Our 2025 Annual General Meeting held in Adelaide’s city fringe on 5th July at The Marion Hotel was a great success.

We hosted delegates from all 10 member bodies both in person and a few online, along with a large observer’s contingent. At the conclusion of the formalities, we are happy to introduce to industry, our two new executive members:

Diana Leemon

Diana started in honeybees as a hobbyist in 1997. She has a strong background in agriculture R&D with 21 years as a research scientist in the Qld Department of Primary Industries specialising in the biological control of livestock pests and parasites. During this time, Diana successfully led 11 projects across the cattle, wool, chicken meat and honeybee industries. Including three projects that investigated the non-chemical control of small hive beetle. Diana has published scientific peer-reviewed papers and reports and a book chapter.  

Diana is  currently the principal at Myco-vation, offering scientific advisory and review services. She holds a Bachelor of Science, Diploma of Education and Doctorate from the University of Queensland, as well as a Graduate Diploma in Biotechnology and a Master of Applied Science from Queensland University of Technology. 

Positions and Key Achievements 

• Adjunct Associate Professor Southern Cross University Bees for Sustainable Living research group 2024 – present
• Wheen Bee Foundation non-executive director 2023-present 
• National Varroa Mite Management Program contract trainer 2024-2025
• Queensland Beekeepers Association management team 2020-2024
• AgriFutures Honeybee and Pollination industry advisory panel 2017-2020, 2020 – 2023
• European Union Food Safety Authority hearing expert for working group on small hive beetle 2015

Ben Hooper

After kicking off his beekeeping career as a young fella in the 90’s, standing on railway sleeper blocks to reach the hot knife in the old tin mobile plant. It’s remarkable Ben returned home to commence his commercial career with his father Robert in 2002. They currently operate 1800 hives for both honey and pollination purposes. Home base is Tintinara in the Upper South East region of South Australia, where the area is formally referred to as the ‘Heart of the Parks’ but locally known as the ‘90 mile desert’. Sadly, the desert part is very apparent in 2025 as the state has widely struggled with drought.

In 2010 Ben was very fortunate to be awarded a Nuffield Farming Scholarship. Over the course of 18 months Ben was able to study and work bees across Europe, North America and Asia with a research focus on the application of cold storage of beehives for Australian use. After culminating the learnings Ben commenced transitioning their business from a mobile production system (it’s an SA thing) to a central production system. Completing their new honey house with an eye to energy efficiency and neutral heating of the honey production system.

Ben was on the then Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation (RIRDC) Honey and Pollination panel, later rebranded to AgriFutures Australia. In SA, Ben served 10 years on the South Australian Apiarists Association (SAAA) executive and was also SAAA Chair for 4 years.

Ben was Chair of the 2018 Bee Congress Committee, successfully reinvigorating the national bee conference sentiment across industry. Since then, Ben has shifted focus to raising his four young boys with wife, Joanna and growth and development of his business in South Australia.

Additionally, AHBIC has both a new Chair and Deputy Chair appointed at the 2025 AGM.

Jon Lockwood – AHBIC Chair

Some may already know, Jon has served as AHBIC Deputy Chair since 2023, so is well known to AHBIC executive and the industry alike.

Jon is a commercial beekeeper, Managing Director and co owner of Goldfields Honey Australia P/L with his mother Vicki. Jon manages 11000 hives and several thousand nucleus colonies. Goldfields produce premium bulk honey, beeswax, honey comb, queen bees, nucleus colonies and pollinate almonds with all of their hives.

AHBIC Deputy Chair – Lindsay Callaway

Lindsay has served as executive member with AHBIC since 2023.

Lindsay Callaway is the current owner and managing director of Warral Maldon, based in central Victoria with over 5,000 hives.

Warral Maldon found its beginning with an Edward Teague Penglase in 1896 – Lindsay’s great-great grandfather, making him the fifth generation owner. Growing up in the industry, Lindsay inherited his love of bees from his dad, Roger and has continued his legacy of innovation and excellence in the beekeeping profession.

A very big thank you also, to our Executive Member and outgoing Chair:

Stephen Targett

Stephen Targett joined AHBIC as Chair in June 2022—just ten days before the detection of varroa in New South Wales. What followed was an incredibly challenging time for the Australian beekeeping industry, and Stephen stepped up with selfless dedication, despite having retired, to give back to the industry that had given him so much.

Therese Kershaw

After six years of dedicated service, Therese Kershaw stepped down as a Director of AHBIC at our 2025 AGM. Throughout her tenure, Therese has been the driving force behind many of AHBIC’s most successful events and initiatives, including playing a key role in delivering the 2018 and 2022 National Honey Bee Congresses.