Cathy McGowan AO
Agrifutures Australia
Chair
Cathy is an experienced company director with an extensive career in business, agricultural research, development, extension, and politics.
As a graduate of the Australian Rural Leadership Program, Ms McGowan committed to the vision of a “prosperous caring rural Australia alive with opportunities for everyone”. She believes AgriFutures Australia is the premier national organisation for delivering on her commitment, particularly helping to build a nation with effective rural policies based on prosperous and caring industries.
Prior to her role at AgriFutures Australia, her career highlights include representing the rural electorate of Indi in Parliament from 2013 to 2019, president of the peak national organisation Australian Women in Agriculture, Chair of national Regional Women’s Advisory Council, and a community representative at the 4th Ministerial meeting of the World Trade Organisation in Doha.
Ms McGowan lives in the Indigo Valley, Dudwroa and Dhargal country, where the community groups play a vital role enhancing sustainability within the Murray– Darling system
BA, Dip Ed, Ma Ag and Rural Development, The Australian Rural Leadership Program – Graduate C 3, Churchill Fellow 1990, Doctor of Letters (honoris causa) Western Sydney University, Officer in the Order of Australia 2004, Vice Chancellor’s Fellow La Trobe University.
