Richard A England - FCA, MAICD
Non-executive Chairman (appointed to the Board 9 July 2002)
Member of the Audit, Risk and Corporate Governance Committee and the Remuneration and Nomination Committee

Richard brings to the Company over 30 years of experience in the accounting and financial services profession as well as broad management experience.

Until 1994, Richard spent most of his professional career with Peat Marwick and Ernst & Young and its predecessor firms, first becoming partner in 1982. He practised in the areas of Corporate Recovery and Restructuring. Richard is currently Chairman of Chandler MacLeod Limited. He isa Non-Executive Director of Macquarie Atlas Roads Limited and Nanosonics Limited. He is a former director of St George Bank Limited (from 2004 until 2008), Healthscope Limited (from 1996 to 2010) and Choiseul Investments Limited (from 2005 to 2010).

John S Maher - BAg Sc (Hons), MBA, GAICD
Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer

Managing Director (appointed 2 October 2006). Mr Maher is responsible for the parent company and branded entities that form the largest network of independently owned stores and regional companies in agribusiness and real estate throughout Australia. He is a Director of most Ruralco Holdings subsidiary companies, including Roberts Limited and CRT.

Prior to joining Ruralco, John was the Group General Manager of one of the country’s largest agribusinesses involved in the distribution of rural supplies as well as the logistics, marketing and sale of livestock and wool and the provision of services relating to finance, insurance, agronomy, real estate, grain acquisition and grain marketing. He has also held senior positions in organisations involved in the international marketing of Australian agricultural commodities and rural consultancy.

Michael J Millner - MAICD
Non-executive Director
Chairman of the Nomination and Remuneration Committee

Appointed as a non-executive Director in 2003 (resigned June 2006, re-appointed February 2007). His directorships include Washington H Soul Pattinson and Company Limited, a substantial shareholder in Ruralco Holdings Ltd, Keith Harris and Co Limited, Brickworks Limited, Choiseul Investments Limited and SP Telemedia Limited.
 

Appointed as a non-executive Director of Roberts Limited in 1983 (resigned November 2005, re-appointed February 2007). Mr Edwards is a Director of Neale Edwards Pty Ltd, a substantial shareholder in Ruralco Holdings Limited.
 

John Lord - LLB, FCA, FTIA, MAICD
Non-executive Director
Chairman of the Audit, Risk and Corporate Governance Committee

Appointed as a Director on 15 December 2009, Mr Lord is qualified as a solicitor and a Chartered Accountant. He has had extensive experience in the primary industry sector at farm enterprise level as well as at industry association and government policy levels.

His other directorships include Chairman of the Tasmanian Government's Irrigation Development Board, Chairman Crisp Bros & Haywards Group and Director of Private Forests Tasmania. John has recently stepped down as one of the inaugral directors and for the last nearly 10 years, the Chairman of Transend Networks Pty Ltd, the Tasmanian Government's electricity transmission business.
 

Shane M Smith - MAICD
Non-executive Director
Member of the Capital Expenditure Review Committee and member of the Audit, Risk and Corporate Governance Committee

Appointed as a Director on 15 December 2009, Mr Smith is the Managing Director of Williams & Jackson Pty Ltd, the Combined Rural Traders member in Geelong. He is also a non executive Director of Combined Rural Traders Pty Ltd (CRT) and Roberts Ltd. Mr Smith has been involved in agribusiness for over 30 years and previously served as chairman of the CRT National Member Council.