Master of Business Administration graduate

Sue McGinnAn MBA from CSU can take you anywhere, but one direction we know for sure is UP! An excellent case in point is Ms Sue McGinn OAM

As the Dairy Farmers group's sole female Director, Sue McGinn of Belmore River on the New South Wales Mid North Coast is aware that many consider her a bit of trailblazer in the dairy industry.

Despite making history as Dairy Farmers' first female Board member, Ms McGinn believes this is peripheral.

"Being on the Board is about being part of a team, and making sure value is being delivered to our shareholders" Ms McGinn said.

Humble words from Ms McGinn, who received a Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) in the 2006 Australia Day Honours List for her contribution to dairying.

The dynamic 43 year-old had previously been a Dairy Farmers' ward representative and an active member of Women in Dairying, before being elected to the Board in 2000.

"I believed I could contribute to the decision-making process - I'm a very hands-on, proactive person. I'm not one to sit on the sidelines whinging or complaining. If I can influence an outcome for the better, I do."

Consistently on the road to self-improvement, Ms McGinn graduated from CSU with an MBA, which she undertook to enhance her contribution as a director.

The skills Ms McGinn acquired during her studies put her in good stead to contribute to the Board's recent debate and discussion during the research and development phase of Dairy Farmers' new Thick & Creamy yogurt.

"As with my Board colleagues and management, I immediately recognised it as a winner in the market place," Ms McGinn said.

"Not only is the product totally innovative - it uses a brand new process of making yogurt - but its packaging is also unique in that it's visually so different to anything else on the supermarket shelves.

Ms McGinn said Thick & Creamy was a good example of how Dairy Farmers provided security to its farmer shareholders through its strong domestic, value-added focus.

"To stay ahead of the game, we must devote resources to research and development and strive to create new and exciting consumer products," she said.

"The Board is strongly focused on building a branded business, rather than a commodity business which tends to be exposed to world market fluctuations. Our eight champion brands - Dairy Farmers, Coon, Cracker Barrel, Ski, Moove, Dare, Oak and Shape - are the growth engine of the business."

Reflecting on the Co-operative's achievements during her time as a Director, Ms McGinn nominates the founding of the Dairy Farmers Creating Greener Pastures program as a highlight.

"It's important for businesses to find the balance between meeting shareholder expectations and being responsible corporate citizens," Ms McGinn said.

"Consumers, customers, and increasingly shareholders, now demand businesses are more accountable for the social and environmental impact of their operations on communities.

"Dairy Farmers has been part of the fabric of rural Australia for more than 100 years, so it is only natural we support the dairying communities in which we operate to ensure their future sustainability. In Creating Greener Pastures we have a highly effective vehicle to do that."

Today, Ms McGinn and her husband Brett run a herd of 90 cows on 150 acres, and are keen to expand their enterprise. Their herd is made up of pedigree red and white Holsteins.

"Holsteins are normally black and white, so our red and white progeny are quite rare," she said.

This is further evidence Ms McGinn is not one concerned with simply maintaining the status quo.