ADE Elders
​Elders are respected in all cultures and societies. For us, our two long-standing former directors bring a wealth of experience across all aspects of business in addition to general 'life advice'. Their insights and guidance were particularly valued during the challenging COVID years of 2020-22, when we had to suspend operations due to border closures.
Keith and David continue to serve as advisors and general counsel to the Board, and both assist with
in-field logistics during the winter months.
Keith Brodie
Founding Member
LLB, Chartered Accountant, JP
Born in Sao Paulo, Brazil and educated in Edinburgh, Scotland, Keith was Company Secretary for The News Corporation Limited from 1990 to 2004, then was Group HR Director for News Limited in Australia from 2004 to 2012. He is the former Chairman of Newspoll and the Post Courier in Papua New Guinea.
Keith has been actively involved with sports administration and in 2000 received the Australian Sports Medal, awarded for services to Australian hockey. He was Finance Director of Australian Hockey Association from 1992 to 1996, and Director of Women’s Hockey Australia from 1998 to 2000,
responsible for marketing and finance. He was a member of the Federal Government’s Sports Export Advisory Council from 1997 to 2000, and director of National Rugby League, and Chairman of the NRL on a rotating basis over 10 years until February 2012.
He has been a member of the Executive Committee of the CARE Australia Corporate Council whose objective was to raise funds for CARE Australia from corporate Australia.
Keith is an avid car enthusiast and has participated in 7 Targa Tasmania rallies and in 2005 drove from Peking to Paris in a 1907 De Dion Bouton, and during the winter survey season Keith can be found co-ordinating our 4WD logistics.
David E Shelmerdine
David has a Graduate Diploma (Hons) in Agriculture from Adelaide University Roseworthy College in South Australia and has been directly involved in the management and strategic direction of a number of privately owned agribusiness companies. He is managing director of Laradoc Pty Ltd, a privately owned agribusiness company with interests in the pastoral, livestock and viticulture sectors.
He is a founding director and deputy chairman of ClimateWorks Australia, and is Chair of the Melior Australian Impact Fund Advisory Council, an industry advisor on climate change, agricultural supply chains and sustainable development, food and land use systems.
David is Past President of the Geneva based Gold Standard Foundation, a global not for profit organisation that focuses on accelerating progress toward the Paris Climate Agreement and the
Sustainable Development Goals. He is a past Deputy Chairman of The Myer Family Company Holdings Pty Ltd, a member of its investment committee, remuneration and nominations committee and Chairman of the Audit and Governance Committee. David assists with logistics during our winter survey operations.