Experience
VFF Vice President/ Director
Making Our Farms Safer Project Chair
VFF Policy Council Vice Chair/ Committee Member
Disaster Relief Fund Board Member
VFF Farming Systems Chair
VFF Farm Business Chair/ Committee Member
VFF Workforce and social infrastructure Committee Member
NFF Farming Systems Committee Member on behalf of VFF
Egg Group Council
Other positions held
Biosecurity Reference Group Victoria
Food Relief Taskforce Victoria
Melbourne Royal ELG Committee
Relevant experience
Bachelor of Business- Management
Diploma in Agriculture
AICD- Graduate
Media Training
The Victorian Farmers Federation stands at a pivotal moment.
The decisions we make today will define our future—will we advance with bold vision, or remain anchored in the past? Farming and society are evolving at a rapid pace. The old methods simply don’t cut it in an era dominated by 24-hour news cycles, digital media, and the need to maintain our social license.
My extensive success as Chair of Farming Systems and MOFs, combined with the practical experience to drive results, equips me to confront the major issues head-on—whether it’s tackling biosecurity threats, advocating for fair animal welfare laws, or securing the vital funding our regions need. We cannot afford to regress.
My vision is clear: to build a VFF that looks forward, not back. We need proactive, adaptable and inclusive leadership that delivers tangible outcomes. From ensuring professional advocacy to planning for effective succession, I will fight to keep the VFF strong, relevant, and resilient. The time for bold decisions is now—together, we will grow and thrive, or risk being left behind.
Your vote is crucial. Stand with me, and let’s shape a prosperous path forward for the VFF.
Experience
VFF Grains Group President 2013-2017, VFF Vice President 2016-2018, VFF Grains Councillor (Eastern mallee), VFF Branch President (Kerang-Quambatook)
Other positions held
GrainGrowers Chair 2018-2022, Birchip Cropping Group Director – current, Farmers for Climate Action Director – current, Chair Grains Market Access Committee for Grains Australia – current
Relevant experience
MAICD, experienced director and Chair of various boards. Successful advocate with strong and established relationships at Federal, State and local level. Respected, trusted and effective leader and advocate.
As an experienced and respected agricultural advocate who always puts farmers first I ask for your support as your next VFF President.
My passion for our VFF is to partner directly with our members to create the best advocacy and farmer leadership for Victoria. Your voice is critical to VFF’s future and it is my ambition to work alongside each member representing the issues that matter most to your business, community, family and you.
I believe VFF’s greatest opportunities come through strong members, branches and commodity groups aligned together under stable and inclusive leadership where informed and enthusiastic voices combine to create greater outcomes for all farmers.
At a time where agriculture is under enormous pressure and competition for land use against mining, energy and transmission as well as unprecedented risk to our farming future through enhanced biosecurity risk, encroaching regulation on our land, and farming systems including chemical technology and increased regulatory compliance and failing telecommunications.
I have the ability and passion to provide VFF with modern and effective leadership and hit the ground running to achieve outcomes for our members.
Vote for Brett to make VFF an organisation we all want to join.
Brett Hosking 0427593051 [email protected]
Experience
Livestock Council Vice President 2022 – Present
North East Representative VFF Livestock Council 2018 – 2022
VFF representative to the National Wild Dog Action Plan Stakeholder Consultative Group 2010 – Present
VFF Land Management Committee 2010 – 2020
VFF Board Director – Livestock Council Representative 2023
VFF Board – Risk Audit & Finance Committee 2023
Victorian Wild Dog Control Advisory Committee 2010 – 2014
Cattle Council of Australia (CCA) – VFF Director to the Board 2018 – 2022
Other positions held
CCA Industry Systems and Food Safety Committee 2018 – 2022
CCA Environment Consultative Committee 2020 – 2022
CCA Chairman Cattle Australia Implementation Committee 2022
Relevant experience
Member – Australian Institute of Company Directors 2019 – Present
I stand for a VFF that is committed to transparency, trust, and constructive engagement.
I believe that the VFF must work hard to earn back the trust of our members, by fostering honest, open communication at every level. We must reassess our current membership model and the financial viability of the VFF.
Our members are the heart of the VFF, they must feel that their voices are heard, their concerns are addressed, and their membership provides tangible benefits. We have seen a significant reduction in staff numbers.
While we are fortunate to have a highly skilled and dedicated team, we need to grow our staff to better support our members, commodities, and committees. We must be strong on the growing threat of foreign companies purchasing prime agricultural land for carbon credits and renewable energy projects being developed on farmland without proper consultation or feasibility studies.
We need to become proactive in supporting the next generation of farmers, while engaging with our established farming families on issues like succession planning and generational transfer. I ask for your support in the upcoming election for Vice President to ensure the VFF remains a vital, effective advocate for all farmers across Victoria.
Experience
Current President of Horticulture (2021 – Present)
Current Chair of the Workforce and Social Infrastructure Committee
Current Committee Member of the Risk, Audit and Finance Committee
Other positions held
Current Committee Member of the Sunraysia Fruit Fly Council
Current Committee Member of the Swan Hill Summer Fruits Committee
President of our local Rotary club in 2022-23
The current President of the Lakeside Golf Club
Relevant experience
AICD
2017 Rabobank Emerging Leader
2015 Nuffield Scholar
2014 AusVeg Young Grower of the Year
I am in a unique position to represent our members as Vice President.
I have the professional experience, the vision for a thriving VFF, and I’m a fourth-generation farmer with a thorough understanding of the farming challenges we all face.
I have been on the board of the VFF for the past 5 years, so have current and invaluable experience and knowledge of the historic and present issues facing members, as well as the greater VFF business.
I am community-minded, and live and breathe the same business, farming, labour, legal and regulation issues as you. We employ permanent, casual and contract labour for 12 months of the year. Our business pumps water from both piped and channel districts. We pay for fuel, utilities, rates and insurances. We grow fodder, maintain crops and raise livestock.
I understand the burden of multiple regulation factors across all our industries.
I feel I am in a great position to be the Vice President. I will advocate for our members and make sound business decisions on the board from the position of being a farmer and business owner myself. I call it how I see it.
Vote for Nathan Free and expect a thriving VFF.