Elke Cleverdon, Non- Executive Director and Chair of Audit and Risk Committee, is an accomplished non-executive director and committee chair with extensive experience in finance, audit and risk management across a number of sectors including agriculture (horticulture), banking and health. Over 25 years of governance and executive leadership, including significant roles as Chair and Member of Audit & Risk Committees across regional, state, and national organisations. Demonstrated strategic oversight, regulatory compliance, and investment governance, particularly within agriculture (beef, grains), public R&D corporations, and the broader agri-food system. She brings a strong understanding of RDC funding models, co-investment frameworks, and national levy-payer accountability, including direct governance experience with Hort Innovation and Cattle Australia.

Lawrence Stapleton, Non-Executive Director who has a finance, agribusiness, and fund management background. Lawrence has over 30 years’ experience in finance and funds management having worked with Macquarie Bank, Colonial First State and PwC. Lawrence has developed several ASX listed investment trusts covering both Australian and international assets. He founded Macquarie’s LeisureWide listed property trust. More recently, Lawrence has been involved in developing Itrust Investment Fund, an investment platform working alongside parents and carers committed to securing their children’s financial futures. Lawrence has experience working in the PNG coffee industry managing coffee plantations, coffee buying, coffee processing and coffee exports.

Ruth Medd, Industry Expert has been Chair of Charley’s for five years and has extensive knowledge of the operations of that business where she has responsibility for strategy development and governance. She will oversee the delivery of services from Charley’s to the Group. Ruth has in depth knowledge of the cocoa and chocolate industry. She is also the founder of Women on Boards.

Yan Diczbalis, based in tropical north Queensland, was formerly the Principal Horticulturist – Tropical Fruit for the Queensland Department of Primary Industries.  He managed cocoa research trials from 1999 to 2023. Yan was the lead author for the Agrifutures Australia funded project “Producing Cocoa in Northern Australia”.  He also has extensive knowledge of cocoa production in the Pacific as the project lead for the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research funded project “Aligning genetic resources, production and post-harvest systems to market opportunities for Pacific Island and Australian cocoa. He is acknowledged as a specialist on cocoa growing in Australia and has agreed to provide independent technical and agronomic guidance on cocoa clonal selection, propagation, nursery and field management and pest/disease control where required by the operational management group.

Anne Pleash, Public Relations Consultant is an experienced Cairns based consultant who works in strategy development, stakeholder engagement (including government relations), and governance solutions. Anne was formally chief of staff for The Right Honourable Bob Katter and is extremely well connected in political circles. She is also currently a director of Charley’s. Anne will assist the Group in dealing with various government agencies. She is chair of CACOA, the cocoa industry body.