Meet Your National Team

Director

Jeffrey Winspear

Director

Phone: 0417 091 489

The need for a full brokering service to farmers in WA in the lead up to deregulation of the export grain industry was the reason behind Jeff starting Grain Brokers Australia. Jeff founded Grain Brokers Australia (formerly Grainassist Perth) in WA in September 2007, after working for AWB in the eastern Wheatbelt. Originally from a family farm in Gnowangerup, Jeff moved to Victoria to study at Marcus Oldham College in Geelong, before returning home to work in the grain industry in WA.

General Manager

David Hanrahan

General Manager

Phone: 0499 551 169

David has worked in agribusiness in Australia for more than 25 years. His professional experience includes banking, grain trading (international and domestic), marketing, business development and senior management. Past employers include Australian Barley Board (ABB), Grainco (Marketlink), Peter Cremer Australia and Mars Australia. David has a deep understanding of domestic and international grain markets and supply chains as well as a grassroots grasp of the needs and priorities of growers. He has excellent relationships across all sectors of the agribusiness industry. David joined Grain Brokers Australia in March 2017 and is committed to the success of the business in this new phase of development.

Head of Brokerage

Matthew Tolmachoff

Head of Brokerage

Phone: 0418 790 042

Matthew has 27 years of agribusiness experience with an emphasis on trading, export sales, marketing, accumulation and warehouse logistics. He completed a Bachelor’s Degree in Agriculture Science at UQ Gatton, having specialized in International Marketing with a further Diploma in Export Management.

His professional experience with companies such as Dunavant Enterprises, Lempriere , Australian Growers Cooperative and Elders, in cotton, wool and grain has led to a strong understanding of sales and distribution having managed warehouse shipping terminals and trading businesses, selling commodities to diverse interests such as cotton spinners, flour and feed mills, dairy and meat exporters and accumulating commodities direct from growers.

Matthews family have owned and managed cotton, grain and lucerne irrigation properties in multiple sites across NSW, QLD and SA, and he has a deep connection with understanding growers needs and a love of the land.

Having built many key business relationships with domestic end-user customers and export counterparties, and the management of trade activities, including sales and execution of Pool, Cash Index Programs and Cash trading activities he hopes to strengthen ties through conveying detailed market information and insight into market structures to our grower clientele benefit.

Business Development Manager

David Syme

Business Development Manager

Phone: 0417 018 292

David has over 30 years of agribusiness experience across Southern Australia with sound experience in business development, commodity imports and exports, production forecasting, origination and supply chain investment with strong relationships across the industry.

David’s professional experience extends to 10 years with Louis Dreyfus Australia in WA and SA, the Grain Pool of WA/Agrcorp, branch management with IAMA in Esperance, and farming in the Esperance region.

David has also been a strong contributor to the grains industry over the past 15 years and is an active member of the Grain Trade Australia Transport, Ports and Storage Committee and is also a Grain Trade Australia Arbitrator.

Grain Services and Corporate Broker

Sarah Woolford

Grain Services & Corporate Broker

Phone: 0455 111 779

Sarah started in the grain industry in 2012, and prior held roles within the finance industry. She has gained a wealth of experience and knowledge over the last 6 years working for CBH in the Marketing and Trading arm, with experience gained in Trading and Accumulations. Her roles have consisted of Trading Compliance Advisor and Product Co-ordinator, working closely with growers to return value. Sarah joined Grain Brokers Australia in October 2017 with the goal of engaging growers and identifying opportunities to return value to their enterprises through innovative and agile products. When Sarah’s not at work she enjoys spending time with her three children and returning to York to enjoy the farm.

Grain Broker

Peter Brennan

Grain Broker, Geraldton & Kwinana, Western Australia

Phone: 0400 702 141

Peter grew up on his family farm in Wongan Hills, developing a love and passion for agriculture in Western Australia. After completing a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture and a Bachelor of Commerce at UWA, Peter went back to work on the family farm to further develop his skills in the industry. He then spent some time working in Perth and Geraldton gaining experience in the banking sector working for NAB Agribusiness. Peter has been with us at Grain Brokers Australia since November 2017 and is looking forward to dealing with growers across Western Australia.

Senior Broker

Tristan Jones

Senior Grain Broker, Kwinana, Western Australia

Phone: 0499 977 789

Tristan has over 12 years experience in the Agricultural Industry working for the CBH Group, with 5 years in Operations and Logistics, 4 years trading grain in both the domestic and export market and most recently as Assistant Manager of CBH Fertiliser. A strong customer focus and a sound understanding of both the Grain and Fertiliser Industry in Western Australia, Tristan will be bringing his passion to drive the best possible result for our growers now and into the future.

Tristan studied at Curtin University with a Bachelor of Agribusiness and a major in Marketing.

Outside of work you will most likely find Tristan spending time with his wife and two kids down the beach enjoying the WA lifestyle.

Senior Broker

Chad Jefferis

Senior Grain Broker, Albany, Western Australia

Phone: 0448 440 177

Chad joined Grain Brokers in May 2015 with a wealth of experience in the agricultural industry. Chad was born and raised in the Great Southern, from the Dumbleyung Wagin area, where he lived and worked on the family farm. Chad has spent the past 3 years working with Emerald Grain as a grain merchant looking after growers in the Albany & Esperance zones, where he has developed a passion and extensive knowledge of the grain sector.  Away from work, Chad enjoys spending his time raising a young family, and then if the sun is out, fishing and sport are on the list of things to do too.

