SPEAKER BIOGRAPHIES
Ben Fessey ofi Australia Global Market Challenges panel , Wednesday , Grand Stage , 1.30pm Ben Fessey is a Trader at ofi Australia , where he is responsible for export sales and trading . Ben ’ s commercial responsibilities also include managing water trading , electricity and insurance . He has worked in the Almond industry since 2013 . Ben holds a Bachelor of Agricultural Economics from The University of Sydney with majors in Agricultural Science and Economics . He is currently completing a Masters of Business Administration at The University of New South Wales majoring in Finance .
David Doll
Lead Developer for Rota Unica Almonds B . S . Plant Biology , Purdue University M . S . Plant Pathology , University of California , Davis The Almond Doctor – Balancing costs with yield , Wednesday , Grand Stage , 10.45am David was raised in a rural area growing apples and peaches . After attending Purdue University for his B . S . in Plant Biology , he attended graduate school at UC Davis , completing his M . S . in Plant Pathology . Shortly after completion , he started to work as a Farm Advisor the University of California . After ten years of working as a Farm Advisor , David made the move to Portugal in November 2018 to work as the lead developer for Rota Unica Almonds . His task is to develop California styled almond plantations within Alentejo . Through this process , he has become familiar with some of the various challenges associated with growing almonds in Portugal and Europe . Prior to his move , David worked with farmers in the Central Valley of California in troubleshooting problems and conducting on farm research within almonds , walnuts and pistachios . In this position , he would visit nearly 200 operations and deliver 35 presentations annually as well as publish regularly in scientific journals . Currently , he works with almond operations across the world , including Australia . Many of his observations and lessons learned have been shared within his online platform , “ The Almond Doctor .”
James Callipari
Wilga Lane Produce , Almond Board of Australia Director Growing on heavy soils panel , Wednesday , Experts ’ Forum , 1.45pm 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 . In 2019 , James joined the Board as a Director representing the Riverina growing region and has since become a graduate of the Australian Institute of company Directors .
Fiona Chambers
WHEEN BEE FOUNDATION CEO Bee Friendly Farming , Wednesday , Grand Stage , 11.45am Fiona is CEO of WHEEN BEE FOUNDATION , an Australian registered charity that promotes awareness of the importance of bees for food security , biodiversity and ecosystem health , and funds research and development activities that address the national and global threats to bees . Fiona has 35 years experience working in food production , farming and sustainability . She is a Churchill Fellow , an ISS Fellow , and a Fellow of the Williamson Community Leadership program . Fiona lives in south west Victoria on a Bee Friendly Farming certified farm and in her spare time breeds heritage breeds of farm livestock and a few too many horses . australianalmonds . com . au
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