A SENIOR agriculture figure has been appointed to a short-term trade role promoting Australian goods internationally.
Su McCluskey has been appointed by the National Farmers’ Federation (NFF) as its Australian Agriculture Trade Diversification Representative.
A policy specialist and company director with a long career spanning government, industry and rural advocacy Ms McCluskey is best known for serving as Australia’s inaugural Special Representative for Australian Agriculture (2021–2025), a role created to strengthen Australia’s presence in global food and agriculture policy forums.
Funded by the federal government’s Accessing New Markets Initiative, Ms McCluskey will spend 12-months promoting agrifood trade opportunities in new and existing markets.
NFF CEO Mike Guerin said Ms McCluskey “brings extensive international experience, a strong understanding of the NFF, deep credibility and invaluable networks".
"Given this is a short-term project, the selection panel put great weight in selecting someone who could hit the ground running,” Mr Guerin said.
“I’m confident Su will bring an experienced and steady hand to the critical role of advancing Australia’s trade diversification goals and strengthening engagement in priority markets.
“She’ll provide a ‘whole-of-sector’ voice in global engagements, share strategic advice to the Trade Diversification Network members, and communicate trade mission intelligence and government feedback.”
The NFF established a three-person selection panel to advise on the appointment for the role, comprising senior representatives from the Australian Trade and Investment Commission (Austrade), the Council of Rural Research and Development Corporations and the NFF board.
In accepting the role Ms McCluskey said the global trading environment was facing increasing pressures and volatility, and it was important to work hard to support Australian producers to diversify into new export markets and capitalise on growth opportunities in established markets.
“By value, Australian agriculture exports nearly 80% of the food and fibre it produces. The NFF has a clear role to play promoting the importance of trade, complementing the work of individual industries, rural research and development corporations and government," she said.
Ms Mcluskey begins as Australian Agriculture Trade Diversification Representative on July 1, 2026, concluding 30 June 2027.