Our independent board

Chair

Karen Smith-Pomeroy

Karen is an experienced non-executive director, with involvement across a number of sectors including agribusiness, energy, property and financial services. 

She has significant experience as a senior executive in the financial services sector. Karen has specific expertise in compliance, risk and governance, and deep expertise in credit risk and specialist knowledge of a number of industry sectors, including property, energy and infrastructure. 

Karen is currently a non-executive director of Kina Securities Limited, National Reconstruction Fund Corporation and Queensland Treasury Corporation. Karen is also Chair/member of several audit, risk and compliance committees for commercial and government entities.

Member

Prue Bondfield

Prue has significant agribusiness and farming expertise from her former role as General Manager and Director of the Palgrove Group, a corporate livestock business with properties in Queensland and NSW. 

Prue has strong agriculture industry networks from various roles on Commonwealth and State entities and advisory committees. 

Prue is currently a Non-Executive Director of Australian Livestock Export Corporation Ltd, Bush Heritage Australia, and Midlands Conservation Partnership, and is a member of the Harvest Road Advisory Board.

Member

Sharon Starick

Sharon runs a combined grain and pork business in the Murraylands in South Australia. She brings not only practical on-farm knowledge, but 20 years’ experience with industry bodies, natural resource management groups, government boards and other private and public organisations. 

Sharon is the current Chair of Animal Health Australia and APIQ which is the quality assurance program for the pork industry. 

Sharon is also on the Board of the Grains Research and Development Corporation, Murray Plains Farmers, Royal Automobile Association of SA, and is Independent Chair of the Future Drought Fund Advisory Group in SA.

Member

Sally Freeman

Sally is an experienced non-executive director with expertise in risk management, financial and internal audit, board governance, and compliance. 

A Chartered Accountant, Sally was a partner of KPMG for more than 15 years, with experience in leading the internal audit and risk consulting divisions.  Sally’s current directorships include Netwealth, Netwealth Superannuation Services, Eastern Health, Melbourne Football Club, ADICA and Regis Aged Care. 

Sally is currently an audit committee member of Health Share Victoria, Commonwealth Games Australia, and Caulfield Grammar.

Member

Mark Tucker

Mark brings extensive experience as a former Deputy Secretary across Australian Government departments including Agriculture, Fisheries, Forestry, Water and Environment, Communications, and the Arts. 

In 2021, Mark was the Senior Agriculture Industry Engagement Officer for the Federal Government during the COVID pandemic. He also conducted independent reviews of the financial sustainability of the Australian Antarctic Division and the Overseas Agriculture Counsellor Network. 

Most recently, Mark held the position of Member of the Bureau of Meteorology Audit Committee and Deputy Chair of the Australian Government Bundanon Trust. 

He is a Board member at the Institute of Marine and Antarctic Studies at the University of Tasmania and a member of the Australian Antarctic Division Respect and Equality Reform Committee.