Meet the dedicated team behind Agsafe
Meet the dedicated professionals behind Agsafe's mission to promote the safe transport, storage, handling, disposal, and recycling of agricultural chemical products. Our team brings together a wide range of expertise, with each member playing a crucial role in advancing safety education, compliance, and best practices in the industry. Together, our collective knowledge ensures that Agsafe remains your leader in environmental stewardship.
Alicia Garden
Chief Executive Officer
Alicia joined Agsafe in November 2023, bringing a clear vision and commitment to driving positive change within the agricultural sector. With a background in mechatronic engineering and computer science, Alicia specialises in process and system design, making her a valuable asset to Agsafe's strategic planning and stakeholder engagement initiatives.
As CEO, Alicia's primary responsibilities include formulating strategic goals and nurturing key stakeholder relationships with customers, shareholders, partners, and staff. Her expertise in technical service commercialisation, membership engagement, and policy work positions her as a dynamic leader ready to tackle the challenges and opportunities within the plant science industry.
Alicia's journey in the agriculture sector began in 2002, working in her family business in the cotton industry. Using satellite imagery and weather data, the company developed innovative crop forecasts. From 2005 to 2015, she expanded her expertise to dryland, broadacre cropping, showcasing her versatility and commitment to the field.
Notable roles in Alicia's career include serving as the CEO of Goanna Ag from 2016 to 2023, CEO of Grain Growers Limited from 2013 to 2016, and Business Manager at Agrecon. Her achievements include the successful negotiation and sale of Agrecon in 2012 and a pivotal lobbying effort in 2013, leading to Representative Organisation recognition and oversight of the $200+ million Grains Industry Research and Development Corporation annual Research and Development spend.
Alicia holds a Bachelor's degree in Computer Science from the Australian National University. Her academic background, combined with her hands-on experience, positions her as a well-rounded leader ready to drive Agsafe's success.
Joe Cashman
Chief Operations Officer
Joe joined Agsafe in mid-2025, bringing extensive leadership experience across the health, social services, and quality assurance sectors, with a strong background in governance, strategic planning, and organisational transformation.
As Chief Operations Officer, Joe is responsible for overseeing the operational performance of Agsafe’s national stewardship programs, ensuring their effective and efficient delivery in alignment with the organisation’s mission. He also leads the enhancement of internal systems and processes, spanning human resources, administration, and compliance, to support Agsafe’s ongoing growth and national impact.
Throughout his career, Joe has held senior executive roles in the healthcare, community services, and standards accreditation sectors. He has led major service reforms, championed quality improvement strategies, and fostered strong engagement across diverse stakeholder communities.
Joe holds a Master of Social Work (Health/Health Care Administration/Management) from Monash University, and a Bachelor of Social Work from La Trobe University.
Matthew Booth
General Manager, MUSTER Programs
Matthew joined Agsafe in early 2026, bringing experience across commercial management, program leadership, and business transformation, supported by a practical background in mixed farming operations.
As General Manager, MUSTER Programs, Matthew oversees the drumMUSTER, bagMUSTER and ChemClear programs. His role focuses on ensuring the efficient operation of the programs, driving continuous improvement, and developing strategic objectives and key performance indicators to support long-term performance.
Prior to joining Agsafe, Matthew held senior leadership roles at PwC and Airservices Australia. As a Director within PwC’s consulting business, he worked on projects focused on agriculture and traceability, while at Airservices Australia he held senior management roles across commercial, operational, and strategic functions.
Matthew has led major business transformation and strategic development programs, including initiatives that delivered significant operational savings and strengthened long-term organisational performance and partnerships. He is a Chartered Accountant and holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA).
Hamish Mines
General Manager, Client Services
Hamish joined Agsafe in November 2025 as Stewardship Field Officer – Victoria before being appointed General Manager, Client Services in August 2026. He brings nearly 30 years of experience across agribusiness, agronomy, training and business development.
As General Manager, Client Services, Hamish leads Agsafe’s client service functions, drawing on his strong background in leadership, strategic planning and customer service to support positive outcomes for Agsafe’s members and industry stakeholders.
Throughout his career, Hamish has held senior roles across sales, research and development, marketing and strategic leadership in both Victoria and Western Australia. Before joining Agsafe, he worked at Longerenong College as Training Manager and a Crop Agronomy and Agribusiness Teacher, supporting the development of the next generation of agricultural professionals.
Hamish holds a Graduate Diploma of Strategic Business and an Advanced Diploma of Agriculture. His combination of technical expertise, industry knowledge and practical leadership experience positions him well to strengthen Agsafe’s client services and support the needs of Australia’s agricultural sector.
Anita Jay
General Manager, Marketing and Communications
Anita joined Agsafe in 2024, bringing a strong background in branding and communications. She is passionate about strengthening brand perception through thoughtful communication, with a focus on practical outcomes and using insights to continuously improve and adapt strategies.
At Agsafe, Anita works to support and enhance the organisation’s market presence and communication effectiveness. Her role includes developing and delivering marketing and branding initiatives, managing budgets, and supporting outreach activities. Since joining, she has contributed to rebranding efforts and improvements across digital and communication channels, helping to increase visibility and better articulate Agsafe’s purpose.
Anita has built her experience in marketing and communications across industries including telecommunications, lifting and rigging, and mining. Her background includes work in content and digital marketing, event coordination, and graphic design.
She holds a Bachelor of Marketing and Communication from the University of South Australia and a Certificate of Management from the University of New South Wales.