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Our People

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Michelle Chicken

Director and Managing Director -  Operations,  Administration,  Memberships

Michelle Chicken has been an integral part of the management of their family operation, Boyne River Pecans, Mundubbera, QLD since 2014. On entering the business, along with husband Boyd Paton, the couple planted a further 5000 trees to complement the families existing pecan orchard & beef business, this included diversifying into a value-add model, selling pecans to consumers and high end restaurants direct from the farm gate. Michelle is driven to see the Australian Pecan Industry and its farmers grow, prosper and thrive well into the future with endless opportunities and market certainty.

Photo - Geoff Bugden Profile Pic_Low Res

Geoff Bugden

Director, Chairman and Sales & Farm Liaison Manager

Geoff Bugden, along with wife Debbie, have been a pecan nut farmer for 25 years and the successful operators of Pecans Australia since 2008.  Their farm and distribution depot are located near Lismore, on the North Coast of NSW.

 

Geoff has played a pivotal role in the industry as a mentor for fellow pecan farmers and newcomers to the industry. Geoff is highly passionate about biological, regenerative and organic pecan farming. 

Debbie Budgen

Director, Secretary and Operations Advisor

In addition to pecan farming with husband Geoff since 1995, Debbie Bugden is the Sole Director and original founder of Pecans Australia.  The establishment of Pecans Australia has been invaluable to fellow pecan farmers and proven to be a successful and profitable financial business returning a consistently solid profit annually.

 

As the manager of Pecans Australia for 12 years, Debbie brings to the co-operative a wealth of experience in logistics, member relationship care, export dealings, quality and financial control and business management. Debbie also has a previous background in Banking and office management.

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