Ridge Partners Information

Ridge Partners is an agribusiness and resources consulting practice specialising in strategic support to client industries, organisations and enterprises across Australia's agribusiness and resource sectors. At Ridge Partners, we are committed to delivering unique, quality services to clients, responding to the mega-trends and business risks that affect their capacity to take opportunities and respond to food, fibre and resource industry change. Our key skills are:Executive and Board facilitation, governance and decision processesIndustry restructure and strategyProject management, including stakeholder expectation managementDesign and management of resource sharing and management processesConducting industry, supply chain and market analysesAgribusiness enterprise mergers and joint venturesResource and Agribusiness investment analysis and managementResource and Agribusiness team development, and dispute resolutionFinancial analysis and modellingRidge Partners is based in Milton near the Brisbane CBD, with associates spread across Australia. Ewan Colquhoun is the Director of the firm. We are pleased to have assisted some great clients with their strategies. Key projects completed include:Wheat Quality Australia Government deregulation of Australian wheat export and quality arrangements resulted in closure of the Australian Wheat Board, the loss demand - supply management and related through chain quality certification systems. The WQA project brought together all national grain production and trade stakeholders and facilitated a new commercial approach to manage wheat quality and supply optimisation. Designing and directing the first national fisheries resource sharing negotiation process over 2 years for commercial and recreational fishers in the Eastern and Western Tuna and Billfish Fisheries. Design and implementation of a community engagement and landholder compensation process for the Qld Coordinator General. The final report provided the independent basis for resumption, development and declaration in Nov 2011 of the Surat Basin Rail line between Wandoan and Banana. One hundred and forty landholders and community organisations were consulted along the 210klm route of this new coal rail line. Facilitation of custom finance and corporate courses for industry, enterprises and agencies within the national programs offered by the Australian Institute of Company Directors.Managing the Australian Tropical Fruit Industry Partnership Project, across 11 industries - a $750,000 pilot initiativeDesign and delivery of a Management Plan for one of Australia's largest industrial estates, at Gladstone. Project involved relocation of landholders followed by operational and risk management planning for industrial, environmental and social values through to 2040Stakeholder consultation and strategic assessment of water, land, infrastructure and logistics for development of a cotton industry in northern AustraliaDesign and delivery of agrifood Value Chain training programs for Qld Government to regional and city staff.Developing and facilitating the first Strategic Plan for the National Aquaculture Council, our national aquaculture peak body.Managing a series of projects totalling proceeds over $4 million for Federal agencies to assess, and support enterprises impacted by restructure and marine park declarations. Conducting a review of dairy industry deregulation for the National Competition CouncilUndertaking the mid-term review of the National Food Industry Strategy, a $102 M programDesign and facilitation of a 2 day Tropical Science, Knowledge and Innovation Conference for Australia's Chief Scientist, Governments of Qld, NT and WA, and 150 institutional and scientific leadersInvestor search, negotiation facilitation and completion of market strategy and investment proposal for greenfield game meat abattoir in Northern NSWAssessment of commercial impacts and compensation, and facilitation of enterprise mergers as a result of closure of commercial resources due to expansion of the Great Barrier Reef Marine ParkDesign and facilitation of commercial offer for water allocations and access rights to industrial and agrifood end users from the Elliot Channel, a new 130klm channel to Bowen from the Burdekin River systemDesign and facilitation of process for Landcare Australian to document rural water users' responses to the Prime Minister's $10 billion water plan. Review, design and facilitation of restructure of National Industry Vocational and Educational Training Councils for Federal Government, including Resource & Infrastructure Industry, Agrifood, Construction & Property, Government & Community Safety, and Innovation & BusinessConsultation, analysis and modelling of Government water pricing pathway impacts for cotton, dairy, sugar and horticulture across a number of public rural water infrastructures and regulated catchmentsStrategic planning for key seafood industries, including Abalone Council Australia, Southern Rocklobster Australia Ltd, and Western Australian Fishing Industry Council.Facilitation of a cost effective strategy to develop a Joint Minor Use Chemical strategy for Australia, with USA and Canada. Productivity and staff review and facilitation of Board and Staff response to extreme drought in regional Australia, for Cotton Seed Distributors LtdReview and Business Plan for Go Grains, an industry nutritional / promotion bodyCommercial feasibility study for two large multinational agrochemical companies seeking to merge Australian operationsFacilitation of formation of Smart Rivers group in the Lower Balonne Catchment and regional water use economic and social impact assessments