Get to know Esperance Organised Primary Producers Co-operative’s board of directors, and executive officer. Our team are committed to achieving the best outcomes for all our members.
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Melissa was accepted to the board as an independent director on 19/12/2012. As a Charterered Accountant since 2002 and an accountant for over 25 years specialising in taxation and business services, Mel brings a different perspective to the board as a business professional.
Mel grew up on a sheep farm in West Brookton where her family still farm. After moving around the wheatbelt working in a mid tier accounting firm and having her own business, Mel and her family arrived in Esperance in 2007. She has worked for local accounting firm, Smith Shearer, as a Senior Accountant since arriving.
Mel has taken a keen interest in the WA College of Agriculture scholarships since their inception in 2017, being on the selection panel from the start. This reflects her keen interest in fostering future farming generations and ensuring all children that are interested in agriculture are given the opportunity.
In addition to the scholarship, Mel enjoys being part of a group that can invest to make a difference in the Esperance region.
Gemma and her husband run a cropping property near Munglinup, in the state’s south-east.
In addition, she has worked for many years managing farming systems groups to deliver development and extension activities. These included Mallee Sustainable Farming and the South East Premium Wheat Growers Association.
Gemma is on the Board of Rural Edge Australia; Chair of Southern Biosecurity Group and Jerdacuttup P&C; and an active member of Jerdacuttup Community Association and Jerdacuttup School Finance Committee.
With a Bachelor of Agribusiness (Hons) from Curtin University, Gemma is passionate about building the capacity of people and businesses in rural Australia.
Having first joined the Board in 2011, Gemma had to leave soon after due to work commitments, however, she rejoined the Board again in 2017.
Gemma is currently studying a MBA in Leadership and is in the 2024 cohort of Leadership WA’s Signature Leadership Program. Gemma is looking forward to sharing and implement the learnings of the ten-month program.
I am a partner in our family farming business at Grass Patch W.A. where I farm with my wife Natalie and son Ashleigh. The business was established in 1981 after purchasing a partly cleared farm of 1530Ha and since then our holdings have grown to 9300ha. It is now predominantly a cropping operation.
In 1998 I nominated to become a Director of EOPP firstly because of my desire to contribute to this industry that I am very passionate about, but also because I strongly believe in the benefits to growers of the cooperative process having some control over our industry.
I hold an Advanced Diploma in Agriculture and the Australian Institute of Company of Directors Diploma. Over the years I have completed a number of courses including the Executive Leadership Program Cooperatives and Mutuals and the Rabobank Executive Development program as well as the Director and business training that EOPP provides for its members.
I have held a number of roles on the Board of EOPP as well as in other organisations in the community.
I have found my time on the board a very rewarding experience and am proud of how the cooperative has continued to grow and the returns it has given back to its members.
Born in Lake Grace in the mid 60’s, Deon’s parents, Jim and Melva, took up a new land block in Esperance and they moved there with the children when Deon was about 2 yrs. old. They worked hard to clear it and establish a productive farm. The eldest of 4 children, Deon was educated in Esperance, travelling to and fro on a bus each day.
Upon completing year 12 Deon returned to the farm to work with his father, an EOPP Life Member, but didn’t take long before setting out doing contracting work so he could branch out on his own.
Deon is currently in the process of handing over the day-to-day management to his eldest son, and third partner in the business, and is managing the contract clay spreading operation.
Deon joined the board in 1999. He held the position of Vice Chair for 8 years before accepting the position of Chair in 2018.
Deon was awarded Life Membership of EOPP in 2017.
Born , raised & educated in Esperance.
After Year 12 I attended Muresk where I obtained a Bachelor of Business, Major in Agriculture. I then went to Curtin University & obtained a Graduate Diploma in Education.
My first posting was in Meekatharra. After 3 years, I transferred to Morawa Agriculture College for 2 years then returned to Esperance on a year’s leave where I worked on farms and did relief teaching. After 2 years I returned to 2 days a week at Esperance Senior High Farm. The rest of the week was spent on our farm at Dalyup.
Becoming a partner in the family farming business, I left teaching to only return for the occasional relief , which I still do today.
I became an EOPP director in 2006 and was honoured to receive Life Member at the 2020 AGM.
Glen was born in Cunderdin and grew up in a farming family. In the late 1980’s, he worked for 2 years on a merino stud in South Australia, then in the early 1990’s he started a merino stud.
Glen moved to the Esperance region in 1994 and onto a sheep & crop property west of Gibson. He leased the property out for 2 years, in 2003, to continue his studies. He studied Agribusiness at University of Queensland.
Glen is now running a predominantly cropping business, with a sideline of opportunistic purchasing & value adding of sheep. He is also experimenting with perennials to reduce a high water table on low areas of the property.
Glen joined the EOPP Board in October 2014 and accepted the Vice Chair position in 2018.
Prior to joining EOPP, I served a 20 + year apprenticeship in farming; all the way from Farmhand to Farm Manager and points in between. There were a couple of diversions in this time; all still in the agriculture arena.
From farming I went on to a short stint in the farm merchandise arena then began my administration/office work career.
I joined EOPP in 2001 as Executive Officer; a challenging and rewarding position I still hold.
On the days I am not at EOPP, I am lucky enough to still be involved in farming; hands on and bookwork.
