FOOD & Fibre Gippsland has a new chief executive, former agribusiness banker, Paul Griffin.
Mr Griffin started work at Gippsland's peak industry body, which represents the region's $7 billion food and fibre sector, on July 15.
Having spent the last four years with the Commonwealth Bank in Gippsland in an Agribusiness Relationship executive role, Mr Griffin said he was looking forward to the challenges ahead, as the sector strove to achieve sustainable targets to increase productivity in Gippsland.
"I am both honoured and excited to be selected to lead Food & Fibre Gippsland into this next phase of growth, and to build on an already well-established culture of collaboration, innovation and engagement," Mr Griffin said.
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"Having called Gippsland home for the last seven years, I love everything about life in the region and to be at the helm of the organisation representing and advocating for such large and diverse sector that plays a vital part in the economic prosperity of so many communities, is a dream role for me."
Mr Griffin said he was keen to connect with food and fibre producers and processors of all sizes and types to continue to understand and respond to their challenges and ideas.
"Members, stakeholders and industry partners will certainly be a huge focus for me, and I'm keen to further develop relationships that help build on core capabilities right across the region," Mr Griffin said.
"I want Food & Fibre Gippsland to continue to lead the charge in making Gippsland's food & fibre producers and processors of all sizes and every associated business in the sector a constant talking point, not only here in our own state, but across Australia and even more ambitiously, the world."
The appointment follows a successful amalgamation, earlier this year, of Agribusiness Gippsland and the East Gippsland Food Cluster (EGFC).
Co-Deputy chairs, Andrew Bulmer and Stuart Quigley, extended a warm welcome to Mr Griffin and shared their enthusiasm for a bright future with the peak industry body.
"In amalgamating two strong organisations, we are now ready for a significant era of growth and transformation as we deepen our collaboration with members, industry partners and stakeholders," they said.
"We are confident that Paul's skills and experience will be invaluable in leading Food & Fibre Gippsland into this next phase as the sector continues to evolve as the economic engine that drives the region."