Previously known as the evoke AG. Future Young Leaders Program, the evoke AG Groundbreakers Program aims to develop the skills of current and emerging leaders in Australia and New Zealand who are dedicated to making a positive impact on rural industries and communities.
The five selected 2025 Groundbreakers will take to the stage at evoke AG in Brisbane on February 18 and 19, where they’ll showcase their projects and ideas to a global audience of investors, producers, corporates, researchers, and policymakers.
Each participant will receive a dedicated mentorship and a post-event bursary to fuel their ambitions to drive positive change across rural communities and Australian agriculture.
AgriFutures Australia’s general manager of global innovation networks, Harriet Mellish, says this year’s Groundbreakers are tackling some of the most complex challenges facing our sector “with real, impactful solutions”.
“Their ideas are vast, spanning from improving access to fresh, nutritious food in Australia’s remote communities to pioneering sustainable, indoor agriculture, sustainable seaweed cultivation and carbon neutral fertiliser.”
The 2025 Groundbreakers are:
Malachai Clements (Queensland) is drawing on his agricultural roots and Indigenous heritage to tackle the limited access to fresh, affordable fruits and vegetables in his hometown of Weipa, Cape York Peninsula, a challenge that is having adverse community health outcomes. Through permaculture and community gardens, Malachai is working to provide free, nutritious food to improve wellbeing in his community. Malachai has a vision to create nutrition education programs for school children, roll out broader permaculture initiatives and advocate for infrastructure improvements to facilitate better overland transport for essential groceries. Alongside his community work, he is also studying to become a chiropractor with a commitment to enhancing health and wellbeing across the Cape York region.
Alex Mantonari (WA) is the founder of AGRA Farming Technologies in Perth, pioneering indoor plant factories that sustainably produce crops at the same price as traditional farming. Motivated by a mission to address climate change and agricultural challenges, Alex's indoor farms ensure a stable, year-round crop supply, unaffected by climate or weather conditions. His innovative approach not only enhances shelf-life by 40 per cent but also provides better working conditions for farmers and higher-quality produce, making sustainable farming accessible and affordable.
Alisa Mihaila, (Queensland) is an aquaculture research scientist with a PhD in Biological Sciences and a foundation in Marine Biology and Ecology is an emerging leader in sustainable seaweed cultivation. Alisa is pioneering sustainable seaweed cultivation methods, recognising seaweed’s immense potential to address climate change, nutrient pollution, and food security while boosting rural economies. Her work aims to advance Australia’s seaweed farming industry through cutting-edge research and knowledge sharing, helping coastal communities cultivate a sustainable and eco-friendly income source that supports both livelihoods and the environment.
Thomas Norman (NSW) is piloting Australia’s first commercial-scale green anhydrous ammonia fertiliser for broadacre cropping. In partnership with FarmLink Research, Thomas’s project Clean Green Ag is conducting field trials to demonstrate the practical applications of the carbon neutral fertiliser, which has the potential to reduce scope 3 carbon emissions by up to 15 per cent, a critical step toward meeting Australia’s 2030 carbon targets. Thomas is also an active member of his local Rural Fire Service (RFS) brigade, contributes to the Riverina Ag Network and participates in the Rural Management Strategies group, supporting young people in leadership roles on family farms.
Indiana Rhind, (NSW) is an agricultural engineer from the Central Coast of New South Wales, is the Co-Founder of Farmwall, a startup developing innovative, aquaponic indoor farms that enable businesses to grow plants in corporate spaces. Passionate about reconnecting people with agriculture and promoting circular-economy principles, Indiana also leads STEM-based educational programs for schools, providing students with hands-on experiences designed to spark interest in agriculture and inspire future careers in the sector.
