Tony Mahar, the Chief Executive Officer of the National Farmers Federation (NFF), will resign after a decade of impactful leadership to assume the role of Australian Energy Infrastructure Commissioner.
This independent position, appointed by the Australian Government, will have Mahar reporting directly to the Minister for Climate and Energy, Chris Bowen.
Mahar joined the NFF as General Manager of Trade and Economics in 2013 before being appointed CEO in 2016.
NFF President David Jochinke expressed gratitude for Mr Mahar’s industry leadership, relationship management, and tireless efforts to represent Australian agriculture both domestically and internationally.
“It is a challenge to lead a national peak body, bringing together all elements of our primary industries and engaging effectively with supply chains both upstream and downstream. I commend Tony’s professionalism, credibility, and determination in doing so.”
“During his tenure, Tony has strengthened NFF’s position as the leading national advocacy body for agriculture through his integrity, stakeholder management skills, and dedication to the industry,” Mr Jochinke said.
“His passion, professionalism and approachability earned him respect across industry, government, and corporate partners, and we have greatly appreciated his leadership.”
Mahar’s tenure has been marked by several significant achievements. He co-developed the NFF 2030 Roadmap with former President Fiona Simson, setting an ambitious target of achieving a $100 billion farm gate value by 2030. This roadmap garnered bipartisan support and has been widely adopted across the industry. He also spearheaded initiatives such as the Regional Tech Hub, AgCAREERSTART, and the Australian Agricultural Sustainability Framework, directly addressing various challenges facing the agricultural sector.
In his new role of Australian Energy Infrastructure Commissioner, Mahar will sas an intermediary between farming and regional communities, industry and government to promote leading community engagement practices as Australia transforms its energy system to cheap, clean renewables and modernises its grid to meet growing demand for electricity from households and businesses. This includes investigating how to deliver long-term social and economic benefits to host communities and promoting transparency to combat misinformation about major energy projects, including wind farms and large-scale solar installations.
Minister Bowen said Mr Mahar is extremely well qualified for this new challenge, bringing a wealth of experience from his time at the NFF.
“Mr. Mahar has great experience working with business, government, farmers, and farming communities, and has the respect of both landholders and the energy industry.”
On his LinkedIn page, Mahar reflected on his time at the NFF, expressing gratitude for the experiences he gained over the past ten years.
“It’s been a tough, at times frustrating journey, but I have loved every moment. I’ve learned and grown every single day and I’m grateful for all the experiences—both good and bad,” he wrote.
“Australian agriculture is an amazing industry, and we have so much to be proud of.”
Mahar’s departure from the NFF will be officially effective in December 2024, and the search for his successor will begin immediately.
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