Mr Sheridan has an extensive background in agriculture with a career spanning 30 years in both corporate and non-for-profit agricultural management positions.
He is a former VFF chief executive officer and a current director of Rural Financial Counselling Service Victoria West.
Growing up on a mixed cropping, livestock and irrigation property, Mr Sheridan’s love for all things dairy and agriculture was fostered from a young age.
“Stephen has breadth and depth of corporate and NFP experience, as well as expertise and vision that align with where our board wants to see ADF in the future,” ADF president Rick Gladigau said.
ADF is the recognised national policy and advocacy organisation working to improve profitability and sustainability of dairy farming in Australia.
Mr Sheridan said he looked forward to working with the ADF board and team, farmers, members and the broader industry.
“Australia is fortunate to have such a fantastic, clean, green, healthy and abundant supply of essential dairy foods,” Mr Sheridan said.
“The outlook for the dairy industry appears positive both domestically and internationally.
“This said, I am eager to better understand and meet the challenges faced by the sector, including the immediate impact of current flooding in eastern states, biosecurity risks such as foot and mouth and lumpy skin disease, increasing costs of production and equitable pricing, through to the challenges faced by us all to reduce our carbon footprint and improve our environmental stewardship.”
Mr Sheridan said his priority was to “engage with our farmers, members, industry groups and government to understand these immediate and longer-term challenges and opportunities”.
“My goal is that ADF is an effective advocacy organisation, focused on the sustainability of Australian dairy farmers supplying the dairy products we know and love,” he said.
Mr Sheridan started in the role on November 2.
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