ABA DIRECTORS
PETER HAYES Chairman
Peter was appointed as the ABA independent Chairperson in February 2020 . Peter has extensive experience across education and training , R & D investment and management , viticultural operations , the irrigation sector and government and industry affairs . Peter has held various industry positions including Deputy Chancellor of Charles Sturt University and a board member of Irrigation Australia . Peter operates as an independent Wine Industry Strategist and Advisor with activity in Australia , India and the UK . He is also Business Editor of the International Journal of Wine Economics and Policy .
PETER CAVALLARO Adelaide Region Grower Representative
Peter is the general manager of Walker Flat Almonds located in the Murraylands in South Australia . Peter has been associated with the almond industry since 1973 when his family bought an almond orchard at Angle Vale , and is a third generation almond grower . He has also been involved in the cut flower industry , and he was a director of the Adelaide Flower Market until 2002 .
Peter holds an Advanced Diploma in Horticulture and has completed the Company Directors Course . Peter has been a director of the Almond Board of Australia representing the Adelaide region since 2013 and is currently the Deputy Chairman . He is also the Chairman of the Production Committee , Chairman of the Pollination Committee , and is a member of both the Plant Improvement Committee and the Almond Centre Committee .
BRENDAN SIDHU Riverland Region Grower Representative
Brendan Sidhu is CEO of Century Orchards , a large almond orchard based in the Riverland , South Australia and Managing Director of Laragon Almond Processors based at Lindsay Point in Victoria .
Brendan has been involved in the Australian almond industry since 1983 , holding positions as both Secretary and Chair of the Riverland region of the Australian Almond Growers ’ Association ( AAGA ). In 2007 , Brendan was appointed to the ABA Board , holding the position of Chairman from 2009 – 2012 . He has been a member of the Australian Almond Industry Advisory Committee ( IAC ), the Remuneration Committee , the Conference Committee and is the Chair of the Market Development and Almond Centre of Excellence Committees . Brendan also sits on the Hort Innovation Almond Strategic Advisory Panel and has recently been appointed as Chairman of the Australian Nut Industry Council ( ANIC ). Brendan holds an Advanced Diploma in Horticulture and is a graduate of the
Australian Institute of Company Directors .
LUKE STOECKEL Riverland Region Grower Representative
Luke grew up on his family ’ s almond and broadacre farm near Renmark in South Australia and is now Managing Director of Cannonball Almonds .
He oversees the operations and development of the Almond and Broadacre enterprises at Bunyip Reach . In 2009 Luke completed a Bachelor of Science ( Petroleum Geology ) degree from Adelaide University and worked internationally as an Engineer in the Oil Industry before returning home in 2014 .
Since returning home Luke has developed Cannonball Almonds which is planted with 75 % Australian National Almond Breeding Program varieties . Luke also sits on the South Australian Murray Irrigators Committee .
JAMES CALLIPARI Riverina Region Grower Representative
James completed a Bachelor of Applied Science ( Agriculture ) degree , graduating in 2003 before returning to the family farming business in a formal capacity . He has extensive experience in all aspects of the production of a wide range of fruits , vegetables and grains , both irrigated and dryland . James commenced his involvement in the Australian Almond Industry with the development of an almond orchard in the Riverina region during 2006 where his past farming experience proved invaluable . In 2013 , James was the recipient of the Phil Watters Award which recognises excellence and service to the Australian Almond Industry .
NEALE BENNETT Sunraysia Region Grower Representative
Neale has been involved with almonds since converting his family farm from vines in 1992 . Neale also operates a contract almond harvesting business , Cowanna Harvesting . Neale has filled the roles of Chairman and Sunraysia Region Grower Representative on the ABA Board as well as Secretary , Treasurer and Chairman of the Sunraysia region of the Australian Almond Growers ’ Association ( AAGA ). Neale ’ s committee positions include Chair of both the Remuneration Committee and Conference Committees and represents the ABA at
Horticulture Innovation Australia .
8 2022 / 23 ABA ANNUAL REPORT