The Australian Food and Grocery Council (AFGC) board has appointed its head of sustainability and trade, Tanya Barden, as its new Chief Executive Officer.
Barden, who will commence the role on 3 July, replaces Gary Dawson, who held the role from July 2012 but quietly departed earlier this year, with Dr Geoffrey Annison stepping in as acting CEO.
“Tanya brings tremendous experience and proven success at senior executive levels in both the public and private sectors, with a career spanning the public service and business,” chairman of the AFGC, Terry O’Brien said.
“Importantly, she also has experience with the $126 billion food and grocery sector, having worked as AFGC director of Economics, Trade and Sustainability.
“Tanya has been at the forefront of AFGC’s advocacy on key areas of reform, particularly flagging to governments the need to commit to strong energy market reform to reduce the cost pressures caused by the spike in energy costs. She has also led the sector’s trade agenda having driven an ongoing focus to improve market access through the reduction of non-tariff barriers."
O'Brien also noted Barden's background in competition, energy and economics policy and regulation having worked in various roles at the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission as well as energy retailer ActewAGL, and she also ran her own on-line food retail business.
