A sweet ending for sugar body CEO
CANEGROWERS chairman Paul Schembri, who entered the sugar industry in his early 20s in 1983, has announced his retirement after 39 years in the sector.
Mr Schembri, who first joined a local growers’ committee as a 23-year-old, has served in a range of Canegrowers roles while also running a farm in the Mackay region with his brother.
Mr Schembri has been the Canegrowers chairman since 2013, and has also served as chairman of the Australian Cane Growers Council.
He is currently vice-president of the World Association of Beet and Cane Growers and is one of Australia’s longestserving farm leaders and is well known in the Australian and international sugar industry communities.
Mr Schembri, who decided not to run for re-election for the position in 2022, said today’s sugar industry was unrecognisable from the one he joined in the 1980s.
“The great opportunity that I had was to start so young,” Mr Schembri said.
“It’s a great privilege to represent growers on the state, national and international stage.
“The industry has been here for over 150 years – we’re one of the oldest, most mature industries in Australia and we will continue to adapt.
“World sugar prices are currently strong and Australian cane growers are well positioned to demonstrate our environmental credentials as some of the most environmentally sustainable farmers in the world.
“Challenges will come and go but if we stay united and get our voice out there, we will have a bright future.”
Mr Schembri is looking forward to spending more time farming.
“I felt it was a good time for me to retire and a good time for the organisation to reset,” he said.
The 2022 Canegrowers election process has led to the formation of a new Canegrowers Policy Council, which will vote on the next chairman of the organisation at a meeting this month.