Humans of Agriculture

This is a special Humans of Agriculture “radio-style” episode recorded at CommBank’s Cultivate event in the Hunter Valley — bringing together voices from across the agricultural supply chain.
Across four mini-conversations, we unpack the key forces shaping modern agriculture:
 Innovation and ag tech adoption 
 Succession and family business transition 
 Financial strategy and risk 
 Market dynamics and global demand 
This episode captures the energy of the room — where farmers, advisors, innovators, and financiers are all working toward a stronger, more resilient industry.
👥 Featured Guests
Roddy Brown (CommBank) — Why Cultivate exists and the importance of next-generation farmers 
Bill Mitchell (Optiweigh) — Turning a farm frustration into a global ag tech business 
Glenn Calder (Viridian Financial Group) — Practical realities of succession, structure, and long-term planning 
Tash Greenwood (CommBank) — Supply chain insights and why there’s still strong optimism in agriculture 
🔑 Key Themes
 Why bringing the right people together matters more than ever 
 The shift from intuition to data-driven decision-making 
 The reality of ag tech adoption — and why effort still matters 
 Succession as the most important (and often avoided) conversation in farming 
 Structuring farm businesses for long-term success and risk management 
 The role of global markets and why demand for Australian agriculture remains strong 
 The growing importance of communication, leadership, and people
Chapters:
00:00 Introduction and context from CommBank Cultivate
02:10 Roddy Brown on why Cultivate exists and next generation focus
07:20 Innovation in agriculture and the role of technology
08:10 Bill Mitchell on building Optiweigh from a farm problem
12:30 Lessons in ag tech adoption and customer-driven insights
16:30 Why succession remains agriculture’s biggest challenge
17:40 Glenn Calder on structuring farm businesses and managing risk
20:40 Practical steps to start succession and investment conversations
23:00 Empowering teams and building scalable businesses
25:50 Tash Greenwood on supply chains and market confidence
28:00 Global demand, volatility, and optimism in agriculture
30:40 Reflections on community, collaboration, and the future of ag
32:30 Final takeaways from CommBank Cultivate

What if agriculture’s biggest opportunity isn’t on farm, but in the classroom?

In this episode of Humans of Agriculture, Oli sits down with Scott Graham, Head of Agriculture at Barker College in Sydney. From a a student base that’s almost entirely from the city, Scott has built the largest Year 12 agriculture cohort in Australia, completely reshaping how young people see the industry.

Scott isn't focused on just one school, he is also completing a PhD focused on engaging metropolitan students in agriculture, and what he’s learned challenges how the entire industry thinks about talent, careers and perception.

This conversation dives into what’s holding agriculture back from attracting the next generation and what needs to change if we’re serious about building the workforce of the future.

Key insights from the conversation
Why agriculture needs to move beyond farming stereotypes to attract urban talent
How Barker turned agriculture into one of the most in-demand courses in the school
The missed opportunity: 70% of ag careers exist off-farm, yet most students never see them
Why “plate to paddock” is a more powerful way to teach agriculture than traditional approaches
What Scott’s PhD through Charles Sturt Uni reveals about the biggest barrier to students choosing ag
How parent perceptions can make or break subject selection
The rise of agribusiness, agtech and city-based careers among students
Why even small increases in student numbers can have a huge impact on the future workforce

Chapters:
00:00 Introduction and why this conversation matters
02:17 Scott’s journey and influence as an educator
04:15 Reimagining agriculture for urban students
08:39 Purpose, passion and careers in agriculture
10:54 Transforming Barker’s agriculture program
13:54 Changing perceptions and building credibility
17:56 The role of industry in showcasing careers
21:28 Off-farm opportunities and the future workforce
24:44 What today’s students are interested in
27:44 The rise of agribusiness and agtech pathways
32:29 Scott’s PhD and understanding student engagement
36:31 Barriers to scaling agriculture in urban schools
39:30 Rethinking how agriculture is introduced to students
42:17 “Plate to paddock” and making ag relatable
46:55 Key findings from Scott’s research
50:29 Why narrative matters for the future of ag
52:34 What keeps Scott motivated

In this episode of Humans of Agriculture, we sit down with Jack Ternouth, Head of Commercial Operations at Zentera (formerly New Zealand Merino Company), for a conversation that captures what’s possible when curiosity, grit, and opportunity collide in agriculture.

Jack didn’t grow up on a farm, but through sheer determination and a willingness to learn, he’s built a career from the ground up in one of the most complex and globally connected parts of the ag industry. From classing wool and working alongside growers to now leading commercial conversations with global brands, his journey is a powerful example of what’s possible in ag today.

On this episode, we explore what it takes to build a career in agriculture without a traditional background, the critical role of mentorship, and why value creation - not scale - is the future for countries like Australia and New Zealand. Jack also shares how Zentera is helping create more certainty for growers in a volatile market through traceability, long-term contracts, and global brand partnerships.

This episode is about ambition, learning on the go, and the next generation shaping agriculture’s future.

