Inaugural members’ council meeting

The WMO Inaugural Members’ Council Meeting was held on Wednesday 17 November as an online meeting. All members of the Members’ Council were invited, and in attendance was South Africa, Australia, Guatemala, Hawaii/USA, Kenya and Zimbabwe.

A key element of the meeting was discussing and approving the FY22 Annual Operating Plan and Budget.  The three focus areas for demand generation were endorsed alongside the activity plan for the first year.  There will be programmes to increase frequency of consumption in China, create a positioning platform and campaign that resonates with the rapidly growing plant-based diet sector, and undertake some activities to understand the Indian market further. 

The Chair, Vice Chair and Director roles were appointed. Larry McHugh who has been the interim Chair was appointed as Chair. Myles Osborn from South Africa was appointed as Vice Chair. The other Directors are Charles Muigai from Kenya, Thomas Nottebohm from Guatemala, Michael Russo and Richard Sampson Genest from Australia, and Pieter van der Westhuizen from South Africa.

LARRY MCHUGH, CHAIR

CEO of Marquis Macadamias and Marquis Marketing.  Larry is also a member of the Australian Macadamia Industry Marketing Committee.

SOUTH AFRICA – MYLES OSBORN, VICE CHAIR

Managing Director of Osborn Estates. Myles sits as a director on numerous agricultural companies’ boards including South African Macadamia Association Board, as the Commercial Director.

KENYA – CHARLES MUIGAI

Head of Secretariat of Nut Processors Association of Kenya. Charles also serves as a board member and Vice-president of Africa Cashew Alliance and Vice Chair Global Macadamia Symposium Committee.

SOUTH AFRICA – PIETER VAN DER WESTHUIZEN

Co-owner and founding member of the Empire Group, Pieter is currently also the Chairperson of the South African Macadamia Processors Forum.

AUSTRALIA – MICHAEL RUSSO

Director of MMAN Investments and Farnsfield Macadamia. Michael is an Australian Macadamia Society Director.

AUSTRALIA – RICHARD SAMPSON GENEST

Director at Stahmann Webster. Richard is also a member of the Australian Pecan Growers Association and National Pecan Shellers Association (USA) and a member of the Global Statistic Committee for the International Nut and Dried Fruit Council.

GUATEMALA – THOMAS NOTTEBOHM

General Manager of Industria Guatemalteca de Macadamia, S.A.