meet our board
The Honourable John Anderson
AC ftse
Deputy Prime Minister of Australia (1999–2005)
Chairman of the Board
John was Deputy Prime Minister of Australia from 1999 to 2005. He has recently been published on topics such as civic freedoms, global food security, modern slavery and the economy. He currently farms on the family property whilst also being active in his podcast series and website johnanderson.net.au, various directorships, public speaking and in the not-for-profit sector.
Martin Svikis
Director
Martin Svikis has been a director of the Page Research Centre since 2015. He is currently Managing Director of Graceburn Pty Ltd, a consultancy in transport and logistics. He has had an extensive career in logistics in Australia, Europe and Asia, holding senior executive positions with major Australian transport companies including Linfox and Toll. Martin has been an active participant in transport policy development, including as an inaugural member of the Australian Logistics Council and Director of the Australian Railway Association. He holds tertiary qualifications in Agricultural Economics from the University of New England.
Christine Ferguson AM
Director
Christine has lived in regional Australia all her life. Her long history in the agricultural sector includes working as a partner in the family business that focuses on prime lambs, wool, cattle and farm tourism.
She understands the challenges confronting rural communities and continues to work with them. In 1990-1994, she was elected as a Councillor to the Gundagai Shire Council, and she has served on numerous committees within the Riverina, including Tourism, Murrumbidgee Catchment Committee and Regional Library.
Over decades of working with the National Party, Christine has served in positions such as Chairman of the Sir Earle Page Trust, Federal President, President of the Federal Women’s Council, New South Wales Chair, Member of NSW Executive and the Federal Management Committee, and a Trustee of the Party. She represented the NSW National Party at the Women’s World Conference in Madrid in 2000 and was instrumental in forming the NSW Women’s Council, established to encourage women to participate in the political process.
Christine holds a Bachelor of Arts in Politics from the University of New England, a General Nursing Certificate (Alfred Hospital Melbourne) and Midwifery Certificate (Simpsons Maternity Pavilion, Edinburgh).
Dr Theresa Craig
Director
Dr Theresa Craig (PhD) has worked in the agriculture industry her entire career in roles ranging from business woman to scientist. Her experience has also allowed her to work with complementary industries in both the food industry and medicine.
Theresa has a PhD from University of Missouri, in nutrition across all species with a minor in business and a BSc from Texas A & M University in Animal Science. Theresa grew up on a ranch / feedlot operation near Crossfield Alberta, Canada.
Theresa owns and operates her Australian based research and consulting firm, TARA – Technical Assistance and Research Analysis Pty Ltd. Along with her husband, they own and manage a small Charolais stud in South East Queensland.
Theresa is currently the vice chair of the Queensland school animal ethics committee. She is the LNP regional chair for the Sunshine Coast and the President of the Women’s’ Federal council of The Nationals. She also served 3 years as the LNP women president. She is past President of the Agribusiness Association of Australia, a national professional body crossing all sectors of the agribusiness sector.
Andrew Black
Director
Andrew is a solicitor and lives at Ballarat in Western Victoria, where his family has farmed since 1839. Andrew graduated with a Bachelor of Arts (Hons) from the University of Melbourne, for which he was awarded the University Medal, and Master of Laws (Juris Doctor) from Monash University.
Andrew completed his doctoral thesis in 2020 at the University of Melbourne on the history of the Country/National Party in Victoria.
Andrew has formerly served as Junior Vice President and Senior Vice President of the Nationals – Victoria, State President of the Victorian Young Nationals, and is the current Chair of the Victorian Rules Revision Committee.
PAUL WELLER
Director
Paul is a dairy farmer from Lockington in Northern Victoria, formerly serving as President of the Victorian Farmers Federation.
In 2006 he was elected as the Member for Rodney in the Victorian Parliament. As the Chair of the Rural and Regional Committee of the Victorian Parliament he worked to develop policies for better communication connections in rural and regional Victoria.
Simon Schudmak
Director
Simon lives in Sydney and has worked in the finance industry for more than two decades. He has held a variety of senior roles in global Funds Management, Investment Banking and Corporate Advisory firms, both in Australia and overseas. Simon holds a B.Comm from the University of Melbourne, a PGDip in Applied Finance and Investment from the Securities Institute of Australia and has completed an executive program at the University of Oxford Business School. He sits on several boards and is a Fellow of the Financial Services Institute of Australia (FINSIA). Simon has a strong affinity with rural and regional Australia, stemming from his Jackarooing days on Northern Territory cattle stations in the 1990s.