Andrew Roberts

Co-Founder

Andrew Roberts is an executive coach with 20 of years experience, a serial entrepreneur and a business scaling specialist. He has started, built and sold three 7 figure companies. The son of a New England wool grower, Andrew is well known as one of Australia’s leading business mentors, is a Strategic Business specialist, and has been instrumental as a mentor for a host of companies featured in various Business Review Weekly Top 100 lists.

Michaela Malicki

Administration Assistant

With over 8 years of experience providing support to both executives and wider teams, Michaela is an accomplished Administrative professional. Over her career, Michaela has worked with a diverse range of clients and a broad range of industries, most recently as Executive Assistant to the Deputy Principal of a large private School. Michaela holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Psychology from Macquarie University, and volunteers her spare time as a Telephone Counsellor with Lifeline Australia.

Leah Bowey

Administration Assistant

Leah joins FOA with over 20 years of administration/executive assistant background in engineering and defence. She is a jack of all trades who brings her can-do and fun attitude to everything she does.

John Gabriel

I.T/Back-end Support

John is our technical wizard here at Farm Owners Academy. With over 9 years of experience, he is responsible for managing our website, database, and digital marketing. As the go-to person for all tech-related matters, John’s expertise ensures that our online platforms are cutting-edge, user-friendly, and optimized to deliver an exceptional learning experience. His unwavering commitment to excellence and expertise in technology make him an invaluable asset to our team.

Sam Pincott

Head Coach

Over the past 10 years, Sam has developed an extensive, large-scale free-range egg production business in south eastern NSW. The property is managed under sustainable farm management principles with a strong focus on soil, pasture, animal and financial health. Business coaching has been pivotal to their success, as has an active involvement in a mastermind initiative with passionate, like-minded farmers. With 4 young daughters, Sam & his wife now focus on supporting their farm team, whilst prioritising personal, family and community objectives.

David Westbrook

Coach and Community Manager

David is a founding member of Farm Owners Academy, having started his journey in 2015 at a TOP Producers Workshop. David owns a farm on Kangaroo Island and is now one of the premier livestock producers in Australia. David is a passionate advocate for the power of a positive mindset, consistent learning & creating a business that follows your passion & values.

Hayley Watson

Farm Business Coach – New Members

Mother, Wife, Farm CFO, and Farm Business Coach for New Members – Hayley wears many different hats on a day to day basis. Previously qualified in financial planning with a degree in economics and finance, this has assisted Hayley to build the financial framework that has grown their first generation farm from establishment in 2016 to a flourishing industry leading egg production farm. In previous roles before commencing farming Hayley has been a business coordinator assisting in managing 60 staff. This knowledge has assisted Hayley in maintaining the business mindset for the farm and allowing the farm to reach so many milestones. Hayley’s journey with Farm Owners Academy started in 2019 in the Take Control Program, before commencing the Platinum Mastermind program in 2022. Hayley has a genuine and honest passion for helping farmers to see their potential and realise their goals by providing clarity and value.

Benita Bensch

Accountability Coach

Benita joined the FOA coaching team in 2020 and gains tremendous satisfaction supporting members to set and get their goals. Her role ties together Benita’s background and experience in coaching, agriculture and small business, as well as her passion for personal development and entrepreneurship. Benita is part of a family farming operation producing grain, seedstock and commercial beef cattle near Moonie in the Western Downs of Southern Qld. She and her husband Adam completed the Platinum Mastermind program in February 2023 and have experienced its benefits firsthand. From a career in the beef industry, to extension, marketing, communications and coaching, supporting others to be their best and create the results they desire has always been at the heart of Benita’s work. Alongside the farm and her FOA work, Benita is a Mum of four boys, Motherhood Coach, writer, speaker and podcaster.

Rick Morris

Accountability Coach

With his wife Annie and four daughters, Rick has been farming at Karatta, Kangaroo Island, SA, for the past 24 years. The farming system has evolved to becoming a self-replacing maternal ewe flock turning off both store lambs to be grown out elsewhere and replacement ewe lambs with emphasis on weaning percentages, early maturity and do-ability (fat, muscle, worm resistance). Rick has a passion for producing fast-growing, healthy stock from healthy soil with a huge emphasis on lamb survival.