Key insights from the conversation:
Jack Ternouth’s journey from outsider to commercial leader in the wool industry
Why curiosity, hunger, and alignment matter more than background
The power of mentorship in accelerating a career in agriculture
How Zentera is creating stability for growers in volatile markets
Why storytelling still matters in a data-driven world
The shift from commodity to value-added agriculture
The importance of traceability, certification, and global consumer trust
Opportunities for young people to build careers in ag without farming roots

Chapters:
00:00 Intro & Why This Conversation Matters
01:48 Jack’s Background: From Zimbabwe to New Zealand
04:10 Starting at NZ Merino & Learning the Wool Industry
06:30 Moving Into Commercial & Global Brand Relationships
08:05 Advice for Young People Entering Agriculture
09:40 Learning the Industry Without a Farming Background
11:30 Storytelling vs Data in Modern Agriculture
12:45 Zentera’s Growth & Global Strategy
14:40 Certifications, Traceability & Market Access
16:20 Supporting Growers & Moving Away from Mulesing
18:10 Volatility, Contracts & Creating Certainty
20:15 The Future of Wool & Global Demand
22:10 Long-Term Vision for the Industry
24:10 Opportunities for the Next Generation in Ag
25:45 Wrap Up

(Image: Supplied)
In this episode of Humans of Agriculture, Oli and Mick Corcoran sit down with Angus Street, CEO of Zentera (formerly New Zealand Merino), for a full-circle conversation on leadership, legacy, and the future of wool.

From growing up on a farm in northern NSW to navigating job loss during the GFC, launching startups in China, and leading major ag businesses, Angus shares an honest reflection on a career shaped by curiosity, risk, and relationships.
Now at the helm of Zentera, Angus unpacks the company’s evolution from a grower-led wool collective into a global, purpose-driven brand focused on traceability, sustainability, and premium markets. He explains why the wool industry must fight for relevance in a synthetic-dominated world, and how consumer trends in Europe, China, and the US are creating new opportunities.
The conversation dives deep into leadership, what it takes to step into an existing culture as CEO, why “discovery before diagnosis” matters, and the importance of putting people at the centre of transformation.
This episode is equal parts strategy, storytelling, and self-reflection - grounded in agriculture but globally relevant.
Key insights from the conversation
Angus Street’s journey from journalism to global ag leadership
Lessons from failure and starting businesses in China
The evolution of New Zealand Merino into Zentera
What “whakapapa” means in a business context
How wool is competing in a synthetic-dominated market
Leadership lessons: curiosity, culture, and managing change
Why the future of wool depends on collaboration and storytelling
Chapters:
00:00 Intro & Why This Conversation Matters
02:10 Meet Angus Street
03:50 Early Career, China & AuctionsPlus Journey
08:00 From NZ Merino to Zenterra: The Rebrand
11:30 What Zenterra Does & Global Brand Partnerships
14:40 Moving to NZ & Leading an Existing Team
18:05 First 90 Days as CEO: Curiosity Over Action
21:00 Culture, Change & Leadership Lessons
26:40 Global Wool Demand & Market Trends
30:45 Premiums, Growers & Industry Challenges
33:40 The Future of Wool: Niche or Opportunity?
35:20 Dream Job, Family & Life on the Land
38:40 Wrap Up

What happens when you put nature first in a cattle business?
In this episode of Humans of Agriculture, Oli sits down with Carly Baker-Burnham from Bonnie Doone Beef in Queensland’s North Burnett. Together with her husband Grant, Carly has helped reshape their grazing operation by focusing on landscape health, intensive rotational grazing and long-term stewardship.
That shift eventually led them to take part in one of Australia’s early soil carbon projects, resulting in one of the country’s largest issuances of Australian Carbon Credit Units (ACCUs). But beyond the headlines, Carly shares what actually matters: improving soil, increasing biodiversity and building a business that works with nature.
This conversation explores the realities behind soil carbon, the importance of measurement and scientific rigor, and why observation of the land remains one of a farmer’s most powerful tools.
Key insights from the conversation
Why shifting to a nature-first approach transformed productivity and nearly tripled production on the same land base
The practical changes behind their grazing system: more paddocks, rest for pastures and better data
Inside one of Australia’s early soil carbon projects, including the measurement, audits and long timelines involved
Why Carly welcomes scepticism around carbon claims and the importance of science-backed results
The role farmers can play in removing carbon from the atmosphere through healthy soils
Why observation and connection to the land remain critical for better decision making

Chapters:
00:00 Introduction and life at Bonnie Doone
 03:58 Family history and finding their path in agriculture
 08:19 Succession, family business and hard decisions
 13:22 Moving from reactive farming to strategic business thinking
 16:13 Practical grazing changes and adopting a nature-first approach
 21:26 Inside Bonnie Doone’s soil carbon project
 29:02 Carbon claims, scepticism, and scientific rigour
 33:08 Involving the next generation in environmental stewardship
 35:05 Where farmers can start with soil carbon thinking
 37:57 What Carly is most proud of today