1. Wayne Paddison
Grainair Australia and Grainair International CEO
Based in Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia
Languages: English
Summary
Wayne has extensive hands-on knowledge gained over a life-time of experience in the grain industry,
commencing as a child on a large rural farm which produced wheat, oats, barley, canola and
sunflowers. Wayne managed all aspects of the farm for 10 years prior to establishing, managing and
operating a successful civil construction and contracting business which he lucratively expanded to
include management and operation of a waste transfer station, recycling facility and landfill in regional
New South Wales. Wayne is a successful entrepreneur, people manager and CEO who has learned his
management and business operation skills at the coalface, as he has established, operated, managed
and sold/liquidated more than 6 successful businesses including Grainair Australia.
Development of Grainair Australia grain aeration protocols
In 2005 Wayne connected with Dr James Darby at the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial
Research Organisation (CSIRO)[the Australian federal government agency for scientific research] to
follow through on ideas he had been formulating for a number of years relating to the development of
aeration protocols for grain storage. Research occurred over 5 years, initially in Australian Wheat Board
owned grain bunkers in Victoria and then into Graincorp sites in New South Wales which provided the
research team with access to varying bunker sizes and designs as well as types of grain.
The CSIRO research was developed around the following objectives:
• Prove ability to cool harvested grain to the lowest ambient temperature within period of 5 weeks
across the hottest months October to March, and to maintain this
• Prove insects are killed when grain is stored in aerated bulk grain storage for 3 months below
18 degrees Celsius, removing need for chemical fumigation
• Investigate and prove the impact of aeration drying technology within a 10,000 tonne grain
mass over an extended period of time including impact on moisture content and quality of grain
• Trial and evaluate the impact different duct placements have on the operational ability of the
bunker when out loading, with a view to maximising capacity
• Prove the ruggedness and quality of the poly ducting Grainair Australia developed and ongoing
ability to sustain impact of loader strike during out loading
• Investigate the variety of airflows and fan pressures required to aerate different grain types
including wheat, barley, sorghum and canola
• Prove the ability to manage uninterrupted travel of airflow through large grain mass of various
types of grain
• Demonstrate the ability ambient aeration has to reduce shrinkage [drying out] of grain, in
particular oilseeds
• Demonstrate that automated control units can effectively operate aeration fans, most especially
once relative humidity levels are reached
• Prove the long term capacity of the automated control unit for many years without replacement

2. • Demonstrate that grain loss could be easily and effectively reduced to 0.25% in bulk grain
storage where aeration and Grainair Australia grain care protocols are used
The research area was extended in 2009 when Grainair Australia commenced refitting of 20 C288
sheds and 30+ grain bunker sites for GrainCorp at a number of sites including Dubbo, Narrabri, Moree,
Junee, Boree Creek, Wyalong and Parkes. Grainair Australia worked on this project until 2013.
The trial period ended in 2010 and with all objectives proven to be true, Grainair Australia was
registered as a company and has commercialised and brought to the grain industry the technology for
cost effective aeration and drying of bulk grain, as well as bunker, shed and silo construction and grain
care management. Prior to this Wayne Paddison operated Grainair Australia as a sole trader.
In the past 5 years Grainair Australia has carried out 150+ bunker retrofits and 45 grain shed refits in
Australia, working collaboratively with our clients to achieve their desired outcomes and timeframes.
International Experience
• Built 3 x 5,000 tonne capacity grain bunkers in the Democratic Republic of Congo for GDK
Farming as a “turnkey” project which Grainair Australia was invited to manage from design
through earthworks to construction and the ongoing management of the site. This project
allowed Grainair Australia to undertake additional aeration trials, particularly in relation to drying
grain [maize] from 22% moisture to industry quality standard of 14%. Using high ambient drying
fans this was achieved in 2 weeks with grain quality maintained. During these trials Grainair
Australia proved that running air constantly through a grain mass prevented immediate
spoilage of the grain. They also discovered that it was possible to dry grain over extended
periods of time and that this allowed for more precise management of grain moisture
[and therefore grain quality] as the grain care operator determined.
• Confirmation that use of ambient drying [as carried out for the Congo project] represents an
operational cost saving of 75% when compared to costs of running standard grain dryers.
• Through use of aeration and grain care protocols minimised loss of maize to 0.25% from a level
of 60% in the previous year. Using Grainair Australia equipment and protocols, GDK Farming
has maintained grain loss at these grain bunkers at 0.25%.
• Formed joint venture with Sansuy Plastics [tarpaulin supplier] from Sao Paulo, Brazil in 2014,
recruiting and training an in-country agent and developing marketing material used in
countrywide presentations to the grain industry, grain handlers, farmers and government
representatives over a period of 9 months. Discussions regarding several projects are ongoing.
Wayne is an experienced project manager who works collaboratively with others to develop and
implement a customised grain storage and grain care response and who has the capacity to mobilise
and manage teams of employees in locations throughout the world.
Wayne has a strong entrepreneurial streak and is a well known innovator whose focus is to find
solutions and to implement them as effectively and cost efficiently as possible.

3. Wayne has built extensive Australian and international networks in the grain and aeration industries
and is very experienced at leveraging these to build his own skills and knowledge and to develop
creative solutions to grain care, grain handling, grain storage and grain production matters.