Meet the team

Our Field Services team are able to visit you to discuss your growing requirements. With their extensive experience in agriculture and specific poppy growing expertise, they provide advice and support for all TPI’s poppy growers.

Craig Soward, Northern Midlands

Craig has had 15 years working in the cropping industry as a field officer and agronomist, predominately in the Northern Midlands area (13 of these working in the poppy industry). He also holds an Associate Diploma in Applied Science (Agriculture) from the North West Regional Institute of TAFE.

Craig is based in the Northern Midlands area, working from Cressy to Bracknell.

He sees a very bright future for the poppy industry in Tasmania and is enjoying being part of the TPI Field Services team.

Pip Loone, Midlands

Pip was educated in Launceston before moving to Hobart to study Agricultural Science at the University of Tasmania. She completed her honour thesis on ‘The effect of curing and storage on onion skin properties and retention.’

After graduating from university, Pip worked at Botanical Resources Australia on the North West Coast of Tasmania for three years as a field officer on pyrethrum, before moving to Oatlands to start as a Field Officer with TPI Enterprises in 2010.

Jim Finlay, North East

After graduating from the University of Tasmania in 1990 with a degree Agricultural Science, Jim worked as Agronomist for Serve-Ag for 17 years.

Jim’s experience in the poppy industry is matched by his endurance away from the fields as a regular competitor in the Three Peaks Race and various triathlons.

Jim is one of TPI’s longest serving Field Service Officers and has enjoyed being part of the rapid growth of the company.

Josh Wing, North Coast

Josh has been involved in the agricultural industry all his life. His technical experience spans over 15 years in a variety of areas including dairy, beef, horticulture and cropping.  His qualifications include two Diplomas in Applied Agri Science, and Conservation and Land Management.

Josh will be based in the North Coast of Tasmania.

Graeme Lette, East Coast

Graeme is a well known farmer from northern Tasmania with many years experience in vegetable and poppy growing. He grew the original trial crop for TPI when the Company was first being established in Tasmania and has excellent knowledge of agricultural machinery and land preparation requirements for poppy production.

Graeme’s own experience as a grower makes him fully aware of the challenges faced by poppy producers. He is working with our East Coast growers.

George Crisp, Meander Valley

George grew up on his family’s farm in Tasmania and completed a Bachelor of Agricultural Science at the University of Tasmania’s Hobart campus in 2007. 

Since completing his degree George has spent time on various farms throughout northern Tasmania and working with TIAR as a Technical Officer, researching potato diseases and conducting potato rotation trials.

George has recently joined the TPI team, working in the Meander Valley area.

He is enthusiastic about the challenges ahead, and has already commenced work on the Bracteatum poppy research project at TPI’s farms.

George Bignell, South

George Bignell is the most recent Field Officer to join the TPI team and will be based in the southern region.

He has a rich history in Tasmanian agriculture and is the seventh generation to farm on his family property Thorpe, on the outskirts of Bothwell. George completed an Agricultural Science degree from the University of Tasmania and has always looked for innovative areas of agriculture which ultimately led him to the poppy industry. Previously he has gained extensive experience in growing a range of crops on various soil types – from intensive horticulture such as horseradish, to broad acre dryland cereals, as well as poppies.

George is keen to extend his practical experience and theoretical understanding to support TPI’s poppy growers in the south.