Associate Grain Broker

Will Gaze

Associate Grain Broker, Western Australia

Phone: 1300 946 544

Will joined the Grain Brokers Australia team in April 2018 as an Associate Grain Broker. He grew up on his mixed crop and livestock family farm in Borden, Western Australia. Will holds a degree  in Agribusiness from Curtin University. Outside work he enjoys boating, camping and fishing. He is motivated to deliver profitability, productivity and sustainability on both sides of the farm gate.

Management Accountant

Steve Brandenburg

Management Accountant

Phone: 1300 946 544

Steve joined the Grain Brokers Australia team in May 2018 as Management Accountant and brings 30 years experience in accounting and commerce. He completed a Bachelor of Business, majoring in Accounting, at Curtin University (formerly W.A.I.T), and spent several years working and operating the mixed family farm in Kukerin and Koorda where he grew up.

Before resuming his career as a Senior Accountant in the gold, mineral sands, and minerals sectors of the mining industry, he spent an extended period in the fertiliser industry with CSBP, followed by a period of time working in the mining services industry. While not at work, Steve spends time with his family, working his garden, watching to footy and cricket, and supporting the local sporting clubs.

Operations Coordinator

Kirsten Ross

Operations Coordinator

Phone: 1300 946 544

Kirsten joined the team at Grain Brokers Australia in November 2013. Kirsten grew up on the family farm at Jerramungup and moved to Perth to complete her secondary education. She has previously worked as a Sampler at CBH for 3 years during the harvesting period. Kirsten comes to us at Grain Brokers Australia with a broad knowledge of all aspects of grain growing, livestock management and office experience which she has gained during previous employment. When not at work, Kirsten enjoys catching up with friends and family and getting to the beach.

Marketing Manager (on parental leave)

Laura Bernhardt

Marketing Manager

Phone: 1300 946 544

Laura has over 10 years experience implementing effective integrated marketing and advertising campaigns for food, retail, construction, property, insurance, luxury consumer goods and banking brands. She has a proven track record in marketing strategy and brand development, in both agency and in-house roles, delivering tactical and lead generating campaigns, across traditional and digital channels. She brings a passion for consumer insights and a drive to solve customer needs through smart marketing solutions. Laura enjoys travelling with her young family and dining on delicious food and wine from all over this great state.

Marketing Manager

Anne-Maree Ferguson

Grain Broker, Albany, Western Australia

Phone: 0439 820 177

Anne-Maree is originally from Naracoorte, South Australia and has a marketing background in business tourism and events.
Prior to joining Grain Brokers Australia she was the founding Chair and Executive Director of Activate Perth.

She is passionate about the innovation in Australia’s grain sector and the importance of our food security.
Outside work, she is interested in current affairs and quality conversation.

Grain Broker

Emma Russell

Phone: 0447 152 754

Emma Russell has overseen numerous cropping trials and complex projects in her previous roles including her most recent position with the Southern Dirt grower group. Her work saw her deliver research and extension to growers in the Great Southern, Wheatbelt and South West regions of Western Australia.

Emma also has a Bachelor of Science majoring in Marine Science and Environmental Science from the University of Western Australia.

Grain Broker

Greg Thornton

Phone: 0447 045 644

Greg Thornton is also well known to growers in the region with more than two decades working with CBH in all facets of the agricultural and bulk handling industries. Most recently he was the long-standing zone manager for the Albany Zone.

Greg’s qualifications and experience include a Diploma in Business and a role as a director of the CBH staff superannuation fund.

Senior Broker

Peter Ainsworth

Senior Grain Broker, Eastern Australia

Phone: 0428 658 273

Starting in the Australian grain industry in 2002, Peter has worked across the grain supply chain in a number of Trading and Marketing functions working for companies that include; AWB, CBH and Marubeni. He has also worked for a number of years in a consulting capacity providing marketing insight and services to companies including Profarmer Australia and Ikon Commodities. Most recently Peter provided brokerage and advisory services to growers in the Southern Tablelands region of NSW. Peter joined Grain Brokers Australia in May 2017 with the goal of bringing the service of the company to Victorian growers.

Associate Broker Grain

Darcy Ingram

Associate Grain Broker

Phone: 0417 637 234

Bio coming soon

Grain Broker (on parental leave)

Alisha Chinner

Grain Broker, South Australia

Phone: 0499 920 219

Alisha originates from a sheep and cereal property at Tailem Bend, SA. After many years in sales, Alisha moved her focus to grain marketing in 2011 where she managed warehoused and ex-farm grain in both the Mallee & Wimmera of Victoria and all of SA. Alisha lives in Lameroo SA with her husband. She enjoys the country lifestyle and relaxed atmosphere that you find when living in a country community. Alisha is passionate about the grain industry and strives to get the very best price for her growers.

Pricing Administration Assistant

Kristina Norcic

Operations Coordinator

Phone: 1300 946 544

Kristina joined our Albury office in November 2017.  She brings to the team numerous years of diverse administrative experience having commenced her career in Sydney during the early 1990s where she also completed her Diploma in Management in 1998.   She has spent the past four years in the legal field as Secretarial Assistant and six years as Account Receivables Clerk with Fairfax Regional Media in Orange, New South Wales.  Kristina is looking forward to expanding the Grain Brokers Australia services to the east coast.

Grain Broker

Adrian Clancy

Adrian Clancy is our Senior Broker, NSW. He has extensive grain marketing knowledge, has worked overseas and successfully run his own brokerage.

His first memory is of herding a mob of sheep in the Southern Riverina and the area will remain his stomping ground with GBA.

“I’m delighted to be part of a winning national team. In particular, I am excited to access better prices and market intelligence for growers.” said Adrian.

Outside work he is a keen cyclist and can be spotted off road on mountain bike trails around the NSW Riverina and beyond.

Phone: 0436 275 736