Dedication, commitment and service to industry have been recognised at the Australian Cotton Industry Awards, with outstanding contributors honoured for their achievements.
This year, five finalists contested both the Bayer Cotton Grower of the Year and Agririsk High Achiever of the Year awards, showcasing on-farm improvements that are helping strengthen cotton production.
CRDC is proud to be an awards sponsor and to support many of the finalists each year through research, development and extension.
Bayer Cotton Grower of the Year
The Brimblecombe family, who grow cotton and vegetables at Moira Farms in the Lockyer Valley, are the 2026 Bayer Cotton Growers of the Year.
Fifth-generation farmer Mitch and his wife Mariah, alongside Mitch’s parents Lynton and Melinda, combine a long family farming history with continuous improvement, strong workplace culture and a focus on people.
The farm is myBMP certified, and the Brimblecombes value research and trials to enhance the future of the industry, working with Cotton Seed Distributors, CSIRO, Qld Department of Primary Industries and Griffith University.
Adding cotton to their vegetable rotations helps manage market risk, improve diversity, keep staff employed and ensure their land remains productive.
Agririsk High Achiever of the Year
From the Darling Downs, Rhys Herbert and Trish Carroll from Pastoral Properties (Cropping) at Warra were named the Agririsk High Achiever of the Year.
The duo have increased cotton yields by two bales per hectare during the past five years, improved fibre quality through better planning and careful variety selection, and used camera spraying technology to reduce chemical use.
Their focus on staff and workplace culture has played a significant role in their success, supporting flexibility and helping the business adapt to changing conditions.
Congratulations also to finalists Angus and Matt Whittaker from Whittaker Family Farming, Warren; Bruce Menie from Dalara Pastoral Company, Blackville; and Lucas Wuersching from Wuersching Farms, St George.
CRDC Chris Lehmann Young Achiever of the Year
Alexandria Doyle, a Grower Services Representative for Central Queensland with Louis Dreyfus Company, was selected as this year’s CRDC Chris Lehmann Young Achiever of the Year.
As a natural leader and Australian Future Cotton Leaders Program graduate, Alexandria has a clear focus on strengthening cotton communities, encouraging participation from the next generation and supporting growers through practical advocacy and connection.
Congratulations to Lauren Roellgen and Natalie Aquilina, CRDC Chris Lehmann Young Cotton Achiever of the Year finalists.
CSD Researcher of the Year
Dr Katie Broughton, a research scientist at CSIRO Agriculture and Food at Narrabri was named CSD Researcher of the Year amongst fellow Narrabri finalists Dr Shiming Liu and Dr Gunasekhar Nachimuthu.
Katie has led groundbreaking research into how cotton systems respond to climate variability and environmental stress, helping growers better manage risk in a changing climate.
For the past 19 years, her CRDC-supported research has included leading the world’s first integrated field-based climate change experiments in cotton, combining elevated CO2, temperature and water stress to better understand real-world production conditions.
John Deere Service to Industry
This year, two stalwards were recognised for their service to the Australian cotton industry.
CRDC’s outgoing Executive Director Allan Williams, and the late Elizabeth (Liz) Alexander, a former CRDC Director, were honoured with the prestigious award for their leadership, advocacy, innovation, research and commitment to the industry.
Allan has played a critical role in strengthening the cotton industry in Australia, influenced by a family deeply involved in cotton research and production.
Throughout his 30 year career, Allan has translated research and sustainability requirements into practical, workable systems that benefit farming businesses and regional communities.
One of his early contributions was leading the development of the Best Management Practices program (the precursor to today’s myBMP) in the 1990s while in the role of Executive Officer at the Australian Cotton Growers Research Association.
Allan’s contributions stand out on both the domestic and international stage. From international involvement with the Better Cotton Initiative and chairing the International Cotton Advisory Committee’s expert panel, to shaping national research investment priorities and guiding CRDC’s RD&E investment portfolio, Allan’s contributions have set up the industry for the long haul.
Liz, who passed away in 2024, spent more than two decades serving the Central Highlands and Dawson Callide regions and the wider cotton industry as a Director on both the Cotton Australia and CRDC boards. She was a Director of Plant Health Australia and board member of the Queensland Rural and Industry Development Authority.
Beyond her formal roles, Liz was a mentor to the industry, and a champion for rural communities. The award was posthumously awarded in Liz’s memory.
Congratulations to all the award winners and finalists for 2026.
