The foundation was established in 2000 with $62 million in investment funds following the deregulation of the dairy industry. The funds are used to benefit the dairy industry and dairy communities.
Andrew Metcalfe joined the board as a director at the annual general meeting in October and will formally assume the chair position at the 2025 annual meeting.
“The Victorian dairy industry has a bright future and the Gardiner Foundation has a very positive role to play in assisting that,” Mr Metcalfe said.
“I believe my background, experience and enthusiasm will contribute to the foundation’s success and the advancement of the Victorian dairy industry.
“I look forward to working closely with the board, CEO, staff, partners and the broader industry to further the foundation’s work.”
Current Gardiner chair, Dr Len Stephens, will retire in October 2025 after five years as chair and six years as an independent director.
Under Gardiner’s constitution, the chair is appointed by its members, which include a farmer representative (United Dairy Farmers of Victoria), a manufacturer representative (Australian Dairy Industry Council) and a processor representative (Australian Dairy Products Federation). The chair is elected as an independent director through unanimous resolution of the members after consultation with the board.
Mr Metcalfe is the national president of the Institute of Public Administration Australia. In 2023, he retired as secretary of the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, and as Australia’s director of biosecurity.
Mr Metcalfe was a Commonwealth departmental secretary for 12 years, heading three departments. He was appointed or reappointed as a secretary by five different prime ministers and directly worked with 15 portfolio ministers.
Mr Metcalfe was born and grew up in Toowoomba, Queensland, and studied at the Toowoomba Grammar School and the University of Queensland. He has also undertaken business administration studies at INSEAD in Fontainebleau, France.
He joined the Australian Public Service as an administrative trainee in 1980 and held numerous senior roles in the immigration and Prime Minister and Cabinet departments and as being the chief of staff to a cabinet minister.
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