OUR PEOPLE
Directors

Owen Menkens
Chair
Owen Menkens is a fourth generation cane farmer and has been a Director on the CANEGROWERS Burdekin Limited Board since 2010. Owen is the Chairman of the QCGO Board, a member of the Australian Sugar Industry Alliance (ASA) Board and Australian Cane Growers Council and a member of the CANEGROWERS Queensland Policy Council representing local views at a state level and a Cane Supply Agreement Negotiator.

Steve Pilla
Deputy Chair
Steve Pilla is a third generation cane farmer and has been a Director on the CANEGROWERS Burdekin Limited Board since 2013. Steve is on the CANEGROWERS Queensland Policy Council, representing local views at a state level.

Glenn Betteridge
Director
Glenn Betteridge is a third generation cane farmer and has been a Director on the CANEGROWERS Burdekin Limited Board since 2019. Glenn is a member of the CANEGROWERS Queensland Policy Council representing local views at a state level and a Cane Supply Agreement Negotiator.

Charlie Papale
Director
Charlie Papale is a second generation cane farmer with his father cane farming in the Burdekin from 1954. A new Director of the CANEGROWERS Burdekin Limited Board joining in 2022. Charlie is on the the SRA Variety Selection Committee member for CANEGROWERS Burdekin Limited.

Greg Rossato
Director
Greg Rossato is a third generation cane farmer and has been a Director on the CANEGROWERS Burdekin Limited Board since 2016. Greg is a member of the CANEGROWERS Queensland Policy Council representing local views at a state level and a Cane Supply Agreement Negotiator.

Rian Swindley
Director
Rian Swindley is a third generation cane farmer with his family farming in the Burdekin since 1926. A new Director of the CANEGROWERS Burdekin Limited Board joining in 2022. Rian is a Harvest Management Grower Representative for CANEGROWERS Burdekin Limited.
Staff

Greg Watson
Manager
Greg Watson joined the team in January 2020. He was previously employed by QSL as the Grower Relationship Manager for the Burdekin and Herbert River regions and this role enabled him to gain a good understanding of the sugar industry, the growers and stakeholders. Greg is no stranger to the sugar industry having been born and raised in Home Hill where his parents were cane harvesting contractors and in his career he also served for 3 years as the Executive Officer for CRC for Sustainable Sugar Production, managing research budgets for the benefit of the industry.
Greg brings 25 years of experience in financial services to the role, comprising of a decade in business/agribusiness banking followed by 15 years in financial planning where he was self-employed for 13 years. Having been in various management roles and a business owner, Greg can relate to growers as he understands both the risks and benefits of being self-employed and the challenges that growers face through being in business.
T: 4790 3600 | M:0436 949 714 | E: greg_watson@canegrowers.com.au

Michelle Andrews
Finance & Administration
Michelle joined the team in 2003 when she was employed as an Administration Officer of Burdekin District CANEGROWERS Executive, Michelle is the Finance and Administration Manager of CANEGROWERS Burdekin.
Michelle is a registered BAS Agent and Justice of the Peace with an Associate Degree of Commerce, a Certificate IV in Business Administration and Tier 1 in General Insurance. Michelle’s position encompasses member assistance, administration, accounts and communications, including our fortnightly e-newsletter publication canenews.
T: 4790 3602 | E: michelle_andrews@canegrowers.com.au

Tiffany Giardina
Payroll & Administration
Tiffany joined CANEGROWERS in 2010. She has been operating the CANEGROWERS Burdekin Payroll Service since 2011 which is available to both members and non-members of CANEGROWERS Burdekin.
Tiffany is a registered BAS Agent with a Certificate IV in Accounting, Certificate III in Business Administration and Tier 1 in Insurance Broking. Tiffany regularly attends seminars to keep up to date on recent payroll and insurance matters.
Contact Tiffany on the details below to find out more on the CANEGROWERS Payroll Service.
T: 4790 3601 | E: tiffany_giardina@canegrowers.com.au

Mindi Lennon
Member Services
Mindi rejoined CANEGROWERS in 2022 to assist growers in meeting their regulatory obligations, in particular to provide assistance with the completion of Farm Nitrogen & Phosphorous Budgets.
Mindi is a familiar face with previous roles at CANEGROWERS Burdekin. Mindi has a Bachelor of Applied Science (Agronomy) and has completed her Fertcare C qualification.
Contact Mindi on the details below to find out more on N & P Budgets.
T: 4790 3605 | E: mindi_lennon@canegrowers.com.au

Racheal de Koning
Insurance Broker
Joining the team in 2016, Racheal is an experienced insurance professional with over twenty years as an Insurance Broker in her home town of Ayr. As Racheal is born and raised in the Burdekin this provides an advantage to our clients of being able to better understand the needs of your business and how to protect your assets and minimise your risk. Racheal has a Diploma of Financial Services and Tier 1 in Insurance Broking.
To find out more on CANEGROWERS Insurance broking service, Solaris Insurance Brokers contact Racheal on the details below or visit www.solarisinsurance.com.au
T: 4790 3606 | M: 0408 638 518| E: racheal@solarisinsurance.com.au

Maddison McConnachie
Insurance Broker
Joining the team in 2023, Maddison is an experienced insurance professional.
Maddison has a Tier 1 in Insurance Broking.
To find out more on CANEGROWERS Insurance broking service, Solaris Insurance Brokers contact Maddison on the details below or visit www.solarisinsurance.com.au
T: 4790 3606 | E: maddison@solarisinsurance.com.au