31 October 2003
Visy Industries chairman Richard Pratt AC has been named the 2003 Rabobank Agribusiness Leader of the Year, in recognition of his 35-year contribution to the development of the Australian agribusiness sector.
Mr Pratt, the chairman of global recycling and packaging group Visy Industries since 1969, was presented with his award at the 8th annual Rabobank Agribusiness Awards for Excellence ceremony in Melbourne this evening.
Presenting the award, Rabobank CEO Bruce Dick said Mr Pratt had not only displayed outstanding vision and leadership in developing Visy Industries into a major international business, but had been a driving force in promoting the wider interests of the Australian agribusiness sector.
"Richard Pratt's achievements in the agribusiness industry have been exceptional," Mr Dick said.
"Quite apart from the amazing growth he has overseen in Visy over the past 35 years, Richard has been a true champion of the entire agribusiness sector.
"He has taken a leading and very active role in a wide range of initiatives which have benefited the industry, including developing increased export and value-added production opportunities for Australian agribusiness.
"Most importantly though, he has never been afraid to stand up for what he believes in and lead the public debate on the issues confronting the industry and the wider community. In particular, in recent years he has worked tirelessly and passionately in leading the national debate on Australia's water crisis."
The 2003 Rabobank Agribusiness Leader of the Year was one of eight awards announced at tonight's ceremony.
The awards - which are run in conjunction with Monash University - recognise excellence, innovation and leadership within the nation's agribusiness industry. They are recognised as key indicators of excellence in the agribusiness community.
Other award winners were:
Australian Quarantine Inspection Service (AQIS) Export Award - Casella Estate.
The winemaker - whose label Yellow Tail was the most successful Australian wine brand launched on the international market - has achieved export growth of 270 per cent in the past financial year.
Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation (RIRDC) Agribusiness Value Adding Award - Robins Foods.
Under its Outback Spirit brand, Robins Foods has pioneered the entry of native Australian food ingredients and flavours into mainstream supermarkets and hospitality and service markets.
Australian Institute of Agricultural Science and Technology (AIAST) Technology and Innovation Award - AusBulk Limited.
AusBulk's development of the AusRailLoader, the world's first mobile self-contained grain-loading unit, has reduced installation costs for traditional over-rail bins from $3 million to $100,000 and reduced train loading times from 12 to three hours.
Australian Greenhouse Office Environmental and Energy Management Award - Bakers Delight.
Bakers Delight's showcase energy efficient bakery in Sydney has achieved a 32 per cent saving in annual energy costs and a 48 per cent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions.
Australian Farm Journal Rural Enterprise Award - Netco Cooperative.
An umbrella body providing advice and support to leading Australian agricultural cooperatives, Netco has been recognised for its efforts in supporting its member cooperatives in the agribusiness industry.
National Food Industry Strategy Limited Supply Chain Management Award - Nebru.
In 10 years, Nebru has developed from a small-scale cattle feedlot into an international beef supply chain, with a growing market share throughout Asia.
Ernst & Young Risk Management Award - DIRT Management.
The operator of some of Australia's largest rain-fed cropping farms, DIRT Management has been recognised for its efforts to maximise the capture and storage of incident rainfall in the soil and its efficient conversion into a harvestable product.
Monash University food & agribusiness programs director Dr Lawrie Dooley said the calibre of finalists for this year's awards had been extraordinarily high.
"This reflects the resilience and innovation we are seeing within the sector and also the increasing importance of integrated agribusiness value chains of input suppliers, producers, processors, retailers and exporters to our economy" he said.
Members of this year's judging panel for the awards were: Rabobank's Bruce Dick, Monash University's Dr Lawrie Dooley, Spencer Stuart partner Michael Wheatley, Standard & Poor's director Brenda Wardlaw, Piper Alderman Lawyers partner Doug Robertson, Ernst & Young partner John Davies, AQIS Market Maintenance Group's Slava Zeman, NFIS general manager Andrew Combe, RIRDC managing director Dr Simon Hearn, Australian Greenhouse Office manager Dr David Ugalde, Stock and Land editor John Carson and AIAST executive director Allan Jones.
Rabobank Australia is a part of the international Rabobank Group, the world's leading specialist in food and agribusiness banking. Rabobank has more than 100 years' experience providing customised banking and finance solutions to businesses involved in all aspects of food and agribusiness. Rabobank has a AAA credit rating and, in recent years, has twice been awarded the title of the world's safest bank by Global Finance magazine. Rabobank operates in 35 countries, servicing the needs of more than nine million clients worldwide through a network of more than 1900 offices and branches. Rabobank Australia is one of Australia's leading rural lenders and a significant provider of business and corporate banking and financial services to the Australian food and agribusiness sector. The bank has 39 branches throughout Australia.
Contact
For further information please contact Denise Shaw, Public Relations Manager (Tel: +61 2 8233 8744) or email on sydney.mediarelations@rabobank.com.