Meet the Team

Tim joined the AgCAREERSTART team in June 2025 as Project Manager, bringing with him a strong background in agriculture and education.

Raised on a dairy and beef operation in South-East Queensland, Tim’s passion for agriculture began early and has shaped his entire career. He has hands-on experience working across dairy, beef, and fodder production enterprises, and has held key roles in agricultural training and program management. As the former Training Coordinator for Agriculture and Land Management at the University of Queensland, Tim played a vital role in developing future-focused training pathways. More recently, he served as Project Manager for Graduate Programs at the Queensland Farmers’ Federation, where he championed career development opportunities for emerging professionals in the sector.

Tim is deeply passionate about inspiring and supporting the next generation of agricultural leaders. He believes in creating meaningful pathways for young people to enter and thrive in the industry, whether they come from farming backgrounds or are discovering agriculture for the first time. Through his work with AgCAREERSTART, Tim is committed to helping young Australians access real-world experiences, build skills, and develop lasting connections that open doors to rewarding careers in agriculture for the future.

Connect with Tim on LinkedIn.

Claire joined the team in 2025 after completing a dual degree in Agricultural Science and Agribusiness at the University of Queensland. Growing up on a farm in Far North Queensland, she has had exposure to bananas, sugar cane and cattle. Here, Claire developed a deep understanding of the challenges and opportunities within the agricultural sector. Passionate about creating a robust and sustainable industry, she is dedicated to helping young people find fulfilling paths within the field. As the Program Coordinator for AgCAREERSTART, Claire develops strong relationships with a range of key stakeholders and ensures a smooth year on-farm for participants and producers.

New to the AgCareerStart Team in 2026, Rod’s role is to assist the program participants with their training and industry learning needs and opportunities.

His early career in the cotton industry and hands-on roles as an assistant agronomist and management of a large mixed farming enterprise, provided a deep understanding of agricultural production systems.

Rod is a highly credentialed professional with a diverse career spanning over 16 years in the vocational education and training (VET) sector, underpinned by a lifetime of hands-on experience in Australian primary industries. Known for his “boots-on-the-ground” knowledge and commercial acumen during his tenure at Queensland Agricultural Training Colleges (QATC), Rod has built a reputation as a dependable collaborator and a visionary leader in agricultural education.

Rod’s career is defined by his ability to translate complex industry needs into practical learning outcomes. In his last role as Industry Skills Advisor, serving the Queensland Farmers Federation, he provided critical intelligence to the Queensland Department of Employment, Small Business & Training (DESBT) on training funding and industry gaps across agriculture, animal care, aquaculture, and forestry.

Rod is deeply committed to giving back to community. He has held significant volunteer leadership positions, including being the First Officer of the Cabarlah Rural Fire Brigade with over 30 years of service to rural fire fighting.

With dual Diplomas in VET and Training Design, a Graduate Certificate in Sustainable Agriculture, Rod blends high-level strategic thinking with practical technical skills. Whether he is mentoring colleagues, facilitating reference groups, or responding to local emergencies, Rod remains a consistent force for progress in the Australian agricultural education landscape