CEO recruitment update
The selection process for our new CEO is currently underway. This is being led by the HPA Board with the assistance of an external recruitment firm. Tim will continue as CEO & Managing Director until April 2025 to ensure a smooth transition for his successor. More information will be shared when available, including ample opportunity for everyone to bid Tim farewell and send him off to a very well-deserved retirement in style.
Congratulations Lachie Thomas
Lachie Thomas started working at our Victorian farms as a casual Farm Hand in 2016, and was offered the position of Apprentice Fitter in 2021. He recently completed his Certificate 3 in Mechanical Trade Apprenticeship and has been promoted to Maintenance Fitter. Congratulations for reaching this milestone as reward for your hard work.
HPA Reward & Recognition Program
We’re excited to be launching a new Reward & Recognition Program soon! There will be two components:
- HPA Values Awards – recognition for individuals who champion our core values of Safety, Teamwork, Pride, Innovation, Respect and Integrity.
- Services Awards – recognition for employees who reach 5, 10,15, 20, 25, 30+ years of service.
More information will be shared shortly. Keep an eye out for launch information on noticeboards, and further details about the nomination process for HPA Values Awards.
Safety training & development
Some excellent safety initiatives have been implemented across all sites over the past few months:
- More employees involved in risk assessments and training
- Focus on working at heights with SWMS created for all activities
- Chem cert training
- SWPs for small batch brewing
- SWPs for solvent usage in the lab
- Monthly farm general safety inspections
- External inspection and calibration schedule developed at BPE
Effective communication skills training
Several teams across HPA participated in effective communication skills training in July and August. The sessions were facilitated by an external trainer, Leah Mether, and provided valuable insights into different communication styles and how to apply effective communication skills, individually and within teams. The sessions were well-received, and participants gained valuable skills and insights that they can apply at work and in their personal lives.
Quality & food safety
Data is being crunched for the seasonal review (formerly harvest review) so we can assess our performance, identify any areas for improvement, and set our objectives for harvest 2025. Work continues setting up the quality management system for Hop Central, writing operating procedures for the new plant, equipment and processes. To gain FSSC accreditation at Hop Central the site will have two audits – stage one is planned for early February, where the auditor can review all procedures and the monitoring forms used during commissioning, stage two will occur during pelleting of crop 2025 and will review our monitoring records and observe the pelleting process in action. Our quality accreditations on farm and in the new facility revolve around the principal of “we say what we do and do what we say”. This means always following our processes and procedures, and seeking support when unsure. If you see something written in our procedures that does not sound right – please raise it with your supervisor.
