member of the Audit and Risk Committee.
Mr Stiff is currently a Non-Executive Director of Cleanaway Waste Management Limited and of Rabobank Australia Limited . He is also a member of the advisory boards of Quantium and of the University of New South Wales Business School.
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Mr Stiff was formerly a Non-Executive Director of Australian Pharmaceutical Industries Limited, Chair of the Australian Food & Grocery Council, Chair of T2 Tea, Non-executive Director of Foodbank NSW & ACT and a member of the Genpact Australian Advisory Council. Mr Stiff has over 35 years of experience in the fast moving consumer goods industry. He was formerly CEO of Unilever Australia & New Zealand, CEO of Procter & Gamble France and previously held other senior executive roles with the company internationally, as well as locally with Goodman Fielder.
He is a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and has a Master of Science, Management from the Ecole des HEC, University of Lausanne, Switzerland.
Nicki Anderson
Non-executive Director
Nicki Anderson joined the Board in October 2021. Ms Anderson is Chair of the People, Remuneration and Nominations Committee and a member of the Safety, Health and Environment Committee.
Ms Anderson has extensive experience in strategy, sales, marketing, customer experience and innovation within the food, beverage and consumer goods industry in both Australia and internationally, including senior leadership roles with Coca Cola Amatil, Cadbury Schweppes, McCain, Nestle and Kraft.
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Ms Anderson is currently Deputy Chair of the Australian Made Campaign Limited, and Non-executive Director of ASX listed Collins Foods, Craig Mostyn Group, Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia, the Fred Hollows Foundation and Geraldton Fishermen’s Co-operative. Ms Anderson was previously a Non-executive Director of ASX listed Toys“R”Us ANZ and Select Harvests Limited as well as the former Chair of the Monash University Advisory Board for the marketing faculty.
Ms Anderson is a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and holds an Executive MBA from the University of NSW (AGSM) and a Bachelor of Business (marketing major) from the University of Technology Sydney.
Peter Knoblanche
Non-executive Director
Peter Knoblanche joined the Board in December 2023 and is a member of the Audit and Risk Committee and the People, Remuneration and Nominations Committee.
Mr Knoblanche has had nearly 40 years’ experience in wholesale and retail banking, having worked with various local and international banks across his executive career. He has a deep understanding of strategy, agribusiness, funding, commodity trading and risk management.
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Mr Knoblanche’ s most recent role was as Regional Manager of Australia and New Zealand and CEO Australia for Rabobank, a leading global food and agribusiness lender. Peter was also a member of Rabobank’s global Wholesale and Rural Management Team and has been closely involved in the agribusiness sector across Australia, New Zealand and globally.
Mr Knoblanche is a Non-executive Director of The Wheen Bee Foundation Limited.
Mr Knoblanche is a graduate of the Harvard Business School Advanced Management Programme 190, a graduate member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, and holds a Bachelor of Commerce from Wollongong University.
John Maher
Non-executive Director
John Maher joined the Board in December 2023 and is the Chair of the Safety, Health and Environment Committee and a member of the Sustainability Committee.
Mr Maher has had extensive experience in strategy, capital allocation, agribusiness growth and innovation, and agriculture supply chains. He also has a strong understanding of sustainability, international agricultural trade and Indigenous engagement and business.
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Mr Maher is currently the Chair of The North Australian Pastoral Company Pty Limited and a Director of goFARM Australia Pty Ltd and the NSW Biodiversity Conservation Trust. He is also a director of not-for-profit organisations, Autism Awareness Australia and the Australian Rural Leadership Foundation. John’s previous executive roles include long-term Managing Director & CEO of Ruralco Holdings Ltd (ASX: RHL), Senior Group Executive at Wesfarmers Ltd (ASX: WES) and AWB Ltd (ASX: AWB) where he led the Landmark (now Nutrien Ag Solutions) rural services business. Most recently John was Group CEO of the Indigenous Land and Sea Corporation.
Mr Maher has an honours degree in Agricultural Science from Sydney University, an EMBA from AGSM (University of NSW), completed the Advanced Management Program at INSEAD Business School in France, is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and is a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Management.
Executive Leadership Team
Robert Spurway
Managing Director & CEO
Robert Spurway joined GrainCorp as Managing Director & CEO in March 2020. He was previously Chief Operating Officer, Global Operations for Fonterra Co-operative Group in New Zealand. Prior to this, Mr Spurway held a number of senior executive roles with Fonterra.
