Cindy Cassidy is a strategic and forward-thinking leader in the Australian agribusiness sector with a sharp focus on translating research outcomes into tangible impacts for farmers, farms and regional communities.

Cindy was appointed Executive Director of the Southern NSW Drought Resilience Adoption and Innovation Hub (Southern NSW Innovation Hub) in 2021 when it was established through the Australian Government’s Future Drought Fund. In this role, Cindy has built and led a team that is passionate about advancing drought-resilient farms, communities and landscapes.

Cindy is a Non-Executive Director on the Board of AgriFutures Australia and is the Chair of the AgriFutures Australia Audit Committee. A graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (GAICD), with postgraduate qualifications in science and agriculture, Cindy’s 25+ year career includes research and senior management positions at some of Australia’s largest agribusinesses. This includes seven years as CEO of the not-for-profit farming systems group FarmLink Research, based in Temora, NSW.

Cindy is dedicated to evolving the innovation system to address the dynamic needs of Australia’s agricultural industries and regional communities. In 2015 Cindy won the NSW/ACT AgriFutures’ Rural Women’s Award, which enabled her to explore national and international approaches to agricultural innovation and on-farm adoption of change.