National Farmers Federation (NFF) President David Jochinke has announced the resignation of CEO Tony Mahar after a decade of service to the organisation and the agriculture sector.
Mr Mahar, who joined the NFF as General Manager of Trade and Economics in 2013 and became CEO in 2016, will take up the position of Australian Energy Infrastructure Commissioner - an independent role appointed by the Australian Government, reporting to the Minister for Climate and Energy.
"During his tenure, Tony has strengthened NFF's position as the leading national advocacy body for agriculture through his integrity, stakeholder management skills, and dedication to the industry," Mr Jochinke said today.
"His passion, professionalism and approachability earned him respect across industry, government, and corporate partners, and we have greatly appreciated his leadership."
Key achievements under Mr Mahar's leadership include:
• Leading the development of the NFF 2030 Roadmap together with former President Fiona Simson, which set a target of $100B farm gate value by 2030, gaining bipartisan support and industry-wide adoption.
• Expanding NFF's advocacy capacity through increased capacity, funding and growth in partnerships and government programs.
• Working with the NFF Team to implement initiatives such as the Regional Tech Hub, AgCAREERSTART, and the Australian Agricultural Sustainability Framework, addressing industry challenges.
• Significantly broadening NFF's membership to include all state farming groups, establishing the NFF Horticulture Council and integrating the Forestry and Seafood sectors, as well as farmer representative groups like Farmers for Climate Action and Queensland Farmers Federation into NFF.
Mr Mahar's efforts have resulted in NFF's growth from a small team to a staff of over 40, with a broader membership base and a consolidated and stable financial position. His ability to build and maintain relationships across the industry has established NFF as a key stakeholder for both government and industry bodies.
Mr Jochinke expressed gratitude for Mr Mahar's industry leadership, relationship management, and tireless efforts to represent Australian agriculture both domestically and internationally.
"It is a challenge to lead a national peak body, in this case bringing together all elements of our primary industries, and engaging effectively with supply chains both upstream and downstream, and I commend Tony's professionalism, credibility, and determination in doing so."
Mr Jochinke also welcomed Minister Bowen and the Albanese Government's recognition of the importance of getting improvements to the current challenges facing rural and regional communities, governments and the energy sector, as documented in the former Commissioner Andrew Dyer's Report earlier in 2024.
The NFF board will begin the process of recruiting a new CEO immediately, with Mr Mahar formally concluding his role in December 2024.
