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19/06/2023
Ballarat Team: Gavin Svanosio, Luke Calder, Mark Righetti and Sam Dohle.
Proudly local and dedicated to the region, Rabobank’s Ballarat team are leading the region’s agricultural industry through experience, whilst helping upskill the local community.
Area Manager Sam Dohle said the three rural mangers, Luke Calder, Mark Righetti and Gavin Svanosio enjoy nothing more than finding solutions for their clients.
“As a bank that is focussed solely on agriculture, we are acutely aware of the unique requirements of a farm business, and how we can help clients prepare for and overcome some of the associated challenges.”
With staff all born and raised in the region, he said you can’t replicate the local knowledge that affords.
“There’s a huge respect for not only our clients, but also our community, and there’s a familiarity that gives our clients peace of mind.”
Their experience also spoke volumes, with Mark boasting 13 years with Rabobank, and Luke and Gavin also enjoying extensive banking careers.
Upskilling farmers for a stronger industry
Being the world’s leading specialist food and agribusiness bank, Sam said Rabobank has a deep commitment to research, knowledge and networking that is a source of competitive advantage for local farmers.
And this commitment, he said, extended well into the regions, with national RaboResearch analysts regularly holding knowledge sharing events in the Ballarat region to share their insights first-hand.
“This year we’ve had the purpose-built RaboTruck in the region, providing updates from our specialist team on succession planning and cyber security.”
“Guests also had the opportunity to hear from General Manager, RaboResearch, Stefan Vogel on the latest commodity and market outlooks.”
Carbon Farming and Carbon Neutral Workshops are another upskilling initiative available to clients, being held in August.
The two-day workshop aims to simplify and declutter what can be an overwhelming, and potentially confusing topic for farmers on the ground.
Sam said the workshops, which have been running nationally since 2022 help build knowledge on the basic fundamentals of carbon in farming, and that the interactive sessions enabled farmers and staff to explore carbon neutral options, solutions and what the future may look like, together, whilst also outlining how individual farms can calculate their own greenhouse gas emissions.
“We believe the calculation of emissions is the first step for all farm enterprises, and these workshops provide an opportunity for clients to measure their carbon emissions using the Greenhouse Accounting Framework developed by the University of Melbourne.”
“The workshops also provide the latest thinking on where practises, technology and research is heading – providing clients with the tools necessary when considering reducing carbon emissions.”
Sam said these additional opportunities Rabobank provided clients reflected the depth of understanding the bank has around its clients, and the communities.”
“These are genuine educational opportunities – it’s about providing our clients with knowledge to help strengthen their business, and in the case of cybercrime, keep them safe.”
“We go above and beyond providing a banking service, we know what our clients and communities needs are, and we are dedicated to addressing them.”
Supporting Ballarat, and the region
As Area Manager, Sam is proud to be working with staff across the whole region – including those in the Ballarat, Hamilton, Warrnambool and Colac branches.
“I love nothing more than seeing our staff take on a challenge, and achieve success for a client. My role now is to mentor and guide, and it’s a pleasure to be supporting such enthusiastic and capable teams. ”
“I’ve been around for a while now, so often I’m seeing intergenerational success, and I still always get excited for our clients and watching their business grow through land acquisition, development or the purchase of infrastructure that will strengthen their enterprise.”
Sam said there were challenges facing the industry, particularly surrounding the future operating conditions in regards to sustainability frameworks, which is why the bank was taking a lead on the issue through comprehensive workshops to identify opportunities for local farmers.
In the Ballarat region particularly, competing land use remained an issue – with high value land under threat from electricity companies plus urban and industrial sprawl.
“We want to make sure we’re the champions for agriculture and our local farmers, whatever challenges they face, and as a bank dedicated purely to agriculture, we have the expertise, and the resources to do that.”