Su McCluskey

Interim Chief Executive, National Farmers' Federation

Su McCluskey was Australia’s inaugural Special Representative for Australian Agriculture from November 2021 to June 2025. In this role, Su was a strong and passionate advocate for Australian agriculture, sustainability, global food security and trade and market access.

Su is Chair of the Crawford Fund for Food Security, Director of LiveCorp and the Australasian Pork Research Institute, a member of the CSIRO Food and Agriculture Advisory Group and a CPA and ATSE Fellow. She is also a beef cattle farmer at Yass NSW.

She was a Director of Australian Unity, Commissioner for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR), and held positions as a Commissioner on the National COVID-19 Advisory Board, a member of the Charities Review, CEO of the Regional Australia Institute and the Council of Rural Research and Development Corporations and the Executive Director of the Office of Best Practice Regulation. She has also held senior positions with the Business Council of Australia, the National Farmers’ Federation and the Australian Taxation Office. Su was named the Westpac/Australian Financial Review Regional Women of Influence in 2013 and the Women in Agribusiness in 2014 for outstanding contribution to policy development.

All Sessions by Su McCluskey

  • Wednesday

    24 September 2025

  • 9:50am
    In 2020, Australian agriculture set a bold challenge of reaching $100 billion in farm-gate output by 2030. What started as a rallying cry has since become a well-recognised benchmark for the sector. Now, in 2025, we’re not just edging toward that target, we’re on track to exceed it well before the deadline. This panel brings together leaders from across industry to ask the hard questions. How did we get here? What tailwinds have carried us forward, and what headwinds could stall our momentum? Most importantly, what does it mean for agriculture once the $100 billion line is crossed? On this panel, we will hear from farmer and Head of Livestock Transformation at Thomas Foods International, Samantha Neumann, LAWD Senior Director, Jaclyn Hope, and NFF Interim Chief Executive, Su McCluskey. In the wider economic context, where productivity and economic contribution are part of the contemporary national debate, this panel will explore the role agriculture can play in shaping Australia’s broader economic future.

  • 3:30pm
    Sustainability gets talked about a lot in agriculture, but what does it actually mean at the farm gate? For most farmers, the real test is whether sustainable production systems can also deliver profitability. This panel will dig into whether the current signals and markets – natural capital, carbon and beyond – are giving farmers a fair return, or if the value is being captured elsewhere in the supply chain. The conversation will ask whether we’re making genuine headway in linking sustainability with farm profitability, and what needs to change to get there.

  • Thursday

    25 September 2025

  • 10:45am - 11:15am
    Succession planning is one of the most important yet often overlooked conversations in family farming businesses. In this session, Brendan Taylor from Tuckerang Farming, and Hamish McIntyre from McIntyre Agriculture, will share their personal experiences navigating the challenges and opportunities of getting the reins of the family farm as well as handing them over. From business structures and governance to the emotional toll these discussions can take, they will offer practical insights to help families prepare for the road ahead. The session will explore why succession planning conversations don’t always happen when they should and how approaching them early and openly can set the business up for long-term success.



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Su McCluskey