Meet the Team
Greg Johnsson
Co-Founder
Greg has had a lifetime of experience as a business owner and farm production consultant. Greg’s passion for improving enterprise productivity and profitability for farmers started when he trained as a veterinary surgeon and has spanned the last 40+ years through the activities of his consultancy group, the Kangaroo Island Sheep Production Group, then Sheep Owners Academy and now Farm Owners Academy.
Greg has also been a farmer and has an intimate understanding of what it takes to be successful as a farm business owner:
- Managing the family farm on Kangaroo Island in the 1980s and 1990s whilst establishing his veterinary business, the Kangaroo Island Veterinary Clinic. With partner Deb Lehmann, Greg managed 650 breeding cows and a Limousin stud.
- In 1985 they established Kangaroo Island’s first cattle feedlot to sell grain finished cattle directly to Woolworths when grid-based selling was still in its infancy.
- In 1992, Greg and Deb founded and co-owned South Australia’s first sheep dairy, Island Pure, which continued to operate until late 2018. Greg was the first cheesemaker in this business.
Jeremy Hutchings
Managing Director
With a life-long passion for the agricultural industry, Jeremy Hutchings brings his unique experience as a leading company strategist and business coach to the role of Farm Owners Academy Managing Director.
Jeremy grew up on a highly productive mixed farming enterprise at Yerong Creek, NSW; studied Agricultural Science, Economics and Trade, and has a professional career in farm and agribusiness consulting. He now lives with his wife Jane and four children on a farm near Cootamundra, NSW. With well-established business acumen and his extensive background in strategy, growth, team- operational- and financial-performance structures, as well as a special interest in farm performance analysis and benchmarking, Jeremy is well placed to lead FOA toward its vision of helping progressive farmers across Australia and beyond.
Sam Johnsson
CEO
Sam is an experienced executive with strong leadership and business analysis skills gained through 10 years of consulting in the construction industry. During which, Sam led and managed teams of over 65 people and was responsible for all areas of business leadership and management. Sam now translates these skills to the farm business context.
In addition to his previous corporate experience, Sam has been a key contributor in leading the rapid growth of his own Ag Tech business supporting clients all over Australia.
With his 10 years in corporate consulting coupled with the practical experience of leading a fast-growing start-up business, Sam helps clients focus on what is important in their business and supports them to make the robust decisions that help move them towards their goals.
Sam is passionate about the agricultural sector and is committed to delivering on Farm Owners Academy’s mission to help Australian farmers create more profit, more control, and more freedom in their business.
Tracy Secombe
Director of Well-being
Tracy brings 30 years of business experience to her role as Head Coach for Farm Owners Academy. Tracy helps you make the small shifts that allow you to increase your profits while decreasing your time working in the business. Tracy specialises in helping you identify the thing holding you back from your ideal health, purpose and lifestyle.
Our Team Members
Andrew Roberts
Co-Founder
Michaela Malicki
Administration Assistant
Leah Bowey
Administration Assistant
John Gabriel
I.T/Back-end Support
David Westbrook
Coach and Community Manager
Hayley Watson
Farm Business Coach – New Members
Sam Pincott
Head Coach
Tim Freak
Accountability Coach
Cheryl Freak
Accountability Coach
Marina Gregor
Accountability Coach
Rick Morris
Accountability Coach
Hayley Grosser
Accountability Coach
Alison Hamilton
Accountability Coach
Benita Bensch
Accountability Coach
Jack Owen
Accountability Coach
Cassandra Kath
Accountability Coach