Ian Ballantyne signs off this week, clocking nearly two decades in the maelstrom that is the Australian sugar industry. As CEO of CANEGROWERS, one of Australia’s most respected agricultural representative bodies, he has experienced the highs and lows of this most volatile international commodity.
After 20 years at the helm, he still claims his military background was almost a prerequisite for dealing with the challenges regularly confronting the sugarcane industry and its growers. He also credits the growers with the toughness and resilience akin to the infantry soldiers he once led.
Ballantyne’s tenure has been punctuated by deregulation, flood, drought, industry expansion followed by contraction, low prices, massive farm restructure, government intervention, cost increases, increased commercialisation and in latter years, a much awaited resurgence of world markets and now an expectation of period of sustained strong revenues. Ballantyne says that while aspects of the business have changed, the fundamentals of weather and the uptake on innovation continue to be central to success. The outlook for the current season continues to bring expectation of firm prices and good returns, only to be diluted by the vagaries of weather and interruptions to the harvest.
Ian departs with the sole regret that the community continues to undervalue the ability of farmers and the quality of farming systems used throughout the industry. “There is a continuing misconception that growers actively damage their environment; we have not done a good job in communicating the role farmers play as guardians of the land to the broader community. Australian producers are leaders in adoption of technology and good practice – this is something we are recognised for on the world stage – and yet the industry goes undersold by government and narrowly focussed, idealistic conservation groups on the home front, he says.
He is convinced that with all of the changes, what is left is a smarter, more commercially responsive and sustainable industry - and one well equipped to capitalise on the likely strength of the world market and particularly the increasing growth in our Asian backyard. “I am nothing but positive about the future and leave at a time of genuine optimism, he said today.
Don’t expect this to be the last we see of this well-known figure. “Retiring from CANEGROWERS is more of a stepping back rather than opting out, he says. “There comes a time when you want to step back from full-time executive responsibility and look to new opportunities – to be able to draw on a pretty broad base of experience, perhaps at the non executive level and certainly not on a 55 hour week basis, he explains.
Mr Ballantyne says he will take with him lasting memories of the people – and characters – in cane and agriculture, including the many national and international associations made over the past two decades in the course of duty. He has 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’s tenure had left its mark on CANEGROWERS, to which Ian had made an enormously positive contribution to the organisation and indeed the industry. He said that it was a rare time when a CEO was held in such high esteem and noted that Ian Ballantyne would be genuinely missed by the board, the staff, the members and stakeholders alike. Alf officially commended Ian for his contributions and said the organisation would build on his legacy and wished him well for the future.
