2 June 2010: Changing face of the sugar industry: Ballantyne to step down

 

After more than 19 years at the helm of one of Australia’s most iconic agricultural organisations, CANEGROWERS CEO, Ian Ballantyne, has announced that he intends to spend the next three months bringing some of the big issues on the boil closer to finalisation, before standing back from full time executive responsibility.

 

Chairman Alf Cristaudo confirmed that Ian had formally given three months notice at the recent Board meeting of Queensland Cane Growers Organisation Limited.  The CANEGROWERS Board has shown their appreciation of Ian’s commitment to remain in the chair and in full force until his slated leaving date of
27 August 2010.

 

There are several critical issues in the sugarcane industry currently, including the future resourcing of cane’s research and development structures, fighting for restructure of proposed reef regulations into a more workable system and of course Sucrogen’s ownership and the interest being shown very publicly by Bright Food in the milling group formerly known as CSR.

 

Ian Ballantyne has enjoyed two fulfilling careers to date – in the military and in the cane sector – and is not closing the door to a third, less time consuming one around the corner.  He is proposing to spend more time pursuing less arduous, personal interests, but does not intend to retire his mind, nor cease to look for an additional challenge or two.

 

Ian thanked the current and previous chairmen, boards, staff members and members of the CANEGROWERS organisation for giving him the opportunity to play a major role during the past nineteen-plus years. 

 

Alf Cristaudo said that Ian Ballantyne had made an enormously positive contribution to the organisation and indeed the industry as a whole during his tenure, and on behalf of the Board, the staff and our members has thanked him for his contribution and wishes him well in his future endeavours.    

Please click on the image download a high resolution photo of Mr Ian Ballantyne.