Meet ABGC’s New Policy Officer
Ajay Emmanuel - Policy Officer, Grower Support (Biosecurity)
It’s not every day a policy officer turns out to be a gun cricketer and passionate community connector all in one - but that’s exactly what growers can expect from Ajay Emmanuel, the newest member of the Grower Support (Biosecurity) team at the Australian Banana Growers’ Council.
Ajay joins ABGC as a Policy Officer, bringing with him a law degree, practical experience in local government and a strong belief that good policy only works if it works for people on the ground.
Born in India and raised in Darwin, Ajay is proudly bilingual and has spent his life navigating the balance between formal frameworks and community expectations.
“I’ve always enjoyed the policy and legislative side of law,” he says, “but not necessarily the courtroom. For me, it’s about making complex systems understandable and useful - especially for people who might not always feel heard.”
Before coming to the ABGC, Ajay worked on the implementation of new burial and cremation legislation in the Northern Territory - a role that required patience, persistence and a lot of conversations with stakeholders unsure or even wary of change.
“There were cultural sensitivities, strong community views and a lot of history involved. And I found that the only way forward was to build trust, visit often and listen more than I spoke.”
He sees strong parallels between that work and the challenges growers face in the banana industry, especially when it comes to navigating policies around Panama disease tropical race 4 (TR4).
“It’s a tough space,” he says. “TR4 is complex and the policies that surround it can feel overwhelming. But my job isn’t just to help write or interpret policy - it’s to connect with growers, explain what it means and show how it supports them in protecting their future.”
Ajay is looking forward to getting out of the office and onto farms.
“You don’t build trust over email. You build it in boots, on farms, with conversations that matter.”
Ajay playing for an Australian team in a multicultural cricket tournament in the NT which they won! (pic supplied)
And if you need someone to captain your next social cricket team? Ajay’s your man. A talented junior player back in the day (before injury and adult life got in the way), he still hits the pitch for club games when he can, though he jokes,
“The older you get, the harder it is to bounce back on a Sunday!”
Ajay’s also excited by the diversity of the banana industry, including the increasing number of Punjabi and multicultural growers across Far North Queensland.
“Being from a South Indian background myself, I understand how important culture and connection are. If I can help bridge that gap between policy and people - even in a small way - I’ll consider that a win.”
From the boardroom to the cricket pitch, Ajay’s approach is simple: listen first, explain clearly and support growers where it counts most. We’re thrilled to have him on the team.
Welcome, Ajay – we’re glad you’re here.
Ajay in action in club cricket with University Bulls, NT (pic supplied)