Leadership, capability and the future of Australian agriculture

Delivered at the GenAngus Future Leaders Program 2026, Goonoo Goonoo Station, Tamworth | May 2026

As a long-term partner of Angus Australia, Achmea Farm Insurance is proud to support the GenAngus Future Leaders Program and the people helping shape the future of Australian agriculture. The program brings together emerging leaders from across the beef industry to build skills, strengthen connections and develop their leadership capability.

In this address at the 2026 GenAngus Future Leaders dinner in Tamworth, Achmea Farm Insurance Chief Client Officer Glenn Rosbrook reflects on leadership, lifelong learning, navigating uncertainty and the importance of leading authentically in an industry that has always adapted and evolved.

Pictured: Scott Wright, Chief Executive Officer, Angus Australia Marnie Te Aho, General Manager, Client Growth and Commercial, Sinclair Munro, Director, GenAngus Nancy Crawshaw, Extension Manager, Angus Australia, Glenn Rosbrook, Chief Client Officer, Achmea Australia

Good evening, everyone. My name is Glenn Rosbrook, and I’m the Chief Client Officer at Achmea Farm Insurance. It’s great to be here, and a real privilege to once again support the GenAngus Future Leaders Program as a long-term partner of Angus Australia.

At Achmea Farm Insurance, we care deeply about this program because it’s about people; people who have chosen agriculture, invested in themselves and want to help shape the future of this industry.

It’s special to be here tonight at Goonoo Goonoo Station. This property has been part of Australian agriculture for close to 200 years. It has seen enormous change in land use, technology, ownership, and in the way agriculture operates.

What stands out to me is that through all of that change, people adapted. They worked together and kept moving forward. That same mindset sits behind Achmea’s beginnings.

Back in 1811, a small group of farmers in the Netherlands pooled their money into a glass jar to support each other against the risk of haystack fires. The idea was simple: when something went wrong, nobody faced it alone.

That spirit still sits at the heart of Achmea today.

It’s built on responsibility, sharing risk, and thinking long term.

As you well know, agriculture in Australia, and the industries around it, have never stood still. Consumer expectations, technology, global events, and environmental pressures continue to reshape the landscape.

Yet the industry continues to adapt, innovate, and produce world class food and fibre for Australia and the world.

Throughout my time working alongside the agriculture industry, one thing I’ve observed is that the people who succeed are those who stay open minded, continue learning, and adapt to change. And importantly, they stay authentic to who they are.

And that matters now more than ever.

Agriculture is no stranger to uncertainty. In many ways, periods of uncertainty have shaped the next generation of innovation and leadership. You are entering agriculture at a challenging time, but also at a time when leadership, capability, and good judgement will matter enormously.

One thing I’ve learnt throughout my career is that uncertainty will always exist. As leaders, our role is not to avoid it, but to navigate it with perspective and confidence. But equally important is the way we lead people through those moments.

There’s a quote from Theodore Roosevelt that has always resonated with me: “People don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care.”

To me, authentic leadership starts there.

It’s not about having all the answers or trying to be something you’re not. It’s about being genuine, caring about people, building trust, and bringing others with you. That’s especially important in agriculture, because this industry has always been built on relationships, community, and people supporting each other through both the good seasons and the hard ones.

That’s why the focus of GenAngus 2026 feels so relevant. This program is about building capability, leadership, communication, and personal growth.

Because how you think, communicate, and lead matters just as much as technical expertise.

At Achmea, we talk about “Keeping Farmers Farming”.

For us, that means supporting decision makers, helping farming businesses navigate uncertainty, and giving them confidence about the future.

So tonight, congratulations to Kate, Simon, Tyla, Jessica, Alex, Marie, Peter, Troy, Edward, Jess, Tom, Brandon, Jack and James.

Congratulations on taking this step forward.

My encouragement to you is simple:

  • Take every opportunity this program offers.
  • Invest in your skills, always.
  • Stay curious.
  • Learn from each other.
  • Lead authentically.

The future of Australian agriculture will be shaped by people like you — through the decisions you make, the relationships you build, and the way you lead.

At Achmea Farm Insurance, we’re proud to support that journey.

Thank you, enjoy the evening, and enjoy the program.