An experienced rural communicator from Brisbane, Genevieve McAulay, is the new President of the Australian Council of Agricultural Journalists.
This national professional body represents rural press clubs operating networks in all mainland states.
It maintains links with colleagues around the world through membership of the International Federation of Agricultural Journalists.
Genevieve is a Life Member and former President of the Queensland Rural Press Club where she made a significant contribution as the creator and driving force behind many of the club’s most successful and innovative programs.
She began her career as a journalist at the Dalby Herald before joining the staff of Rural Press, which is now Fairfax Agricultural Media, where she was an award-winning feature writer and editor for the specialist publication Australian Cotton and Grains Outlook, which is circulated in Queensland and New South Wales.
Genevieve is now employed as State Marketing Manager Qld/NT for Rabobank.
Following two terms as Vice President, she succeeds Tim Powell, managing director of Cox Inall Communications in the national leadership role.
Peter Lewis, a familiar face of agricultural journalism throughout Australia, is the new ACAJ Vice President.
Peter has had a long career with the national rural television program Landline, both in front of and behind the camera, and has more recently worked as a national rural reporter for ABC TV.
Clarisa Collis, an executive committee member with the Rural Press Club of Victoria, takes over the role of ACAJ secretary from her club colleague Kim Payne.
Clarisa is the assistant editor of Ground Cover magazine for Melbourne-based agricultural and science publisher, Coretext.
Gordon Collie, an independent communicator and freelance rural journalist from Brisbane, continues in his role as national treasurer and Leigh Radford from South Australia was re-elected as the Australian delegate to the International Federation of Agricultural Journalists (IFAJ).
Members of the ACAJ at the annual meeting paid tribute to retiring executive member Liz Harfull who made a huge contribution in Australia and internationally during the past 14 years.
Liz steps down from the leadership team as the position of Immediate Past President rotates to Tim Powell.
She served three terms as ACAJ president and represented Australia to the International Federation of Agricultural Journalists.
After a successful career in rural journalism and communications, Liz has won world acclaim as an author, with her latest titles: The Australian Blue Ribbon Cookbook and Women of the Land.
President Genevieve said Liz’s leadership efforts over many years on the ACAJ executive and internationally on Australia’s behalf were much appreciated.
“We are pleased Liz has agreed to lend her expertise as a member of the organising committee for the 2015 IFAJ World Congress Pre-Tour in Cairns next October.”
For more information, contact Gordon Collie on 0409 473 343.
