Our team
Solterra is managed by one of Australia’s most experienced agriculture investment managers, Warakirri Asset Management. As a leader in agricultural investment management, the team brings decades of experience in managing diverse world-class agriculture businesses.
Directors
Our directors have extensive experience across agriculture and the financial services industry.
Jane Tongs
Chair
Jane Tongs
Chair
Jane has over 30 years of management expertise, serving on the boards of insurance, funds management, property and other financial services entities. Jane developed her leadership and management experience as a Partner at PricewaterhouseCoopers. Her board experience is vast with over 20 years’ experience as a Chair, Chair of Audit and Risk Committees and Non-executive Director. Jane is currently Chair of Columbus Capital Pty Ltd and a Non-executive Director of Lendlease Real Estate Investments Limited, Aviation and Marine and Defense Association Pty Ltd, Warakirri Asset Management and Brighton Grammar School.
Warren Lee
Non-Executive Director
Warren Lee
Non-Executive Director
Warren has extensive experience in the Australian and international financial services industry. Warren’s two most recent executive positions were Chief Executive Officer of the Victorian Funds Management Corporation and Chief Executive Officer, Australia and New Zealand for AXA Asia Pacific Holdings Limited. Warren is currently Chair of the Warakirri Asset Management Board and a Non-Executive director of Tower Limited, MyState Limited and MetLife Limited. He is a member of Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand.
Pat Tolman
Director
Pat Tolman
Director
Pat has led the Row Crops Division at AgReserves since September 2019. He grew up on a farm in southern Idaho where he developed his great love for agriculture. After college, Pat took a job as a project manager for Boeing in 1989, then joined AgReserves in 1991 as a farm unit manager at AgriNorthwest near Kennewick, WA. In 2000, he accepted a general manager position with Valmont Industries, Inc., and was serving as vice president of operations for Valmont before returning to AgReserves in 2019.
Pat earned his bachelor’s degree in Business Operations at DeVry Institute of Technology.
Jim McKay
Director
Jim McKay
Director
Jim was appointed as Managing Director of Warakirri in 2017. Prior to joining Warakirri, he was most recently Head of Distribution for Franklin Templeton Investments, Managing Director of the wealth management division of Challenger, and the CEO of Boss Software International. Jim holds a Bachelor of Economics from the University of Tasmania, a Post Graduate Degree in Finance and Investments, and an MBA from the Melbourne Business School. Jim is a member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and a Graduate of their Company Directors program.
Leadership
Our management team are experienced and skilled in delivering world-class agriculture businesses.
Adrian Goonan
CEO
Adrian Goonan
CEO
Adrian was appointed to the role of CEO Solterra Agriculture in 2024. Adrian has also held the role of Investment Director – Agriculture at Warakirri Asset Management since 2023 after 12 years as CEO of Warakirri Cropping. Adrian is responsible for overseeing Warakirri’s Diversified Agriculture and Cropping business as well as leading the development of new investment strategies and opportunities. Adrian’s background and blend of professional experience is across three main areas; Project Management, Funds Management and Agriculture (particularly agricultural investments). Adrian holds a Bachelor of Applied Science Project Management and is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
Stephen Buchanan
Operations Manager
Stephen Buchanan
Operations Manager
Stephen has extensive experience in Farm Management in both dryland and irrigated cropping across Australia. Stephen started work with Warakirri in 1998 as a Farm Manager in southern NSW and has progressed through various leadership roles with the business and is now Operations Manager for Solterra Agriculture. Stephen’s passion is the business of farming and building productive assets and mentoring and helping people be the best they can be.
Alistair Sutton
Transaction Manager
Alistair Sutton
Transaction Manager
Alistair joined Warakirri in March 2024 as Transaction Manager – Agriculture. Prior to joining Warakirri, Alistair was Acquistion Manager at Manulife Investment Management for 5 years – before which he was a valuer within CBRE and JLL’s national agribusiness teams. Alistair has maintained membership of the Australian Property Institute as a Certified Practicing Valuer for circa 20 years, as well as holding a Bachelor of Business (Property) from RMIT and a Masters of Agribusiness from Marcus Oldham College.
Ian Mason
CFO
Ian Mason
CFO
Ian joined Warakirri in 2011 and was appointed to Chief Financial Officer – Cropping & Diversified Agriculture in 2023, after holding senior finance roles across Warakirri’s Agriculture platforms. Ian has over 15 years of experience in financial management, reporting, and strategy specialising in the agribusiness and corporate sectors. Prior to joining Warakirri his experience included senior external audit and business services roles in both Australia and the UK.
Ian holds a Bachelor of Economics from the University of East Anglia and is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW).