Miling farmer Barry Large steps down as Grain Producers Australia chair after 16 years with the body

Miling grower Barry Large has stepped down from his role as chair of Grain Producers Australia, marking the end of a 16-year tenure at the national body.

Mr Large was one of the organisation’s founding directors, and served eight years as deputy chair before being elected as chair in 2021.

He was replaced by NSW grain producer Matthew Madden, with the change in leadership taking place at GPA’s annual general meeting on July 27.

Independent director Mitch Hooke, who is also stepping down, praised Mr Large’s contributions.

“Grain producers are pragmatic, commercially minded people who will back a good argument, and Barry Large has led them with distinction,” Mr Hooke said.

Mr Large said it was not an easy decision to leave the role, but the time was right and the organisation was in capable hands.

“I was there at the very start, when a group of us sat down and asked whether Australian grain producers could build a genuinely independent national voice, funded by growers themselves,” Mr Large said.

“Plenty of people told us it couldn’t be done.

“Today, GPA has a strong membership, a seat at every table that matters, and the credibility to be listened to on biosecurity, on trade, on (research, development and extension), and on levies — the thing I’m proudest of.”

In a statement, GPA said Mr Large specialised in biosecurity policy and market access throughout his tenure, which included chairing the GPA’s biosecurity committee, and working as GPA’s delegate to Plant Health Australia, the Emergency Plant Pest Response Deed, the Consultative Committee on Emergency Plant Pests and the National Management Group.

Mr Large also previously chaired the WA Grains, Seeds and Hay Biosecurity Management Committee, and was vice-chair of the PGA Western Grain Growers Committee.

GPA said achievements during Mr Large’s term as chair included the Scrap the Tax campaign against the Biosecurity Protection Levy, the Australian Grains Industry Biosecurity Plan, the Farmer Mates Mental Health Initiative, and the autonomous machinery code of practice.