Hort Innovation, Australia's grower-owned research and development corporation for horticulture, has announced four candidates for two vacant Board positions. Voting Members will elect the new directors via a pre-AGM ballot, with results to be announced at the virtual Annual General Meeting (AGM) on November 28, 2025.
Chair of the 2025 Director Nomination Committee, John Said, said, "This year's Board candidates reflect the depth of talent and vision within Australian horticulture. Each candidate was shortlisted through a rigorous selection process and has been nominated based on their relevant skills and experience."
© Hort Innovation
The 2025 Director Nomination Committee included the Hort Innovation Deputy Chair and three independent members, a levy payer, a nominee from the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, and an independent eminent person, in accordance with the Hort Innovation Constitution.
The 2025 Board candidates are:
Julie Bird (re-nominating Director) – First elected in 2018 and re-elected in 2021, Bird has served as Chair of the Hort Innovation Board since 2020. She has more than 30 years of agribusiness experience across nuts, summerfruit, citrus, apples, and pears. She also serves as a Non-Executive Director of the Cotton Research & Development Corporation and Grain Producers SA.
Theodora Elia-Adams – A Chartered Accountant and former senior partner at Ernst & Young (EY), Elia-Adams has over eight years of governance experience as a Non-Executive Director and Audit Committee Chair. She currently serves as Non-Executive Director and Chair of the Audit, Risk and Finance Committee for AUSVEG.
Lynn Smart – Smart has 14 years of experience as a Non-Executive Director across government, private, and non-profit organisations. A CPA and Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, she has chaired finance, audit, and governance committees. Her past roles include five years on the Board of North Queensland Bulk Ports and five years as independent Chair of the Zarraffas Coffee Group.
Jan Vydra (re-nominating Director) – Appointed to the Board in 2019 and elected in 2022, Vydra is the current Chair of the Audit & Risk Committee. A first-generation farmer and co-founder of a leading fresh herb business, he is Chief Commercial Officer of YieldX, an Australian ag-tech company focused on controlled environment agriculture and scalable food production systems.
For more information:
Shannon O'Mara
Hort Innovation
Tel: +61 (0) 427 142 537
Email: [email protected]
horticulture.com.au
