Following more than six years at the direction of Australian Organic Limited (AOL) CEO, Niki Ford, has declared she is taking a step off the post. Ford was the company’s only female chief executive in the year 2018 when she announced following the conclusion of the 2024 Australian Organic Conference that her period of office will come to an end at the end of July.

“Our sector has a lot to contribute to Australia’s future. And as I’ve said often, our industry has not yet at its maximum potential.” she addressed Conference attendees in Pullman on the Park Melbourne.

“As technology advances and evolves, it is essential that fresh strategies are sought out to ensure that a new path is determined as well as courageous leaders are able to take on challenging and uncomfortable sectors to ensure the expansion is continued – the next generation of leaders who have fresh perspectives and full-charged batteries. As a mentor for AOL’s AOL team, which includes such a large number of highly knowledgeable individuals, has been my biggest honor, and it was a joy working alongside the incredibly generous and passionate AOL Board. Also I’d like to acknowledge everyone on the AOL team members, who inspire me every day through their dedication, creativity and flexibility. There are so many emotional full memories of my time through the years of these dedicated organic, certified organic farmers.”

Ford’s deep connection to the earth and a sustainable diet was born by her early upbringing near the edge of Toowoomba in Australia, as well as while working as a cook and different FMCG jobs. A condition that kept her from work for 9 months when she was 21, led her to reconsider the food she ate, which led to the discovering the benefits of certified organic food. Through the course of a 10 years of self-education Ford became an ardent supporter of organic foods, ultimately becoming the most prestigious body in organics.

The longest-serving chief executive officer of AOL and the company’s longest-running CEO, she’s negotiated an amalgamation, transformed AOL to become an extremely regarded body for industry that it is today, adjusted to an international pandemic and built strong, reputable connections with the government and industry as well as promoting the organic sector throughout its entirety.

Ford is the leader for organic regulatory reforms and has been a leader in the fight for reforms to organic regulation, which is a good thing, with Australia being the sole industrialized country of the OECD that does not have a uniform legal framework for the application”organic” as a term.

“When we join forces with scientists, academics politicians, producers and those who are a part of organics each day and we truly are an organization to be reckoned by. There is a need for a new Executive assume the helm for Australian Organic and continue to cultivate and build those solid connections to guarantee our sector’s growth. There are many more milestones to be reached, which is an extremely thrilling time to take on this position and the industry. I’d like to say thank you to all for their support in serving this industry that I am extremely strongly about and one I’ll continue to advocate for.”

More information is available here:

Australian Organic Limited

www.austorganic.com