The AGCO Agriculture Foundation team is working to ensure no farmer and farming community is left behind.
Our Foundation Board
Our Foundation Board is dedicated to maintaining the highest standards of ethical conduct and responsible governance of the AGCO Agriculture Foundation. All members guide our development, foundation practices and impact.
Roger N. Batkin
Board Chair
Roger N. Batkin leads the AGCO Agriculture Foundation Board and, as Board Chairman, oversees the Foundation's strategy, and functions, including finance, legal and operations.
Roger N. Batkin is Senior Vice President, General Counsel, Chief ESG Officer and Corporate Secretary at AGCO Corporation. Mr. Batkin has overall responsibility for AGCO’s legal matters, including the ethics and compliance program, regulatory and securities filings, intellectual property, mergers, acquisitions, joint ventures and other worldwide legal activities. Mr. Batkin also leads the Corporation’s sustainability strategies, activities and public reporting. He is responsible for the corporate administration, and records and supports and counsels the AGCO Board of Directors on governance and other matters.
Mr. Batkin joined AGCO in 2000 as European Legal Counsel.
Prior to joining AGCO, Mr. Batkin was an attorney with an international law firm based in the United Kingdom.
“The AGCO Agriculture Foundation is committed to improving our agricultural communities and the promotion of sustainable agriculture through meaningful and impact-driven initiatives.”
Damon Audia
Board Member
Damon Audia is Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of AGCO Corporation. He is responsible for ensuring AGCO is well-positioned to achieve its farmer-first strategy, delivering significant value to all stakeholders and achieving our growth ambitions.
Prior to joining AGCO in July 2022, Mr. Audia served as Senior Vice President and CFO at Kennametal, Inc. and Carpenter Technology Corporation, consecutively. He also spent ten years in various leadership roles at The Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company, including serving as Senior Vice President of Finance for the company's North America division. In addition, Mr. Audia held various financial positions at Delphi Corporation and General Motors.
Mr. Audia received a Master of Business Administration degree from Carnegie Mellon University and an undergraduate degree in general studies from the University of Michigan.
“To achieve food security and agricultural development in vulnerable communities around the world, both private and public sectors must strategically mobilize resources and work together to support farmers.”
Frédéric Devienne
Board Member
Mr. Frédéric Devienne serves as a Board Member and finance manager for the Foundation and monitors expenditures and donations. Mr. Devienne is Vice President, EME and Global Fendt-Valtra Finance, EME Regional Lead, for AGCO Corporation. Based in Switzerland, Mr. Devienne is responsible for managing AGCO’s financial planning, transactional and expert areas, and business support in Europe, Asia, Australia and export markets. He also serves as Managing Director of AGCO International GmbH. Mr. Devienne worked as well in the US, Canada, Germany, and France.
Prior to joining AGCO in 2007, Mr. Devienne held the roles of Finance Director, Financial Controller, and Vice President for CNH Industrial and Financial Analyst, Senior Financial Analyst, Assistant Controller, Controller, and Finance Director for Case Corporation.
He holds a Master of Business Administration degree with an international business focus from Bowling Green State University in Bowling Green, Ohio, and a graduate business degree from Audencia Business School in Nantes, France.
“To transform the agri-food sector, we must focus on supporting sustainable food production by building the necessary infrastructure for marginalized farming communities to thrive and promoting the fair treatment of farm animals in our agricultural projects globally.”
Louisa Parker-Smith
Board Member
Louisa Parker-Smith serves as Board Member and Managing Director for the AGCO Agriculture Foundation. She also holds the responsibility of Director Global Corporate Sustainability at AGCO Corporation where she is responsible developing and leading a comprehensive, integrated and coordinated corporate sustainability strategy across all AGCO regions, and brands.
Since joining AGCO in 2012, Louisa has held a variety of positions serving initially as Institutional funding and Stakeholder Relations lead for Africa and Middle East before relocating to Zambia in 2015 as Director of Distribution Development and Director AGCO Zambia.
In 2018 Louisa relocated to AGCOs Atlanta headquarters and served as Chief of Staff to AGCO’s CEO, overseeing various global strategic initiatives. Following this, Louisa was promoted to Global HR business partner, where she supported the Senior Vice presidents of three global functions, including manufacturing and quality, purchasing and materials management and global product management.
Before joining AGCO, Louisa spent 5 years with the Financial Inclusion Non-Profit, The Money Advice Trust. In her role as Head of Research and Policy she commissioned research, led cross sector initiatives, and chaired industry groups influencing UK and European legislation and industry codes of practice on consumer protection and financial inclusion following the aftermath of the 2007 UK financial crisis.
“The AGCO Agriculture Foundation through its focus on rural communities and youth engagement is planting the seeds of sustainability in the hands of the next generation of farmers, cultivating a brighter future for agriculture”.
Dr. Stefan Wenaweser
LL.M., Board Member
Dr. Stefan Wenaweser serves as a Board Member and the legal counsel for the Foundation. Dr. Wenaweser is Partner of Marxer & Partner Attorneys-at-Law in Vaduz, Liechtenstein, where he specializes in the formation and administration of foundations and trusts, litigation, and mutual legal assistance matters.
Dr. Wenaweser joined Marxer & Partner Attorneys-at-Law as an Associate in 2003. He was admitted to the bar and became Partner in 2008. Prior to Marxer & Partner, he held the role of Associate with Walch & Schurti Attorneys-at-Law and Judicial Clerk for the Princely Court in Vaduz.
He holds Magister Juris and Doctor Juris degrees from the University of Innsbruck in Innsbruck, Austria, and a master of law degree from King’s College London in London, England. He also completed the Erasmus Programme at the University of Paris Val-de-Marne in Paris, France.
“The future of our food systems is in the hands of our youth. To attract and retain young people in agriculture, we must prioritize access to knowledge, training and quality agricultural education.”