In his time at Fonterra, Mr Spurway held the roles of Chairman of Kotahi Ltd, Deputy Chairman of Prolesur S.A. in Chile and Director of DFE Pharma GmbH & Co.
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Between 2008 and 2011 Mr Spurway held CEO positions in Australia at Mrs Crocket’s Kitchen and Salad Fresh, in the prepared salads industry.
Mr Spurway has extensive leadership and operations experience across the food & agribusiness sector and has held executive and senior operational roles across Australia and New Zealand.
Mr Spurway holds a Bachelor of Engineering (Chemical and Materials) from the University of Auckland; is a Graduate of the INSEAD AVIRA Executive programme; and is a Member of the Institute of Directors in New Zealand.
Klaus Pamminger
Chief Operating Officer
Klaus Pamminger joined GrainCorp in 2007 and was appointed Chief Operating Officer in April 2019. Prior to this, he was Group General Manager – Grains, responsible for the Grains Operations and Trading businesses in Australia, Singapore, China, Europe and Canada. He was previously Group General Manager, GrainCorp Marketing.
Mr Pamminger is a Director of GrainsConnect Canada, a Director of FutureFeed and a member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
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Prior to GrainCorp, Mr Pamminger worked for several companies in Australia and the US.
Stephanie Belton
Chief Corporate Affairs Officer & Group General Counsel
Stephanie Belton joined GrainCorp in February 2019. Ms Belton leads GrainCorp’s Legal and Company Secretariat, Corporate Affairs, Sustainability and ESG functions.
Ms Belton previously held General Counsel and senior management roles at SurfStitch Group Limited, Helloworld Limited, Qantas Airways Limited and The Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company.
Prior to Ms Belton’s corporate roles, she worked in private practice at Linklaters in London.
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Ms Belton holds a Bachelor of Laws (Hons) from the University of Strathclyde (Glasgow) and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Oxford.
Ms Belton is admitted to practice in New South Wales and Scotland and is a member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
Cassie Soady
Chief People Officer
Cassie Soady joined GrainCorp as the Chief People Officer in May 2024, leading the People & Culture and Safety, Health & Environment functions.
Ms Soady previously worked at NAB in the role of Chief People Officer for Digital, Data and Technology.
She was previously with the Woolworths Group for more than 10 years in a variety of HR and Transformation roles, including five years in a leadership role that established and scaled WooliesX (e-commerce, digital and customer loyalty).
Prior to Woolworths, Ms Soady held senior HR roles at Dubai Ports World (formerly P&O) and Coles Myer.
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Ms Soady holds a Bachelor of Science and Masters in Human Resources and Industrial Relations, both from the University of Sydney.
She is a member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
Ian Morrison
Chief Financial Officer
Ian Morrison was appointed Chief Financial Officer in July 2020. As Chief Financial Officer, Mr Morrison leads GrainCorp’s finance and accounting, tax, treasury, risk management and shared services functions.
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Mr Morrison has previously held a number of senior finance roles across GrainCorp including CFO of the Grains & Oils divisions and Group Financial Controller. Prior to joining GrainCorp in 2011, he worked with KPMG in the United Kingdom and Australia. Mr Morrison holds a Bachelor of Accounting and Finance (Hons) from the University of Glasgow and is a Chartered Accountant. He is a graduate member of AICD.
Jesse Scott
Chief Innovation & Growth Officer
Jesse Scott was appointed Chief Innovation and Growth Officer at GrainCorp in January 2021. Mr Scott leads GrainCorp’s Strategy, Customer Experience, and Procurement functions, and is responsible for the company’s strategic growth and innovation project including GrainCorp’s Agri-Energy growth agenda.
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Prior to joining GrainCorp, Mr Scott worked with McKinsey & Company for 13 years across various roles in Asia, the Americas and Europe, focusing on strategy and transformation in several primary industries including manufacturing, transportation & logistics, mining, and energy. At McKinsey, Mr Scott launched and led the firm’s agricultural practice in Australia and New Zealand.
He holds a Master of Business Administration at INSEAD in Fontainebleau, France and a Bachelor of Arts from Columbia University in New York, USA.
The GrainCorp way
While our GrainCorp team is diverse, we each believe in our values:
We care
We deliver
We stay safe