Caroline Rhodes, Nicole Birrell and Scott McClure will join independent director Robert Sewell and chair Christine Hawkins on the board.

“After 18 months, Wheat Quality Australia has reached a point where it requires a wider range of skills and experience on the Board to help meet our goal of developing the wheat classification system to world’s best practice,” WQA chair Christine Hawkins said.

“With these new appointments our Board now collectively brings strong wheat industry networks; a balanced view of the industry; regulatory and policy expertise; value chain knowledge; strategic skills; governance and operational rigour to the organisation.”

Caroline Rhodes has more than 12 years of experience in both the public and private sectors of the Australian grains industry, having specialised in the areas of regulation and policy development. Her current role is the Manager - Government & Commercial Relations for Viterra.

Nicole Birrell is an experienced company director with involvement in a range of industries including finance, agriculture and information technology across the public, private and government/not-for-profit sectors. Nicole is currently a Director of SMS Management & Technology Ltd, Queensland Sugar Ltd and Superpartners Pty Ltd. She was formerly a Director of Grains Research and Development Corporation and of AusBulk Ltd.

Currently a Director of SDM Consulting, Scott provides strategic and operational advice to the grains industry. Projects have included industry development analysis for the BHC Divisions of CBH Group/Viterra/GrainCorp; development of an industry funding proposal for Grain Trade Australia; a strategic direction paper for the International Grain Trade Coalition; and numerous supply chain efficiency and strategic initiatives for GrainCorp Operations Limited (ASX Top 100 company).