Tony Platt has been a specialist director of the GippsDairy board for some years and chose to retire this year.
After a recruitment process, he has been replaced with Corrie Goodwin, in the specialist director role.
Corrie’s experience includes governance roles with Fonterra, Australian Dairy Industry Council and Australian Dairy Products Federation.
She grew up on a dairy farm in north-east Victoria.
Sarah O’Brien and Mick Hughes, both farmer directors, were re-appointed to the board after seeking re-election.
Sarah O’Brien was re-elected chair, with Ken Anderson (farmer director) also re-elected deputy chair.
Mick Hughes was re-elected to the secretary and public officer role.
Welcoming Corrie to the board of directors, Sarah said she brought considerable governance experience to her new role.
Other farmer directors on the GippsDairy board are Aaron Thomas, Lisa Broad and Raylene Hanratty.
Other specialist directors on the GippsDairy board are Martin Fuller, CEO of West Gippsland Catchment Management Authority and Peter Fort from Burra Foods.
At the 2024 AGM, the GippsDairy board undertook to appoint young dairy farmers to the role of associate director, to provide training and experience in governance skills.
At the 2025 AGM, the board reiterated this goal.
Speaking to GippsDairy’s annual report, delivered at the AGM, Sarah O’Brien noted the Q fever program that has been delivered in Gippsland in the past year and continuing, was being replicated elsewhere.
She also said dairy was the biggest agricultural contributor to the economy of the Gippsland region, with a farm gate market value of about $1.3 billion.
This value was generated by 917 dairy farms in the region, milking a combined 299,000 cows, and eight dairy factories operating in Gippsland.
“Gippsland is one of Australia’s most productive dairy regions, producing 1.930 million litres. Gippsland contributes 23 per cent of Australia’s total milk supply,” Sarah said.
“In a survey conducted by Dairy Australia, 25 per cent of Gippsland’s dairy farmers expect to grow their business over the next five to 10 years.
“Four-in-10 Gippsland dairy farmers will make on-farm improvements, investing in new infrastructure, equipment and technologies.”
GippsDairy has two key annual events — the Dairy Muster and the Women in Dairy Christmas lunch, both of which provide personal development opportunities and feature a panel of industry speakers.
In addition, GippsDairy has sponsored industry events including Cows Create Careers, which was delivered to 20 schools across Gippsland in 2025.
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