When Sophie Lyne signed up for her first harvest job in the sample stand, she was looking for experience close to home. A few years later, she’s coordinating grain shipments to international customers – and determining where her GrainCorp career could take her next.

Agriculture was always part of life for Sophie, who grew up on a farm near Cootamundra, NSW. While studying science at the University of Sydney, she returned home each harvest to work in GrainCorp’s sample stands.

“I loved being on the ground during harvest, meeting farmers and working with a fun crew,” Sophie says.

Those seasons gave her more than just hands-on experience. They also sparked a curiosity about what happens to the grain after the trucks leave site.

“I became increasingly curious about the bigger grains supply chain – where the grain goes, how it’s traded, and how it reaches customers,” says Sophie.

“It’s amazing that a tiny grain grown in a paddock in Cootamundra could end up all the way in Thailand or Europe.”

That curiosity led Sophie into GrainCorp’s graduate program as a Demand Planner in 2025, where she worked on coordinating road and rail movements for domestic customers.

“It was a really good role to start in – planning is a big team filled with experienced people, so I had a lot of access to guidance and support,” Sophie says.

Not long into Sophie’s time in GrainCorp’s Sydney office, a secondment opportunity came up in export container planning.  

“I hadn’t ever been to a port, and my managers encouraged me to apply, so I jumped on it,” Sophie says.

“I thought it could be really cool to learn about where else our grain goes outside the country.”

Now supporting operations through GrainCorp’s Geelong Port, Sophie’s work touches quality and supply chain to port operations, coordinating shipments to customers across Asia. It’s a fast-paced environment, with changing schedules and tight export specifications.

“It’s been a huge learning experience. The quality requirements on exports are very strict, so I’ve learned a lot of technical knowledge about residue limits and pests,” says Sophie.

Sophie recently had the opportunity to visit the Geelong port, helping bring the big picture together.

“It can be hard to comprehend the magnitude and skill involved in loading an export vessel, so seeing it in action at Geelong was an incredible experience.”

“The best part for me is knowing that we’re feeding people. The containers are going to Myanmar, Taiwan, Vietnam – everywhere. It’s so cool to see something our farmers are so proud of go so far.”

Like many early-career professionals, Sophie is still figuring out the path she’d like to follow.

“I’m still not sure where I want to go, so having exposure so many things has made me realise how diverse GrainCorp is and how many different paths you could take,” says Sophie.

Her advice for others starting out is simple – and something she tries to apply every day:

“Stay curious. There is always something new to learn, just be open to new experiences.”

If Sophie’s career story has sparked your interest, be sure to check out our careers page to see our current opportunities.