ADPF announces the appointment of John Williams as Executive Director

The Australian Dairy Products Federation (ADPF) today announced the appointment of John Williams to the role of Executive President effective 1 February 2023.

Outgoing ADPF Executive President Grant Crothers said as an immediate ADPF Vice President and long-serving Australian Dairy Industry Council (ADIC) Director, John’s understanding and passion for advocacy is well demonstrated and will enable continuity of delivery of value for members.

“With a career in dairy manufacturing that spans three decades, with Warrnambool Cheese and Butter and more recently Saputo in internationally and domestically focused roles, John is eminently qualified to fulfil the position,” Mr Crothers said.

“In addition to his executive experience, John brings to the role deep Board level experience in peak industry and research and development bodies. His experience and leadership across dairy innovation, manufacturing, sales and marketing – both domestically and globally – will doubtless prove to be of great value to the ADPF moving forward,” Mr Crothers said.

ADPF Executive Director Janine Waller said: “We are delighted to welcome John to the role and look forward to continuing to work with him to represent the interests of our members. I would also like to sincerely thank Grant Crothers for the leadership he has shown in his more than six years as ADPF President. We wish him all the best in his new and many endeavours.”

About John Williams

John has a Graduate Diploma in International Business at Monash University, Bachelor of Economics and Asian Studies at The Australian National University, a Graduate Certificate of Australian Rural Leadership at James Cook University and is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (GAICD).

Most recently he was General Manager and Vice President Domestic Sales – Government and Industry Strategy at Saputo Dairy Australia from 2018 – 2022. Prior to that he spent almost two decades at Warrnambool Cheese and Butter (WCB) where his last two roles were Vice President and General Manager – Sales, Marketing and Innovation and General Manager – Sales, Marketing and Innovation. John was responsible for sales, marketing and distribution of WCB’s bulk dairy product, internationally and domestically. He also oversaw the company’s research and development program, as well as warehousing and logistics. Prior to this he held roles at Pacific Foods and Mitsui & Co Ltd.

John was a non-executive director of Australia’s dairy industry peak body, the Australian Dairy Industry Council from 2004 – 2022 and Vice President of the Australian Dairy Products Federation 2016 – 2022. He has also been a director of Dairy Innovation Australia Ltd., Dairy Ingredients Group Australia and the Australian Ingredients Centre.