Humans of Agriculture

“If we don’t get it right, the opportunity will be given to people post the farm gate. And it’ll happen to farmers again.”

Hugh Killen's CV is incredibly impressive, he's spent decades working across the globe in finance and markets, before returning home to work in aussie agriculture.

In this chat, we explore Hugh's time in finance, his time leading publicly listed iconic Australian Ag companies, and his mission today at the helm of Impact Ag Australia to help Aussie farmers seize the opportunity in natural capital and regenerative ag systems. 

What we cover:

00:00 From Farming Roots to Finance

03:12 Navigating the Agricultural Landscape

05:57 The Value Chain of Agriculture

08:53 Resilience in Leadership

11:52 Building a Supportive Team

14:58 Impact Ag Australia: A New Venture

17:48 Defining Regenerative Agriculture

21:27 Understanding Soil Health in Regenerative Agriculture

25:04 The Risks and Rewards of Soil Carbon Projects

27:00 Navigating the Complexities of Carbon Markets

30:00 The Future of Agriculture: Transitioning to Regenerative Practices

39:00 The Role of Policy and Consumer Awareness in Agriculture

40:49 The Importance of Farmer Empowerment and Education

Links & Resources:

EvokeAg is one of the premier events for agrifood tech and innovation, and this year’s edition in Brisbane took things to a new level. In this episode, Oli catches up with Harriet Mellish, General Manager at AgriFutures Australia, to unpack what went into making EvokeAg 2025 a success, the evolving conversations in the agri-tech space, and how the event itself operates like a startup—iterating and improving each year.

In this episode, you will hear about:

- EvokeAg as a Startup
 - What Worked in 2025
 - Emerging Themes & Industry Conversations
 - Engaging the Next Generation
 - What’s Next for EvokeAg?

Chapters:
00:00 Post-Event Reflections and Planning Ahead

02:46 Feedback and Innovations from EvokeAg 2025

05:50 Engaging the Next Generation in Agriculture

08:53 The Role of EvokeAG in the Agricultural Ecosystem

12:05 Evolving Conversations in Agriculture

15:04 Looking Ahead: Future Trends and Innovations

This episode is part of our partnership with Cotton Australia, we’re joined by  Liz Stott, a cotton grower and the Deputy Chair of Cotton Australia.

She brings a plethora of insights into the industry's innovations, sustainability efforts, and leadership development programs that are defining the Australian Cotton industry.

Then, I have a yarn with Jim Gall, CEO of RB Sellars, to discuss why the iconic Australian workwear brand is now incorporating Australian grown cotton into its garments and why this shift isn't just important for Australian growers, but a larger picture around a more sustainable future.

This episode is in paid partnership with Cotton Australia. Humans of Agriculture retains editorial control of the content.

In this episode, you will hear about:

- The Evolution of Australian Cotton
 - Cotton to Market Initiative
 - Camp Cotton: Why luxury brands are choosing Aussie cotton.
 - RB Sellars & "Australian Made"
 - The Power of Storytelling in Agriculture

 
Chapters:
00:00 Introduction to the Cotton Industry

02:59 Liz Stott's Journey in Cotton Farming

05:54 Innovations in Cotton Farming Practices

09:02 The Cotton to Market Initiative

12:05 Camp Cotton: Bridging Brands and Farmers

15:06 Jim Gault's Perspective on Australian Cotton

17:54 The Role of RB Sellers in Promoting Cotton

21:06 Sustainability and Best Practices in Cotton Farming

23:53 The Future of Australian Cotton in Workwear

26:58 Storytelling in Agriculture and Brand Representation