Panikos Spyrou has been appointed to fill a casual vacancy on the Burdekin District Committee (BDC) and the Queensland Cane Agriculture & Renewables (QCAR) Board.
A third-generation sugarcane farmer born in Home Hill, Panikos is a highly respected figure throughout the Burdekin district and the wider sugarcane industry.
He brings a wealth of leadership experience to the role, having previously served as Manager/Company Secretary, Executive Director and Director of the Kalamia Cane Growers Organisation, Company Secretary of the Burdekin United Growers Ltd, and as the inaugural Chairman of the BDCG (Burdekin District Cane Growers Ltd), being the organisation which introduced marketing choice and the Sugar Code of Conduct.
His extensive background also includes managing AgForce Cane (formerly the Invicta Cane Growers Organisation) as well as the successor of the Pioneer Cane Growers Organisation being the Burdekin Cane & Agriculture Organisation and QCAR, where he was inaugural CEO and oversaw the launch of the organisation.
Panikos has tertiary qualifications – Applied Science and Business Administration – combined with legal training giving him the expertise and experience in drafting Cane Supply Agreements (CSAs). He is also one of the few growers with a precise technical understanding of the cane pricing formula and cane analysis process being a qualified Sugar Analyst for a number of years.
Company Secretary Michael Kern said Panikos would fill the BDC vacancy for the remainder of the current four-year term, serving from Thursday, 10 September 2026 until the QCAR Annual General Meeting in May 2029.
While the five elected BDC members automatically fill the five Director positions, the BDC formally nominated Panikos to fill the vacancy, a move ratified by the Board in early September 2026.
His tenure on the Board will match his BDC term.
Additionally, Panikos has been appointed to the Board of the Australian Cane Farmers Association (ACFA), an entity integrated with and supported by QCAR.
Chairman of the Board Russell Hall, all Directors and Committees, alongside General Manager Tara Malpass, Company Secretary Michael Kern, and all staff warmly congratulate Panikos on this exciting new chapter and look forward to his continued contribution to the sugarcane industry.
