John is the technical wizard here at Farm Owners Academy. He manages the website, database and digital marketing. John has been a valued team member for over 8 years now and is our go-to person for any tech-related issues.

Cheryl is a founding member of Farm Owners Academy, having started her journey in 2015 at a TOP Producers Workshop. She grew up on a farm, worked as a lecturer in rural studies & now runs a mixed farming business in South Australia. Cheryl has experienced first-hand the positive influence and beneficial impact FOA has on farming families and businesses and is now using her wealth of experience to help our farmers gain more profitability and freedom.

David is a founding member of Farm Owners Academy, having started his journey in 2015 at a TOP Producers Workshop. David owns a farm on Kangaroo Island and is now one of the premier livestock producers in Australia. David is a passionate advocate for the power of a positive mindset, consistent learning & creating a business that follows your passion & values.

Tracy brings 30 years of business experience to her role as Head Coach for Farm Owners Academy. Tracy helps you make the small shifts that allow you to increase your profits while decreasing your time working in the business. Tracy specialises in helping you identify the thing holding you back from your ideal health, purpose and lifestyle.

Sam is an experienced executive with strong leadership and business analysis skills gained through 10 years of consulting in the construction industry. During which, Sam led and managed teams of over 65 people and was responsible for all areas of business leadership and management. Sam now translates these skills to the farm business context.

In addition to his previous corporate experience, Sam has been a key contributor in leading the rapid growth of his own Ag Tech business supporting clients all over Australia.

With his 10 years in corporate consulting coupled with the practical experience of leading a fast-growing start-up business, Sam helps clients focus on what is important in their business and supports them to make the robust decisions that help move them towards their goals.

Sam is passionate about the agricultural sector and is committed to delivering on Farm Owners Academy’s mission to help Australian farmers create more profit, more control, and more freedom in their business.

Hayley commenced her FOA journey in March 2018 when she joined the Platinum Mastermind Program. She has a background in business & finance and runs a mixed farming business in Western Victoria. Hayley has experienced firsthand how transformational the FOA programs are and is passionate about cultivating a positive mindset and strong financial foundations within the farming community.

Over the past 10 years, Sam has developed an extensive, large-scale free-range egg production business in south eastern NSW. The property is managed under sustainable farm management principles with a strong focus on soil, pasture, animal and financial health. Business coaching has been pivotal to their success, as has an active involvement in a mastermind initiative with passionate, like-minded farmers. With 4 young daughters, Sam & his wife now focus on supporting their farm team, whilst prioritising personal, family and community objectives.

With over 8 years of experience providing support to both executives and wider teams, Michaela is an accomplished Administrative professional.

Over her career, Michaela has worked with a diverse range of clients and a broad range of industries, most recently as Executive Assistant to the Deputy Principal of a large private School.
Michaela holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Psychology from Macquarie University, and volunteers her spare time as a Telephone Counsellor with Lifeline Australia.

Alison is a 4th generation livestock producer, and together with her family, she has operated in both seedstock and commercial beef cattle production. Alison, her husband Andrew and their two small children, are based near Wagga Wagga in the NSW Riverina. For the past 12 years, Alison has worked as a consultant to the livestock sector. She is particularly passionate about helping producers improve efficiency in their operation with a strong focus on data and production records. Alison thrives on supporting and working with producers and being part of their growth journey.

Marina started her FOA journey in 2015 as part of the Platinum Mastermind program and continues to be involved with FOA as an Alumni member. She runs a self-replacing merino and dual-purpose flock on Kangaroo Island with her husband Brett and three young kids. They are building a stand-alone farm business to open up their future for new careers while keeping their multigenerational family farm going. To her coaching role, Marina also brings her previous experience as an accountant, banker and farm manager to her Coaching role with FOA.

With his wife Annie and four daughters, Rick has been farming at Karatta, Kangaroo Island, SA, for the past 24 years. The farming system has evolved to becoming a self-replacing maternal ewe flock turning off both store lambs to be grown out elsewhere and replacement ewe lambs with emphasis on weaning percentages, early maturity and do-ability (fat, muscle, worm resistance). Rick has a passion for producing fast-growing, healthy stock from healthy soil with a huge emphasis on lamb survival.

Having gained a Bachelor of Ag Science (Hons.) at Adelaide Uni, Rick spent four years as an agronomist with the Western Australian Department of Agriculture in the mid 90’s and continued practising as a private agronomist on KI for another ten years before getting more serious with the farm, family and fishing. This background has fuelled his passion for soil fertility and plant production.