In moments of upheaval, leadership is not about maintaining the status quo but defining the future.
At AgriFutures evokeAG 2025, a bold thought experiment was conducted: fast-forwarding eight years to place a panel of industry leaders at the helm of FarmCorp. This agribusiness titan had revolutionised the industry.
But now, it faced an existential crisis—ethical, strategic, and reputational. What unfolded was not a scripted exercise but a high-stakes leadership challenge. The decisions made were real, the tensions palpable, and the lessons invaluable.
SQNNSW Innovation Hub First Nations Knowledge Broker, Dr Raelene Ward, joined the following panel of industry leaders to step into a live crisis scenario. Together, they thrashed out the dilemma of FarmCorp after it had reshaped AI-driven agriculture, pioneered sustainability and dominated global markets - until it crashed.
- David Harris (FarmCorp CEO): Could he salvage trust or be forced to resign?
- Margo Andrae (FarmCorp Chair): Would the board back its CEO or demand a sacrifice?
- Dr Raelene Ward (First Nations Knowledge Broker): Would FarmCorp’s Indigenous partners walk away or demand systemic reform?
- Grant Statton (Chief Impact & Transformation Officer of Farm Corp): Could FarmCorp’s sustainability strategy survive the firestorm?
- David 'DJ' Jochinke(Minister for Agriculture): Would the government classify agriculture as critical infrastructure and intervene?
- Jo Grainger (Senior Government Official): Would this crisis permanently reshape agricultural governance?
- Tony Burnett (Trade & Investment Advisor): Could economic stability withstand regulatory intervention?
"What a wonderful experience and truly inspiring hypothetical panel to be invited on as an Aboriginal woman working in the Agriculture sector", commented Raelene. "I embraced this opportunity to share my knowledge and leadership in the First Nations engagement ethically and respectfully, elevating their voices and stories of many Traditional Owners."
More details
Read more about how the thought experiment unfolded.
Watch the filmed thought experiment
Watch the filmed hypothetical: What do you do? Real decisions, in a hypothetical crisis
