Board

Jane Carney - Chair

Jane is a livestock producer from Rosewhite in North East Victoria where she runs a beef enterprise on 426 hectares with a focus on breeding high performance Angus cattle. Jane grew up with intensive irrigated agriculture and has spent her professional career working within the agricultural sector in Australia and the USA. Jane believes that farmers as land stewards have a responsibility to the community to farm sustainably and in doing so, have an opportunity to be part of the solution for climate change. Jane has been Chair of the Landcare Victoria Inc. Board since May 2021. 

Paul Foreman - Deputy Chair (Partnerships)

Paul is a highly regarded and skilled ecologist and botanist and with over 30 years of experience in land management and nature conservation across a range of sectors specialising in botanical, vegetation management, strategic planning and biodiversity conservation services. Paul is also an ecologist with Biolinks Alliance, an NGO catalysing community-driven conservation and sustainable land management based on the principles of science, collaboration and innovation. Paul is also a member of the Muckleford Landcare group.

Abi Smith - Deputy Chair (Operations)

Abi (she/her) is a fauna ecologist and conservation biologist with over 20 years experience in threatened species recovery and broader landscape conservation. Abi is an experienced company director, specialising in not-for-profit governance. She is the Founder and CEO of the Threatened Species Conservancy, a nationwide not-for-profit that's working to save Australia's plants and animals from extinction. Abi has worked for federal and state government environment departments, landcare networks, Zoos Victoria and Melbourne Museum. In these positions she has managed large teams of environmental professionals, developed recovery strategies, undertaken ecological research and managed large scale habitat rehabilitation projects. Her expertise includes ornithology and herpetology, with a special interest in island conservation and translocation ecology. Abi holds a Masters of Environment in environmental policy and law, Bachelor of Science in Ecology, a Diploma of Leadership and Management and a Diploma of Governance for not-for-profits.

Tiffany Inglis - Secretary

Tiffany is based in central Victoria. She established and runs The Good Op Shop, a not-for-profit organisation in Castlemaine, which raises money for nature and works to keep as much out of landfill as possible. To date, The Good Op Shop has helped fund activities of four local landcare groups. Tiffany has worked for government and not-for-profit organisations, in Australia and overseas, in environmental communications. She loves the commitment of people who are part of landcare, the amount they achieve by working together and the common goal to see our land and waterways protected. Tiffany is a member of the Castlemaine Landcare Group.

Katherine Clift - Treasurer

Katherine is a senior non-executive director and GAICD graduate with over 20 years’ experience in governance, strategic leadership and stewardship of public-purpose organisations across government and the not-for-profit sector. Katherine brings deep expertise in board oversight, financial stewardship, risk management and stakeholder engagement, together with a strong professional commitment to environmental stewardship, biodiversity protection and community-led land management. She is an experienced contributor to environment and education governance, community-based organisations and inclusive, impact-focused strategy.

Leanne Jackman

Leanne is a long-term member of the Northern Grampians Landcare Group, and a member of the Project Platypus Board since 2008. She has enjoyed involvement with the Victorian Landcare Council and the Advisory Committee for the Wimmera Catchment Management Authority over the past few years. Leanne farms bio-dynamically with her husband on a property bordering the Grampians National Park, with a strong focus on sustainable farming practices.

Jessica Ditchfield

Jessica is a graduate of Environmental Science with hands-on experience across conservation, community engagement and local government advisory work. Jessica is experienced in data collection and analysis, report writing, stakeholder engagement and coordinating community and corporate-led environmental initiatives. She is known for her strong leadership, time management and communication skills, with a passion for supporting people and planet outcomes through practical, community-focused solutions.

Kerri Robson

As the Gecko CLaN Network Facilitator for the past 11 years, Kerri worked closely with and supported 13 Landcare groups stretching from Yarrawonga to the Strathbogies and across to Nagambie, to deliver a range of projects on the themes of sustainable agriculture, biodiversity, community engagement and emergency response. Now as the Executive Officer of Gecko CLaN, Kerri is focused on project funding, delivery outcomes and the future direction of Gecko CLaN. Kerri lives and works on a commercial Angus breeding property with a strong focus on being a profitable business and improving the land to leave the environment and landscape in a better condition for the future.

Andrea Montgomery

Andrea is the Landcare Facilitator for the Upper Barwon Landcare Network and has worked as a facilitator for over 20 years in the Mallee, Goulburn Broken and currently, the Corangamite region. Andrea is passionate about working with local communities who achieve amazing outcomes for the environment and farming practices in their back yards. Andrea is a committee member of the newly formed Friends of the Barwon, advocating for improved waterway health in the Barwon River system. Andrea also lives and works on a sheep grazing property with her family on the Surf Coast.