New Boss for Dairy Industry Foundation
23 July 2012 at 10:40 am
The Gardiner Foundation, set up to support the Victorian Dairy Industry has appointed a new Chief Executive Officer to take office late next month.
Board Chairman Mike Taylor has announced that Mary Harney will take over the position from Paul Ford.
“We are delighted that Mary has accepted our offer of appointment to this high profile role in
the Victorian dairy industry,” Taylor said.
“Mary has an established track record in driving strategic clarity, building effective
partnerships and ensuring tangible project outcomes in a range of significant and complex
leadership roles.”
Harney will leave her role as Chief Operating Officer Research and Director of the Office of Cancer Research at Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre to join the Gardiner Foundation.
“I’m originally from the bush and my family are fifth generation farmers still on the land in Central Victoria. I have a realistic understanding of the rural sector, the pressures and drivers across this value chain. I’m honoured to be appointed to such an influential role in the Victorian dairy industry,” Hareny said.
The Geoffrey Gardiner Dairy Foundation is a proactive investor in projects that have significant impact for the Victorian dairy industry and the wider community.
According to the Foundation, Philanthropy Australia listed them as the fourth largest philanthropic organisation in Australia in the 2009-2010 financial year.
The Victorian Dairy Act 2000 created the Foundation with $62m in seed funding from the sale of milk brands as part of deregulation of the industry.
The Foundation was named in honour of the late Geoffrey Gardiner, who is described as an inspirational dairy leader of his time.
