Nuffield International’s vision is to inspire people to make a difference in the world of agriculture.

It is fair to say this great organisation is truly achieving it’s global vision- directly as a result of the many great leaders of Nuffield, like Jim Geltch, who have committed much of their careers to making this happen.

It was a privilege for me to speak this week with a fellow scholar and good friend of my father’s, Jim Geltch about the Nuffield farming scholarship program and the significant impact this unique and very special organisation has had on our industry, both locally and globally. For more information on how to apply for a Nuffield Scholarship, click here

Jim started farming in 1971 in the Murrumbidgee Irrigation Area at Whitton growing rice, row cropping and ultimately into tomato production. This led him to later taking up a leadership position managing the Australian operations for New Zealand’s tomato processing company, Cedenco.

As a long-serving guardian of the Nuffield farming scholarship program, Jim served as CEO Nuffield Australia 2005-2016, Nuffield International CEO 2008-2020, having completed a Nuffield Scholarship tour himself in 1986.

Over that time Nuffield expanded to be a truly international foundation and a greatly expanded global community of scholars.

Jim has since been awarded an Australian Order for Services to Agriculture, and the Rabobank Leadership Award recognising the fundamentally important role he had played developing upcoming leadership in the Australian and New Zealand food, fibre & agribusiness sector.

It is my hope, through this interview, that we advocate for the Nuffield farming scholarship program and that we honour the immense contribution that Jim has had made to this organisation and it’s community of industry leaders.

Thank you Jim for a career advocating for the next generation of leaders in our industry, and for your immense contribution to Nuffield and to Australian Agriculture.

Sincerely,

Jeremy