AgExForum2026 Speakers

Meet the farmers, advisers, researchers and industry leaders presenting at AgExForum2026, sharing practical insights, innovation and real-world experience across Australian agriculture.

Keynote Speakers

Keynote Speaker

David Jochinke

Farmer | Leader | Advocate

David "DJ" Jochinke is a third-generation dryland mixed farmer from Victoria's Wimmera region. He is a highly respected agricultural leader with extensive experience in farmer advocacy, most recently serving as President of the National Farmers' Federation. He is the immediate past President of the Victorian Farmers Federation, a board member of Skillinvest and Wimmera CMA, and the current Independent Chair of Grampians Wimmera Mallee Tourism. DJ also contributes to numerous regional and industry committees across agriculture, emergency services and rural development.

Keynote Speaker

Dave McKeon

Head of Thomas Elder Sustainable Agriculture

Dave McKeon is Head of Thomas Elder Sustainable Agriculture at Elders Ltd, where he leads innovation across research and extension, AgTech, sustainable agriculture and carbon farming advisory services. With a family farming background in Western NSW, David is passionate about the role innovation can play in ensuring sustainable farm production and agribusiness in Australia. As a recognised agribusiness leader, his previous roles include CEO of GrainGrowers Ltd, senior management positions with the National Farmers' Federation and the Australian Government Department of Agriculture. David currently serves as Chair of Agribusiness Australia and as an Independent Director of Grain Producers South Australia.p>

Featured Speakers

Casey Treloar

MC | 7NEWS Presenter | Dairy Farmer

Casey Treloar is an accomplished television presenter, reporter and dairy producer with a strong connection to Australian agriculture. Alongside her role with national commercial network 7NEWS, Casey has built an extensive career covering the dairy industry, reporting from some of the world's leading cattle shows, hosting the popular Around the Barn podcast, and leading media for International Dairy Week, where her live interviews with breeders, judges and sponsors have attracted a global audience. Away from the camera, Casey successfully breeds Ayrshire, Holstein and Jersey cattle on the Fleurieu Peninsula, with Australian and world-level success in the show ring. A qualified dairy judge and member of the Holstein Australia judging panel, Casey also gained international experience working with Butlerview Farms in the United States. Her combination of industry knowledge, practical farming experience and media expertise makes her a respected voice across Australian agriculture.

Jock McNeil

Farmer | Nuffield Scholar

Jock McNeil is a mixed farmer from Loxton in South Australia's Northern Mallee, helping manage a diversified farming business spanning broadacre cropping, livestock, irrigated wine grapes and lucerne hay production. Driven by a passion for continuous improvement, Jock is focused on identifying practical opportunities to enhance productivity, profitability and resilience through precision agriculture, machinery optimisation, soil and crop management, and emerging technologies. As a 2026 Nuffield Australia Scholar, he is researching how broadacre cropping systems can be redesigned through strip-till farming, precision application technologies, automation and other innovations to unlock new frontiers in production, profitability and long-term resilience.

Alison Henderson

Owner & Stud Master | Baderloo Poll Merinos

I am a fifth-generation sheep producer from the Mid North of South Australia and have been farming for more than a decade after beginning my career in customer service within local government. I completed my Bachelor of Agricultural Production and Management through UNE while working across all aspects of our mixed family farm before specialising in our sheep enterprise and establishing Hendowie Poll Merino Stud in 2021. While building the stud, I also operated my own sheep pregnancy scanning business, connecting with producers across northern South Australia. In 2024, I purchased Baderloo Poll Merino Stud, which I now own and manage with seasonal support from my family. I am excited to combine new technologies with visual classing to breed productive, resilient Merinos that excite current and future generations.p>

Ed Scott

Soil Consultant | Soil & Land Company

Ed Scott is a soil consultant at Soil & Land Company, working with farmers and agribusinesses across Australia to improve productivity, profitability and sustainability through practical, data-driven decision making. With more than a decade of experience spanning soil science, precision agriculture, digital agronomy and natural capital projects, Edward specialises in helping growers turn data into practical management decisions and adopt technologies that deliver measurable on-farm outcomes. He is passionate about ensuring technology creates real value for farming businesses

Gabriel Davila

Head of Sales | Caitlyn AI

Gabriel Davila is Head of Sales at Caitlyn AI, bringing more than 14 years' experience across the technology and agricultural sectors. Gabe studied Mechatronic Engineering at the University of Technology Sydney and has built a career at the intersection of technology and industry, helping organisations understand not just what technology can do, but how to put it to work. At Caitlyn AI, he works with agricultural research organisations, RDCs and grower groups across Australia and New Zealand to help unlock the value of research and get it into the hands of the people who need it most. He has led AI projects with organisations including Meat & Livestock Australia, Australian Pork Limited and FarmLink Research.

Alicia Mason

Extension & Communications | Birchip Cropping Group

Alicia Mason is Senior Manager – Extension and Communications at Birchip Cropping Group (BCG). With a background spanning agriculture, communications and digital technology, she is passionate about turning agricultural research into practical information that growers can easily access and apply on farm. Alicia works closely with researchers, advisers and industry partners to improve knowledge sharing, support the adoption of innovation, and ensure research translates into practical outcomes that strengthen farming businesses.

Jeanette Long

Director & Facilitator | Ag Consulting Co

Jeanette Long has spent her career building the skills of people who work in and with agriculture. Through Ag Consulting Co, she delivers training programs, coaches individuals and facilitates conversations that move things forward for farm families, organisations and rural communities. Her work spans facilitation and extension skills, succession and business planning, and leadership development with rural women. She was the inaugural Chair of Ag Excellence Alliance and a past President of APEN and Partners in Grain SA. Her qualifications include a Master of Business Administration (Agribusiness), Bachelor of Applied Science in Agriculture, Graduate Diploma in Education, and Certificate IV in Workplace Training and Assessment. She is a qualified facilitator and coach.

Bill Long

Farmer | Consultant | Chair AIR EP

Bill Long is a highly respected South Australian farmer, agricultural consultant and industry leader with more than 35 years of experience in broadacre farming, agronomy, research, extension and farm business management. As Chair of Agricultural Innovation & Research Eyre Peninsula (AIR EP), Bill is widely recognised for connecting research with practical on-farm outcomes and building the capability of farmers, advisers and agricultural organisations.