CATHERINE VELISHA, THOUGHT LEADER IN HORTICULTURE

Catherine Velisha is the third-generation business owner and Managing Director of Velisha Farms a 30-million-dollar national horticulture business based in Victoria, Australia. The Velisha Farms business has farms in Werribee south, Caldermeade and Tatura (Victoria) and partners with producers throughout Australia to grow vegetables for a varied customer base. Under Catherine’s leadership, Velisha Farms has expanded into international export markets, with customers being in Singapore and Thailand. Catherine is also the founder of VEG Education RTO focusing on Business leadership, industry compliance, and farm safety training. VEG Education enables Catherine to bring her love of vegetables and the industry directly to the next generation via a variety of unique school and community programs.

Catherine has worked within the horticulture industry for over 19 years and has been involved in all aspects of the industry supply chain. She is known as a pioneering leader and education advocate. Catherine brings together the best in strategy and innovation, brand, and customer thinking to drive smarter, sustainable business growth. She has forged a path as the reliable expert voice and spokesperson for the horticulture sector within mainstream media and is a presenter on Channel 10s My Market Kitchen.

Catherine is working with Work Safe as an ambassador of their smarter, safer farms project; encouraging farming businesses to not be fearful of embracing safety and making changes within their businesses and Velisha Farms is a finalist in the WorkSafe Awards – Commitment to Workplace Health and Safety on a Farm.

Catherine has a strong sense of duty, to improve and add value to an industry that has supported generations of her family and to continue, expand and grow the legacy that has been given to her by many members of the Velisha Family.