Name Matt Devine 
Age 40
Location Toowoomba
What part(s) of the industry do you work in? Cotton & Grain
Job title Branch Manager
What does your company/ business do? AgriRisk is Australia’s only dedicated specialist agribusiness insurance broker. We offer specialist advice to growers on managing agricultural production risks such as fire, hail, rainfall shortfall, downgrading of product quality. We also provide consultancy services to government agencies and corporates on managing risks that are not addressed by the retail insurance market by accessing the international capital and reinsurance markets.
Describe your job on the average day Manage the retail function for the firm for Qld, supervising a team of agricultural based brokers, provide specialist advice to corporate agribusiness in delivering the firms Alternative Risk Transfer capability.
How did you get involved with agriculture? My extended family comes from a strong agricultural background eminating mostly from the Darling Downs and Goondiwindi region.
Education
Assoc Dip App Sc (Ag Prod) (Hons)
Grad Dip Insurance & Risk Management
MBA
GAICD
If you studied/ trained in agriculture, why did you choose that degree/ certificate? I wanted to be involved in the Ag Production side of the business, not the research and theory side, hence I chose Ag Prod as opposed to a B.Sc Ag.
What are/were you plans after school/TAFE/university? To get involved with agriculture in some way, and my strength in maths, accounting and project work led me down a path I never would have envisaged.
Job history
Last 12 Years: AgriRisk as an insurance broker / risk management consultant. During this time I have worked in Brisbane, Sydney, Tamworth, Toowoomba, Los Angeles, New York City, Bermuda, London, Munich, Zurich, Paris. Destinations I never thought possible on leaving Ag College.
8 Years After Ag College: I worked with NAB as an agribusiness specialist in Goondiwindi, Roma, Dalby, Toowoomba and Rockhampton.
What are your interests?
Music – play lead guitar in showband Wizards Of Oz
Distance Running – I have a marathon PB of 3:47
What is your favourite thing about the industry? There always seems to be a twist to the plot – a new development, a new seasonal challenge, a new technology.
Best experience in agriculture? Seeing the drought break and being part of Australian Cotton Grower Of The Year judging panel.
Worst experience in agriculture? The prolonged drought and the heartbreak of floods.
What do you think will be the biggest challenges of the agricultural industry in the future? To keep pace with the worlds increasing demand for food and fibre whilst maintaining Australian ownership and responsible stewardship of our non renewable resources.
Why do you think less people are becoming involved in agriculture? I see a talent drain in Ag to other high paying industries that need rural skills such as the resources sector.
What advice do you have for people thinking about getting into agriculture? Hands on experience is invaluable.
How important do you think an agricultural background is to become involved in the industry? Whilst it certainly helps, there are many examples of people without an agricultural background learning the skills and gaining the experience needed and making a very good career in Ag.
What do you think is the most common misconception about agriculture? That it is unsophisticated and that there is no reward for hard work. I’d like to think that the opposite is true.
