Our directors
As the directors of Southern Cotton, we take an active role in the day-to-day management of the cotton gin. Local growers ourselves, we've built a strong reputation as involved and exceptional operators, with a deep understanding of the Southern Valleys cotton community. You'll see we bring different skillsets and experiences to Southern Cotton.
Larry Walsh
Larry Walsh is the general manager of Larry Walsh Pty Ltd, a company he founded in 1982. The company began as a transport business and later diversified into fertilizer sales and distribution - which is now in a partnership with Elders Rural Merchandise.
In partnership, Larry has built the fourth ethanol plant in Australia, has completed the Australian Institute of Company Directors Course and is a director on the Kararbury Channel.
His farming operation began in 2001 with a rice farm in Coleambally. Today, the business grows 1200 hectares of irrigated cotton and 1000 hectares of dry land cereals. Larry employs 10 full-time staff, including three of his children.
Brothers Roger and
Tim Commins
We're directors of Commins Enterprises, a dynamic farming and manufacturing company located near Whitton NSW. Established in 1989, our farming business has adapted with changing technology and market trends. The business services a farming area of 3800 hectares with crops, including cotton, rice, maize, seed sunflowers and winter cereals.
We head up a diversified business, which includes a 350-hectare hardwood eucalyptus plantation, a stainless steel and wine tank manufacturing business, wine storage facility, and hydroponic seedless mandarin plantation (joint business). Commins Enterprises currently employs 30 full-time staff across its business streams.
Scott Hogan
Scott Hogan is the owner of a 2150-hectare irrigation farming business. Scott is a fourth-generation food and fibre producer and built an ethanol plant with Larry Walsh at Coleambally.
With an advanced Certificate in Irrigation and an Advanced Diploma in Agriculture, Scott graduated from an Australian Institute of Company Directors course in 2010. He is the current President at Coleambally Ricegrowers' Association of Australia (RGA) branch, and holds a number of other positions at the RGA central executive, including the water committee.
Our Management
Our management team provides Southern Cotton growers with ongoing support and guidance, delivered with care and responsiveness. We want to help you be a profitable cotton producer this season and the next.
Matt Leonard
Chief Operating Officer
A former management consultant, Matt has worked in the agriculture, construction, mining, manufacturing, and energy sectors over the course of his career. Matt’s experience includes the areas of strategy development, operational excellence, financial management and business improvement, heading projects across Australia, Oceania and North America.
Matt is passionate about helping growers achieve their goals and working with supply chain partners to get great quality Australian cotton to market. Matt is proud to be part of the team that delivers the highest level of ginning services to growers, merchants, and customers.
Kate O'Callaghan
Executive Director
As executive director of Southern Cotton and Whitton Malt House, Kate O'Callaghan has more than 30 years' experience in agribusiness and agricultural research.
Recognised as one of Australia's top 100 Women in Australian Agribusiness in 2014, Kate heads up the liaison and negotiations with growers and cottonseed buyers as well as supporting the COO in the operational management and
production planning of the cotton gin.
She is passionate about locals and visitors understanding the quality, sustainability
and excellence of agriculture in the region, and leads the agritourism strategy for both
Southern Cotton and Whitton Malt House. Responsible for stakeholder engagement
across the company groups, Kate speaks in many forums on behalf of the
businesses.
Joshua Seaton
Gin Manager
With over 30 years' experience in cotton ginning, working previously as the night shift gin manager, Joshua leads the ginning team providing engineering and cotton ginning solutions, maintenance expertise, troubleshooting and capital upgrades, while working diligently towards annual improved efficiencies.
Ben Bagust
Warehouse & Logistics Manager
Ben liaises with national and international rail and export companies to facilitate a fast and economical path from gin to port. As Southern Cotton's data analyst, he also manages challenging data from a constantly-evolving industry to improve the gin's efficiencies. Growing up in England, he graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science. Now, he works closely with our custom-made software program to capture our grower's accurate data.
Chris Thompson
Farm Manager
Melissa Dufty
HR & WHS Manager
Joining the Southern Cotton team in 2018, Melissa oversees the work health and safety requirements of the site, together with human resources for both Southern Cotton and Whitton Malt House. Her areas of expertise include logistics, customer service and people management.
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