Richard Simonaitis has broad experience in export-focused commodities industries, having worked in logistics and product quality roles within the iron ore industry and in senior management roles within the grain industry across logistics, operations, marketing and trading. He has a strong understanding of grain growers, the grains industry across Australia and the markets Australian grain is sold into. He also has international experience developing a number of grain infrastructure projects in Indonesia.
Prior to becoming chief executive of the Australian Export Grains Innovation Centre in February 2016, Mr Simonaitis was with the CBH Group where he led the national accumulations team for five years.
He was chair of the Country High Schools Hostels Authority, an inaugural board member of the Australian Grains Institute capacity building project, a Fellow of the Australian Rural Leadership Foundation, a member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, is on the Grain Trade Australia Trade and Market Access Committee, and is part of the Grains Industry Market Access Forum.
