James Kahl’s two decades on CSD board acknowledged

The 57th annual general meeting of Cotton Seed Distributors Ltd was held at ‘Shenstone’ on June 21.

Mungindi’s Sam Heagney was elected to the company’s board of directors at the AGM.

Mr Heagney will fill the vacancy left by the retirement of James Kahl, whose term finished at the AGM after 19 years on the CSD board.

CSD director Tony Quigley paid tribute to the outgoing chair.

“I’d like to recognise and celebrate James’ massive contribution to CSD and the wider industry, 19 years on the board, and 13 of those years as the chair,” Mr Quigley said.

“That is more than a third of CSD’s life on the board, and more than a quarter of CSD’s lifetime as chair”.

CSD held a farewell event for Mr Kahl prior to the AGM to recognise his achievements and celebrate his service to CSD and the industry for the last 19 years.

During Mr Kahl’s final chair report at the AGM, he said “CSD has come a long way in the time I have been on the board, I have no regrets, I have had a lot of fun and am going to miss it.”

“CSD is in the strongest position it has ever known in its 55 years, and I have full confidence in the team in place to take it forward”.

Newly elected director Sam Heagney is a grower member based in Mungindi and is the general manager of South Bunarba Agriculture.

Commenting on his election, Mr Heagney said “I am excited to be nominated and to be further involved in such an innovative industry, I am looking forward to getting to know more about the CSD business and adding value where I can.”

Current director Nigel Corish was also re-elected at the AGM.

The board meeting following the AGM elected current directors Tony Quigley as chair and Andrew Guthrie as vice-chair.

Led by chair Tony Quigley, the CSD board of directors includes managing director, Peter Graham; vice-chair, Andrew Guthrie; Nigel Corish, Juanita Hamparsum, Louise Hill, Matthew Norrie, Doug Rathbone, Cleave Rogan and Sam Heagney.

CSD has been supplying quality cotton planting seed to the cotton industry since 1967.

It was formed through the vision of Australia’s foundation cotton growers and remains committed to the success of today’s industry. CSD is a major investor in cotton breeding, research and development, having developed a long and successful partnership with the CSIRO Cotton Breeding Program.

The company’s objective is to deliver elite varieties that are specifically bred and adapted to suit local growing conditions by delivering yield and quality outcomes to keep the Australian cotton industry at the premium end of the global fibre market.

With operations based in Wee Waa, NSW and Dalby, QLD; CSD’s primary objective is to deliver locally adapted, high-yielding and high-quality cotton varieties supported by strong extension activities to help growers extract the best value from these varieties.