Introducing Our Board Members: Celebrating Leadership in the Food, Fibre & Timber Industries
- Feb 18
- 4 min read
Our board members play a vital role in shaping the direction and impact of the Food, Fibre & Timber Industry Training Council. They bring deep industry knowledge, strategic insight, and a genuine commitment to strengthening Western Australia’s workforce across our diverse sectors.
We are highlighting our board members to recognise the expertise and leadership they contribute every day.
Spotlight on Geoff Richards
As Geoff Richards has been with the FFTITC since its inception in 2009, we thought we’d start off with him.
This year marks Richgro Garden Products' 110th anniversary. Richgro’s story began in 1916 in Western Australia, as a family business built during a time when communities relied on local merchants and practical supply. Richgro has been proudly Australian owned and family operated for four generations! So, a big congratulations to Geoff and his team. We look forward to many more years of Richgro bringing our gardens to life.
To read more about Richgro’s 110 year anniversary, please click here.
Highlighting Excellence in Training
WA Training Awards Now Open
We have so many fabulous students doing amazing things with their studies. Employers are committed to upskilling their staff. RTOs and lecturers are inspiring their students and changing lives.
So, we need to see these achievements recognised in this year's WA Training Awards. It's not bragging; it’s recognising excellence!
Awards are NOW OPEN! To find out how to enter (or encourage someone else to do so), please click here.
UWA PLUS Agricultural Technology AENGN400
UWA is offering an Agricultural Technology micro-credential. This program is designed to address the skills shortage across Australian agriculture. It prepares a workforce capable of understanding, developing, adopting, and leveraging emerging agricultural technologies.
Learners will gain a strong foundation in agricultural technology and exposure to agricultural engineering more broadly. This empowers them to pursue and advance careers in the field.
For more information, click here..
Other News and Handy Information
Celebrating Achievements
The Cook Government congratulates Western Australia's valuable grains industry on delivering a 27.352 million-tonne harvest, the largest on record.
Round 9 of the Aboriginal Ranger Program is now open. There’s $62.5 million in funding available to support new and established Aboriginal ranger groups across regional Western Australia. Eligible Aboriginal organisations have until Monday, 9 March to apply.
Supporting Apprenticeships
Employing an apprentice or trainee is a long-term investment. Effective supervision is key to their success. This free training helps you mentor, communicate, and coach effectively. It also helps manage challenges early and create a safe, respectful, and productive workplace.
Award recipients will research a topic to add value to the Australian primary industry sector. They will have 15 weeks of purposeful learning and unique access to our approachable, global agricultural network. Applications close on 8 May 2026.
Addressing Workforce Pressures
The People and Capability Program is a new pilot that will fund practical, industry-led initiatives. These initiatives aim to address workforce pressures in our levied and emerging industries. The program supports solutions that attract, develop, and retain people while building a stronger, more resilient agricultural industry.
Community Engagement
RE:Fashion is launching with 12 weeks of free activation at Yagan Square. This event combines hands-on repair, themed clothes swaps, learning moments, and sewing support. Join us every Thursday from March 12 to May 28.
This award is designed for small to medium residential landscaping businesses. It’s an opportunity to showcase quality projects without competing in large commercial categories. Finalists will be presented at The Perth Garden Show (17–19 April 2026). This offers a high-profile platform to highlight innovation, sustainability, craftsmanship, and professionalism—while showcasing the value of professional association membership.
Final Updates
MINTRAC has advised that the project has now been formally endorsed. All components are live on the National Training Register. Here is a link to the release.
The Ord Valley's first season of local cotton processing in Western Australia's north has come to an end after a record-breaking harvest. More than 81,000 bales were processed at the Kimberley Cotton Gin in its inaugural season.
A new report by the Manufacturing Industry Skills Alliance aims to address practical steps to lift completions and tackle the manufacturing industry’s skills shortages.
Apprenticeships are essential to meeting workforce demand in critical industries. This TAFETalks event explores how strong partnerships between employers and TAFEs boost apprenticeship commencements and completions. It also discusses how these relationships can be strengthened to expand future opportunities. Date: Mar 18, 2026, 11:00 AM.
Did you know that there is an apprenticeship in Arboriculture? It’s a fantastic career with lots of opportunities here in WA. ArbWest has developed a video that will hopefully inspire your students to join the industry.
The Australian Meat Processor Corporation (AMPC) has successfully supported the development of AI-driven fully automated robotic beef scribing systems at two Australian processing facilities. This marks a significant step in adopting advanced automation in the red meat processing industry.
We hope this information has been helpful. If you have any questions or need further assistance, feel free to reach out!
Food, Fibre and Timber Industries Training Council
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