Ginger Advisory Panel
Jacqueline Wilson-Smith (Chair)
Sustainable Innovation Co.
Jacqueline has over 25 years’ experience in herb and spice innovation, marketing and R&D, having held global executive roles with McCormick and Gourmet Garden. She is dedicated to creating better food systems to feed the world. In 2019 she founded strategic consultancy, the Sustainable Innovation Co., to facilitate innovative and sustainable design-led commercial solutions to agri-food organisations. Jacqueline serves on several agri-food boards, committees and panels and is co-founder and former Chair of the Food Agribusiness Network (FAN). In 2017, Jacqueline was named the Queensland recipient of the AgriFutures Rural Women’s Award and was appointed Chair of the AgriFutures Ginger Advisory Panel in 2021.
Jacqueline has a collaborative leadership style, a wealth of experience in chairing and facilitating boards, committees, panels, projects, workshops and meetings and is deeply passionate about all aspects of the herb and spice industry. As chair of the Ginger Advisory Panel, she looks forward to facilitating robust and respectful conversations so the panel can identify R&D programs that will ensure the resilience of Australia’s ginger industry for generations to come.
Ethan Graham
Grower at Mountain View Agriculture
Ethan is the owner and operator of Mountain View Agriculture, a family farm in the Glasshouse Mountains, Queensland. He established his family farming business in 2014 and using his land management, crop growth and leadership expertise has grown Mountain View Agriculture into a successful operation. Ethan acknowledges the challenges of growing ginger and appreciates the importance of RD&E to understand the impact of growing conditions on ginger yield and quality. Ethan is interested in the role technology (for example robotic sprayers) can play in the industry as well as the health benefits for consumers and development of disease free ginger. He brings his creativity, business expertise and grower perspective to the Advisory Panel.
Jeff Skilton
Grower at Skilton Farms
Jeff has been trading in the horticulture industry since he was 13 years old. He has grown a wide range of crops including Citrus, Sweet Potatoes, Potatoes, Pumpkins, Watermelon and many more. Not only is Jeff a ginger grower in his own right but he is also a Builder by trade, which provides him with an inquisitive mind and an appetite for solving issues. Jeff enjoys solving issues on both the practical side of farming and the mechanical side to achieve improved outcomes, which can also be transferred to providing inspiration for applicable R&D for the industry.
Rob Abbas
Agronomist
Rob has been involved with the Australian ginger industry for over 25 years, with experience ranging from farm agronomy to pest and disease control, to project management and extension services. He is committed to helping ensure the industry’s continued viability and growth. Rob’s specific RD&E interests are based around the need for the Australian ginger industry to not only maintain viability through best practice management developments but to also be a reliable supplier of a quality and safe product to markets. It is Rob’s hope that whilst on the Advisory Panel the industry will cement its reputation as a reliable and consistent supplier of a quality Australian product. This will be achieved through sound farm-based solutions to address the barriers currently effecting reliability of supply.
Kylie Templeton
Commercial Director and third generation grower at Templeton Ginger
Kylie is responsible for the logistics of the business, liaising with wholesale agents, managing sales as well as marketing for the Templeton Ginger brand. She has led the business to handle its own Human Resources and organised all Food Safety and HARPS requirements. Not only has she inherited the 70 years knowledge of all things ginger, she has also volunteered for nine years as the Secretary and Treasurer of the Australian Ginger Industry Association. She completed the Australian Institute of Company Directors Course providing her with a greater understanding of business skills and corporate governance.
Philip Brett
Grower
Philip is the owner and operator of a commercial ginger farm located in Kenilworth, Queensland. He has been affiliated with horticulture since the age of 14, growing various crops such as garlic, melons and now ginger. In 2019, Philip established his ginger farm and over three years expanded his growing production significantly. Philip is interested in developing the Australian Ginger industry into a resilient, economically competitive, and sustainable agricultural landscape. He brings a wealth of growing experience, enthusiasm, and a grower perspective to the Advisory Panel.