The Role of the Board |
Land & Water Australia (LWA) is a body corporate with perpetual succession and a common seal. As a corporation established by legislation, LWA has the functions and powers provided for in its enabling legislation, which includes a general power to do what is necessary to carry out its functions. |
Service as Chairman of the Board of Land & Water Australia began for Roberta (Bobbie) Brazil in July 2001.
In addition to representing Land & Water Australia at this level she has served on board committees and held positions with organisations which share interests in sustainable primary production, protection and restoration of the natural environment, and the advancement of knowledge. Positions held during 2007-08 include those of Chair of the Australian Landcare Council and Chancellor of the University of Southern Queensland. In addition, she has been a member of several primary industry bodies ranging from the Condamine River Basin Irrigators Association and the Northern Territory Cattlemen's Association, which reflect the interests of her family's mixed farming and pastoral business.
Appointed to the Board of Land & Water Australia in July 2008, Nick Austin's background is in natural resource research and policy. He is Deputy Director General of the NSW Department of Primary Industries and leads the Department's Science and Research Division, which enhances the growth, sustainability and biosecurity of the State's primary industries. His responsibilities include coordinating research investments of over $100 million per annum, fostering science alliances and joint ventures, and developing knowledge to support public policy. He is a member of the Australian Gene Technology Standing Committee and sits on a number of governing boards of both incorporated and unincorporated entities.
He is a Certified Irrigation Designer, holds a Bachelor of Engineering in Agriculture (Hons), a Master of Sustainable Management, and a PhD in sustainable agriculture, and is a graduate of both the Australian Rural Leadership Program and the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
Joining the Board of Land & Water Australia in July 2005, Dianne Bentley brought extensive experience in environmental matters, particularly integrated catchment management.
She is Assistant Commissioner of the Natural Resources Commission of New South Wales and has chaired the Liverpool Plains Land Management Committee. There has been service on the Northern Regional Panel of the Grains Research and Development Corporation and with the Cotton Catchment Communities Cooperative Research Centre as a director.
Appointed to the Board of land & Water Australia in July 2008, Stuart Blanch is from a farming family on the NSW north coast and has worked in river and catchment management for the past 10 years.
He leads the World Wildlife Fund Australia's advocacy and policy functions in Northern Australia and has special expertise and interest in the National Water Initiative and the National Water Plan. Notable efforts to influence policy in the Northern Territory have been made over the issues of land clearing and preservation of freshwater river and streams. Outside the Northern Territory subjects of interest have included environmental flows in major rivers.
Appointed to the Board of Land & Water Australia in July 2008, David Eyre's background is in natural resource policy and research. He is currently Senior Policy Manager with the NSW Farmers' Association, Australia's largest farmer representative body, and works closely with the National Farmers Federation on national policy issues including climate change adaptation and emissions trading. He previously held senior policy and science roles with the NSW Department of Land & Water Conservation working on the NSW water, native vegetation and forestry reforms and directing the NSW Salinity Information Program.
He holds a B.Sc (Melb) and M.EnvS (Melb) and is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and the NSW Premier's Department Executive Development Program. His research interests include climate change, sustainable farming technologies, market-based instruments and opportunities for renewable energy in regional Australia.
Rowan Foley was appointed to the Board of land & Water Australia in July 2008, having had a strong connection with the land all his life and experience in land management and policies for the best use and protection of natural environments.
Currently the Chief Executive Officer with the Central Desert Shire Council in the Northern Territory, which covers 282,000 square kilometres and supports nine communities and significant mining and pastoral businesses, he has brought to the Board a high level of management skill. In addition, he has a valuable knowledge of Aboriginal tradition and values. Positions held during Rowan Foley's career include ranger, environment officer, planning and research officer, and park manager.
Ted Lefroy, who was appointed in July 2005, is the Director of the Centre for Environment at the University of Tasmania.
A member of the Tasmanian Natural Resource Management Council and a participant in several project committees, he has 30 years of involvement in rural extension and research in Australia and overseas. Experience has included working for departments of primary industries and serving as a member of the Cooperative Research Centre for Legumes in Mediterranean Agriculture and the Cooperative Research Centre for Plant-Based Management of Dryland Salinity. Research interests are in perennial farming systems, agroforestry and the management of biodiversity in production landscapes.
Appointed in November 2006, Michael Robinson has worked in research, communication, business development and policy, in Australia and New Zealand.
Prior to joining Land & Water Australia he was Chief Executive Officer with the Cooperative Research Centre for Greenhouse Accounting.
Employment has included working with CSIRO Forestry and Forest Products in business development, management and communication roles focusing on environmentally sustainable forestry. He has also worked with the Heartlands Initiative (a large, multi-agency research and land-use change project working with landholders in southern New South Wales and northern Victoria).
Trained as a scientist, his PhD, examining the sustainability of using wastes to fertilise plantation forests, was completed in 1999 with CSIRO and the University of Melbourne.
A cereal and pig producer from South Australia, Sharon Starick has combined her primary production interests with conservation and natural resource management.
Her background includes time as a landcare officer with the South Australian Department of Primary Industries and Resources SA, and as a ranger with the Australian National Parks and Wildlife Service. She has also had advisory roles relating to rural adjustment and has participated in her local catchment management group. Service has been given on the Mallee Sustainable Farming Board, the Mid Murray Animal and Plant Control Board, and the SA Farmers Federation Pork Section, while continuing to serve as Executive Officer with the Soil Boards Committee.
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