BEc, CA

Finance Director & Chief Operating Officer

A co-founder of the business, Leigh began his career at Deloittes before joining NM Rothschild Australia in 1987. Becoming a Director he served in a number of senior positions over an 18-year career including Chief Accountant, Head of Risk and Prudential and Head of Banking and Treasury Operations.

BEc, CA

Managing Director & Chief Executive Officer

Steve founded ACF in 2005. Prior to this, he was a Director of NM Rothschild Australia. In a 16 year career at Rothschild, Steve held a variety of senior roles including Head of Structured Finance and Head of Agribusiness. He has also served as a Director of Queensland Sugar Limited.

General Manager - Farming

Ryan is an agronomic scientist with a Bachelor of Agricultural Science from University of Queensland specialising in plant and soil science. Before joining ACF in 2012, Ryan worked for 8 years as an extension officer at BSES, the Queensland Sugar Industry owned scientific research organisation, where he was responsible for advising Burdekin farmers on weed and nutrition management, irrigation scheduling, variety selection and crop rotations in order to improve cane productivity.

Ryan oversees farming activities across the ACF portfolio and is directly responsible for operations on ACF’s southern aggregation of around 2,220 hectares.

Head of Farming Operations

Iain is a third-generation Burdekin cane farmer. After gaining his TAFE certificate in motor mechanics he worked as a diesel mechanic for 7 years followed by 15 years as a cane harvester operator in the Burdekin. In 2014 he joined a large farming group where he oversaw the day-to-day running of all farming activities across the farm aggregation of 520 hectares. ACF subsequently acquired these farms and Iain joined the team in 2017.

Iain is directly responsible for operations on ACF's northern aggregation of around 2,230 hectares.

Head of Harvesting Operations

Steve grew up on the family cane farm in Mourilyan which is situated on the Cassowary Coast region of far north Queensland.  After gaining his apprenticeship as a light vehicle mechanic he moved to the Burdekin in 2006 and worked on a number of cane farms as a harvester operator and machinery mechanic.  

Steve joined Australian Cane Farms in 2018 and is responsible for all harvesting operations and machinery maintenance.

BSc (Hons), MBA (Cass Business School), FAICD

Non-executive Director

Alec Brennan started out life as a research scientist having trained as a food technologist at UNSW. He transitioned into management and has had a business career spanning the resources, manufacturing, and materials sector. Much of his career was spent with CSR Limited where he was CEO from 2003 to 2007.

Alex is the Founder and Chair of Brennan Family Foundation supporting a broad range of charities in the areas of arts, education, and the environment. He is a director of Sydney Institute of Marine Science, former Chairman of Emeco Holdings, a former director of NSW Environmental Protection Authority and former Deputy Chancellor University of Sydney.

BEng (Chem) (Hons), MA (Oxon), FAICD

Chairman of the Board

Rick started his career at CSR Limited in the international marketing and pricing of Australian raw sugar exports. He joined NM Rothschild Australia Limited in 1985 and served nine years as its Chief Executive Officer. He returned to CSR as a director in 2005 and Chairman designate of the sugar business until its sale to Wilmar International in 2011. 

Rick was formerly Chairman of Oil Search Limited, Rurcalco Holdings Limited, Salmat Limited, and the Australian Institute of Company Directors. He was also a former director of Newcrest Mining Limited and Wesfarmers General Insurance Limited.

BBus (Hons), MBA (UTS), GAICD​

Non-executive Director

Trudy has over 20 years of experience in retail and business banking, financial markets, risk management, and strategy. Past executive roles include General Manager, Operations and General Manager, Commercial and Agribusiness Banking for Westpac Banking Corporation, and Chief Financial Officer of AMP Bank Limited.

Trudy is an experienced Non-Executive Director. She currently sits on the Boards of Iress Limited, Credit Corp Group Limited, and Cuscal Limited. Previous Board roles include non-executive director of AMP Bank Limited, Cabcharge Australia, Ruralco Holdings, and Tennis NSW.

BChem (Hons), EMBA (AGSM), GAICD

Non-executive Director

Greg is the Managing Director and CEO of Australia’s largest raw sugar marketer and logistics provider, Queensland Sugar Limited. He has significant experience in the Australian sugar industry, starting his career with CSR, where he held a number of roles in refinery operations and sugar marketing.

Greg joined QSL in 2000 with responsibility for the logistics division, including port and terminal management, shipping operations and trade finance. He was appointed CEO in February 2012 and has been responsible for driving QSL’s strategic direction in a fully deregulated environment and fostering a prosperous Queensland sugarcane industry.

Greg is a vocal advocate for international trade reform in his role as Chair of The Global Alliance for Sugar Trade Reform and Liberalisation, and as a Director of the Australian Sugar Industry Alliance.