Having gained a Bachelor of Ag Science (Hons.) at Adelaide Uni, Rick spent four years as an agronomist with the Western Australian Department of Agriculture in the mid 90’s and continued practising as a private agronomist on KI for another ten years before getting more serious with the farm, family and fishing. This background has fuelled his passion for soil fertility and plant production.

Cheryl Freak

Accountability Coach

Cheryl is a founding member of Farm Owners Academy, having started her journey in 2015 at a TOP Producers Workshop. She grew up on a farm, worked as a lecturer in rural studies & now runs a mixed farming business in South Australia. Cheryl has experienced first-hand the positive influence and beneficial impact FOA has on farming families and businesses and is now using her wealth of experience to help our farmers gain more profitability and freedom.

Marina Gregor

Accountability Coach

Marina started her FOA journey in 2015 as part of the Platinum Mastermind program and continues to be involved with FOA as an Alumni member. She runs a self-replacing merino and dual-purpose flock on Kangaroo Island with her husband Brett and three young kids. They are building a stand-alone farm business to open up their future for new careers while keeping their multigenerational family farm going. To her coaching role, Marina also brings her previous experience as an accountant, banker and farm manager to her Coaching role with FOA.

Hayley Grosser

Accountability Coach

Hayley commenced her FOA journey in March 2018 when she joined the Platinum Mastermind Program. She has a background in business & finance and runs a mixed farming business in Western Victoria. Hayley has experienced firsthand how transformational the FOA programs are and is passionate about cultivating a positive mindset and strong financial foundations within the farming community.

Alison Hamilton

Accountability Coach

Alison is a 4th generation livestock producer, and together with her family, she has operated in both seedstock and commercial beef cattle production. Alison, her husband Andrew and their two small children, are based near Wagga Wagga in the NSW Riverina. For the past 12 years, Alison has worked as a consultant to the livestock sector. She is particularly passionate about helping producers improve efficiency in their operation with a strong focus on data and production records. Alison thrives on supporting and working with producers and being part of their growth journey.

Cassandra Kath

Accountability Coach

Cassandra along with her husband, Andrew and three teenage children operate Kathleigh Farms, a dairy farm business at Rochester in Northern Victoria. The dairy business has grown from starting out on a small dairy farm in QLD milking 50 cows to a herd size of 500 at their current location.  Cassandra has a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture and has worked in the area of Animal Genetics and Agribusiness Banking prior to full-time farming.  Throughout her farming career she has been involved in industry leadership roles. Cassandra has experienced firsthand the benefits of the FOA learnings and being surrounded by like-minded business people in the FOA community as a recent graduate of the Platinum Mastermind Program and now as an Alumni Member. Cassandra is honoured to have the opportunity to guide and support participants on their journey in the program and is motivated to see her clients achieve their business and personal goals.

Jack Owen

Accountability Coach

Jack started his FOA journey in 2020 as Part of the Platinum Mastermind program and continues to be involved with FOA as an Alumni member. He runs a self-replacing Primeline composite flock at Mt Emu, Victoria. The farms core focus is to run a sustainable high stocking rate, turning off both healthy fast growing store lambs and exceptional surplus ewe lambs with proven maternal traits. Taking on from what his parents had previously set up, Jack is building a freedom farm that is fully under management which allows him to pursue other opportunities outside of the farm. Jack thrives on his ability to help other like minded farm business owners to achieve new heights not only in their businesses but in their personal lives also. 

Tim Freak

Accountability Coach

Tim is a founding member of Farm Owners Academy, having started his journey in 2015 at a TOP Producers Workshop.  He and his wife Cheryl, own a mixed farming operation in the Upper South East of SA. Applying the principles taught by Farm Owners Academy has resulted in the farm business now being run by a great team which has freed Tim up to travel and mentor Platinum Mastermind members around Australia.
Tim brings many years of practical experience to his role as a Benchmarking Analyst and enjoys helping members understand their numbers and providing support with decision-making.