AGIC Asia 2025 speakers
Andrew Goyder, Chair, Grain Trade Australia.
Andrew has over 20 years industry experience encompassing grain production, the seed industry and the trade. Previous roles include Regional Manager Southern WA with Grain Pool WA and involvement in the seed industry and export canola industry with SGB Australia.
Andrew is currently Managing Director of Grain Link WA, established in September 1999. Prior to GTA Andrew has a history of representative Committee and Director roles in the West Australian industry including NACMA, CBH and GIWA.
Dr Angela Macdonald PSM, Australian Ambassador to Thailand, in Bangkok
Dr Angela Macdonald PSM is a senior career officer of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. Before arriving in Thailand, she served as First Assistant Secretary of Middle East and Africa Division. She has served overseas as Deputy Head of Mission at the Australian High Commission in Kuala Lumpur, Deputy Head of Mission at the Australian Embassy in Kabul and on postings to Brussels and Wellington. In Canberra, Angela worked in the International Division, Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet (PM&C), Crisis Management Branch and Parliamentary and Media Branch in DFAT as Executive Officer to the Secretary of PM&C and Adviser to the Minister for Foreign Affairs.
Angela received the Public Service Medal in 2015 for outstanding public service in leading DFAT’s Malaysian Airlines flight MH17 Emergency Response team in Ukraine.
His Excellency, Mr Scott Dewar, Australian Ambassador to the People’s Republic of China, in Beijing
H E Mr Scott Dewar commenced as Australian Ambassador to China in January 2024. Prior to taking up this role he was Deputy Secretary International and Security in the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet.
Previously Scott has served in the Department of Defence and the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. He has also worked in the Office of the Prime Minister and the Office of the Minister for Defence. His previous diplomatic postings were to Seoul, Beijing and as Consul-General in Honolulu.
Pat O’Shannassy, CEO, Grain Trade Australia
Grain Trade Australia is a leading trade organisation in the Australian grains industry, and provides an industry driven self-regulatory framework to the grains industry. Pat has vast industry experience in trading, risk management, policy and government relations, having spent more than 25 years in the grains industry in Australia and USA. He has a diverse experience across the entire value chain, gained from working for trade houses, financial institutions as well as customer service and information businesses.
He currently serves as President of the International Grain Trade Coalition and holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Agriculture from University of Melbourne, a Post-Graduate Diploma in Applied Finance and Investment and is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (GAICD).
Stephen Thompson, Partner, HFW Sydney
Stephen is a Partner at global law firm HFW, based in Sydney. Stephen specialises in international trade with a focus on soft commodities. His commercial practice includes advising on sale and purchase contracts, charterparties, bills of lading and other sea-carriage contracts, as well as storage, warehousing, and distribution agreements. He also advises on structured trade contracts and project documentation for use in shipbuilding projects. Stephen’s contentious practice covers international arbitration, both ad hoc and arbitrations under the ICC, GTA, LMAA, GAFTA, FOSFA, PORAM, SIAC and UNCITRAL Rules, as well as through the Australian and English Courts. He has worked in the Australian grains industry since 2003 starting with AWB and, since deregulation, many of the national and international participants in this trade.
Stephen was heavily involved with the industry and its representative bodies during the bulk wheat deregulation process, access to port infrastructure, and national and international markets. Stephen is ranked in Chambers and the Doyles Guide.
Adam Richardson, Partner, HFW Singapore
Adam is a Partner in the Commodities department of HFW’s Singapore office with a focus on international trade, commodities and shipping matters. Adam’s area of expertise is international arbitration, both ad hoc and arbitrations under the GAFTA, FOSFA, LMAA, ICC, SIAC and UNCITRAL Rules.
He also advises on non-contentious matters such as physical commodities contracts (including storage, warehousing, marketing and distribution agreements) and structured trade finance. A regular speaker at commodities and offshore seminars, he has also delivered training on GAFTA, GTA and SCoTA contracts, amongst others.
Adam has completed 3 client secondments: 2 as in-house legal counsel at international trading companies and a further secondment as in-house legal counsel supporting the physical commodity trading desk of an international bank, specialising in structured trade transactions.
Adam was recognised in Asian Legal Business’ annual ‘40 Under 40’ list for 2022, which profiles the 40 most accomplished lawyers in Asia under the age of 40. He was also previously ranked as one of Singapore’s top 20 most promising legal luminaries aged under 40 (Singapore Business Review, 2018).
