February 02, 2015
Specialist agricultural lender Rabobank is proud to announce the return of one of its key management team members, Justin Harrison, who has recently been appointed to the role of regional manager Major Agri Clients for QLD & NT and manager Special Projects.
After a very successful three-and-a-half years working in the Executive team for Rabo Agri Finance (RAF) in the United States – Rabobank’s equivalent rural lending business in North America – Mr Harrison has returned to share his skills and knowledge with the Australian business.
Rabobank state manager for QLD/NT Brad James said he, along with Rabobank’s management team, colleagues and clients, welcomed Mr Harrison back to Australian soil.
“We are pleased to have Justin back in Australia – he will be a great asset to our business here,” Mr James said.
“The skills and experience that Justin has developed in the United States with Rabo Agri Finance has given us the unique opportunity to bring some of the insights from our North American business into our local and existing initiatives here.”
During Mr Harrison’s tenure in RAF, the business expanded from 20 to 57 offices. He helped establish a very successful marketing division to compliment the business and was aided by Rabobank QLD/NT marketing manager Gen McAulay and the bank’s Australia & New Zealand-based Food and Agribusiness Research and Advisory team to help enhance the profile of Rabo Agri Finance (RAF) in key US markets.
Mr Harrison said he thoroughly enjoyed his experience with RAF.
“The time spent in the United States has been most interesting – I have learnt a great deal about the functioning of the North American agricultural industry which is a powerhouse and a major producer of food and fibre to the world,” he said.
“Since 2011, I have helped grow the Rabo Agri Finance footprint across North America, developing the business and introducing producers to the global footprint of Rabobank.
“I am now looking forward to the next chapter back here in Australia sharing knowledge and insight from the North American agri industry with Australian producers.
Mr Harrison has a long-standing connection to the agricultural industry. He started out as a technician at the University of QLD Gatton Campus, then on to become a lecturer at the Australian College of Tropical Agriculture at Ayr in North Queensland. Mr Harrison transitioned into banking in 1989 where he was based in locations around Australia including Charleville, Rockhampton, Toowoomba and Melbourne.
Mr Harrison joined Rabobank in 2003, initially located in Melbourne before opening Rabobank’s Darling Downs premises in Dalby, which led him to become a regional manager for Rabobank’s Southern Queensland enterprises. This developed into the role of QLD/NT state manager, a position Mr Harrison had for a period of four years before heading to North America.
Mr Harrison will based in Brisbane in the interim until returning to his permanent posting in Rabobank’s Toowoomba office.
Rabobank Australia & New Zealand is a part of the international Rabobank Group, the world's leading specialist in food and agribusiness banking. Rabobank has more than 115 years' experience providing customised banking and finance solutions to businesses involved in all aspects of food and agribusiness. Rabobank is structured as a cooperative and operates in 41 countries, servicing the needs of approximately 10 million clients worldwide through a network of more than 1600 offices and branches. Rabobank Australia & New Zealand is one of Australasia's leading rural lenders and a significant provider of business and corporate banking and financial services to the region's food and agribusiness sector. The bank has 94 branches throughout Australia and New Zealand.
Media contacts:
Denise Shaw
Media Relations
Rabobank Australia & New Zealand
Phone: 02 8115 2744 or 0439 603 525
Email:
denise.shaw@rabobank.com
Jess Webb
Media Relations
Rabobank Australia & New Zealand
Phone: 07 3115 1832 or 0418 216 103
Email:
jess.webb@rabobank.com