CHATSWOOD, AUSTRALIA — The Board of Grains Australia on Feb. 13 announced the establishment of a new Grains Market Access Council to provide advice to the board on current and emerging trade and market access (T&MA) matters, activities and initiatives to generate value for the Australian grains industry.

Expressions of Interest (EOIs) are now open for the new Grains Market Access Council. Grains Australia said it invites applications from people with skills and experience across the grains industry, particularly in the areas of public policy, trade, production, supply chain optimization, market development and/or customer engagement.

This is one of several advisory bodies being established by Grains Australia to provide advice and make recommendations to the Board across all commodities. The Grains Australia Barley Council, Oat Council and Wheat Council are already in operation.

The Grains Market Access Council will include representatives from each of the Grains Australia Commodity Councils, plus individuals with the required skills and experience selected through the EOI process, with a maximum of 15 members.

Richard Simonaitis, chief executive officer of Grains Australia, said the Grains Market Access Council will ensure streamlined coordination of whole-of-industry responses to current and future trade and market access matters and priorities across commodities.

“This council will work closely with other relevant groups to ensure whole-of-industry perspectives on trade and market access matters, so we invite anyone with experience on other similar bodies to put in their expression of interest,” he said. “It’s an opportunity to provide advice to the Grains Australia Board about how we can best generate value for the Australian grains industry from the trade of our products to new markets or with improved access to key markets.

“The Selection Panel will be looking to appoint individuals based on their skills and experience, their diversity in terms of gender, background, supply chain knowledge and geography, and of course, on the basis that they have a deep understanding of trade and market access matters for the Australian grain industry.”