Nick Poynder, Partner, HFW Shanghai
Nick is a Partner at global law firm HFW and is head of the firm’s Shanghai office. Nick specialises in shipping matters including in charterparty, bill of lading, MOA and shipyard disputes, acting for both Mainland Chinese and overseas clients. He has a strong international arbitration practice with cases under ICC, LCIA, LMAA, SIAC and HKIAC. Nick also regularly advises on insolvency issues and security for finance leasing matters as well as handling disputes over international trade, logistics and commercial matters. Nick is ranked in Chambers China 2024 for Shipping Litigation. Chambers quotes clients as saying, “Nick is a very professional lawyer who has the clients’ interests in his mind” and “he is our preferred counsel for cross-border dispute resolution”. Nick is also listed as a Shipping expert in Who’s Who Legal and named a Leading Individual in the Legal 500 Asia Pacific Guide 2024.
Khoon Goh, Head of Research, Asia – ANZ
Khoon oversees and co-ordinates the Asia economics and strategy research functions in Singapore. His particular area of focus is on Asian macro and currencies. Khoon actively travels to market ANZ’s views to investor clients, such as central banks, hedge funds and real money; as well as corporate clients. He is often quoted in the business media and makes regular appearances on radio and television, as well as on industry panels and conferences.
Khoon has over 20 years of experience working in various economic and strategy roles across both the public and private sectors. Graduating with a Master of Commerce (Hons) degree majoring in International Economics from the University of Auckland, Khoon was the Manager in charge of the New Zealand Treasury’s Macroeconomic Forecasting Team where he was responsible for producing the official government forecasts that underpin the Budget and key policy decisions. He also served as an Economic Adviser at the Reserve Bank of New Zealand.
Chooi Sun Leong, Grain Quality, CBH Group
Chooi Sun Leong has worked in the Australian Grains Industry since 2010. She is experienced in food formulation, grain quality analysis, food safety management and quality assurance. Chooi Sun is currently the Grain Quality Lead at CBH Grain, overseeing the grain quality for domestic and export markets. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Food Science and Nutrition and an MBA from Curtin University, Western Australia.
Drew Robertson, Barley Manager, CBH Group
Drew Robertson has worked in the Australian grains industry since 2006 after graduating from the University of Western Australia with a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture degree with first class honours. Drew Robertson is currently the Barley Trading Manager at the CBH Group overseeing the groups domestic and international malting and feed barley marketing and trading activities. He has also been an active participant in industry organisations including the becoming the inaugural chair of the Grains Australia barley council (previously Barley Australia) and a member of the Grains Industry Association of Western Australia barley council. In both of these roles Drew has contributed significantly to industry good functions such as reviewing grain quality standards (Western Australia), accreditation of new barley varieties and rationalisation of malting barley varieties in Western Australian supply chain.
Michael Jester, Asian Trading Director, GrainCorp Australia
Michael is the Asian Trading Director for GrainCorp Australia based in Singapore. He joined the industry more than 35 years ago and has extensive experience in the grain and feed markets worldwide with special focus on Asia.
Michael Wood, Principal – Rural Logic & Deputy Chair, Grain Trade Australia
Michael Wood has been an active member of the Australian Grains Industry for 30 years. He is the Managing Director of Melbourne-based grain trading and logistics company, Rural Logic. Michael is a Deputy Chair of Grain Trade Australia Board of Directors.
Founding Manager (1990) of Stockfeed company James & Son for 10 years. Aust Barley Board Victorian State Manager (5 years) and Grains Manager IMCA Malting Company (2005/2006).
Former President of Grains Industry Association of Victoria and has remained on the Committee since 2005
Diploma Applied Science (Agriculture)
David Cui, General Manager of GrainCorp China
David Cui holds an MBA from The National School of Development at Peking University and is the General Manager of GrainCorp Operations Limited China. David’s focus is on building, maintaining, and developing local Chinese demand for Australian, Canadian, and Ukrainian grains and oilseeds that GrainCorp originates directly from farmers. With more than 30 years working in international trade and marketing of major agricultural commodities, David has gained extensive experience in the import & export of major bulk commodities including malting barley, wheat, corn, and rice. David has presented and been a panel member of grain & oilseed forums in China and abroad with his keen insight of supply and demand, policy, price trend of major agricultural commodities and upstream Chinese demand. Previously to GrainCorp David worked for COFCO, ADM, and Toepfer International Asia Pte Ltd.