The Sunshine Coast’s Food & Agribusiness Network (FAN) has appointed Nicole McNaughton as CEO. McNaughton joined FAN in 2018 and has been acting CEO since late 2022.
FAN chair Jacqui Price said, “The FAN Board is delighted to announce the appointment of Nicole as CEO. As acting CEO, she has shown tremendous commitment to the role, delivering additional funding for capability programs, and seeking out innovative ways to promote the incredible work done by FAN.
“Nicole has been an integral part of the FAN team since 2018 and will be instrumental in developing opportunities for our organisation, members and industry.”
As a passionate advocate for the region’s food and agribusiness industry, McNaughton said she was delighted to be offered the role. She said that since joining FAN, the network had secured significant funding, which allowed it to implement plans and programs that enhanced capabilities, created new opportunities, and supported many of its members to scale and grow.
“Securing significant funding this year, to showcase and build capability in food and agribusiness tourism and roll out a new accelerator program, is the start of the next incredible journey for our regions.
“It’s a great example of the work we conduct behind the scenes, with key partners and stakeholders, to be the conduit of connections and opportunities for our members and industry,” McNaughton said.
FAN has more than 370 members and key partners at all levels of government and leading research institutions.
As McNaughton’s announcement was being made, she was talking to Food & Drink Business editor Kim Berry on its live podcast feed from foodpro 2023. They were joined by Ben Gebert, the general manager of Food & Fibre Gippsland.
