Growth Awards 2020 Judges

Paul Luxton
Country Head & Managing Director
Syngenta Australia and New Zealand

Paul Luxton is the Country Head and Managing Director of Syngenta, a position he has occupied since 2008.  He is responsible for leading a team of around 170 people across Australia and New Zealand (ANZ) to deliver the best of Syngenta’s global research and development into the hands of growers in ANZ.

Paul’s experience in the agriculture industry and passion for sustainability started on his family’s horticulture farm in the Canterbury region of New Zealand.  His agricultural career and expertise spans 30 years working in Australia and globally. He started his career in R&D with ICI and Crop Care Australasia in New Zealand.  In 1999, he joined Novartis, a legacy company of Syngenta and was responsible for establishing Syngenta in New Zealand in 2001, following the merger of Novartis and AstraZeneca’s agribusinesses.

During his time with Syngenta, he has occupied a number of hands-on roles. This has enabled him to forge a strong understanding of the complex needs of growers and Syngenta’s customers. Paul has a longstanding involvement in a number of leading industry organisations.  He is the current president of CropLife Australia and serves on the boards of Syngenta Australia, Cotton Growers Services Pty Ltd and Longreach Plant Breeders.

Paul has a Bachelor of Science degree, majoring in Botany, from the University of Canterbury in New Zealand.  He is passionate about innovation in agriculture and believes it’s a key pillar in driving the industry’s spirit and resilience.