18 November 2016
CropLife Australia today announced that Mr Paul Luxton, Territory Head – ANZ and Managing Director for Syngenta, has been elected to as the new President of CropLife Australia, the peak body representing Australia’s plant science industry. He succeeds Mr Lachlan McKinnon, CropLife’s longest-serving President, who has resigned from the Board as he moves to Canada in a new role for Nufarm.
With extensive experience in the plant science industry, agronomy, marketing and sales and as General Manager for Syngenta, Paul brings over 20 years of knowledge and a wealth of industry experience to this role. Paul also has a longstanding involvement in a number of leading industry organisations, has been a Board Member of CropLife Australia since 2008, and has held the position of Vice-President of Crop Protection.
Mr Matthew Cossey, Chief Executive Officer of CropLife Australia, said “Paul’s passion for agriculture, the plant science sector and extensive industry experience will be extremely valuable as CropLife Australia continues to advocate on behalf of the Australian plant science industry.”
Mr Luxton said he was looking forward to his term as President. “CropLife’s advocacy will continue to focus on critical issues such as regulatory reform, reduction of unnecessary red-tape, and the continued provision of crop protection and crop biotechnology innovation to Australia’s farmers. Importantly, CropLife will continue to strengthen and grow the industry’s suite of award-winning stewardship programs that help ensure the responsible use of the industry’s products. We are fortunate to have an extraordinarily professional and dedicated team at CropLife Australia led by our CEO, Matthew Cossey, and I am excited about supporting their excellent work over the coming years.”
“In the face of significant and continual challenges to the industry’s freedom to responsibly operate, CropLife has constructively advocated on our members’ behalf for the development and implementation of relevant government policies and for the abolishment of unnecessary and costly regulations.”
“As I lead CropLife into the future, I will be seeking to continue to strengthen the strategic and collaborative approach and assertive advocacy CropLife is known for, ensuring members can continue to support Australia’s farming effort,” said Mr Luxton.
Mr Luxton thanked outgoing President Mr McKinnon for his strong and stable leadership and continued support of the plant science industry. “Lachie’s contributions to CropLife are immeasurable and on behalf of the board and the staff of CropLife Australia, I want to thank him for being a strong leader. We wish him the very best in his new role.”