Board

Jane Carney - Chair

North East

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. 

Leanne Jackman - Deputy Chair (Operations)

Wimmera  

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.

Paul Foreman - Deputy Chair (Partnerships)

North Central

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.

Beth Ripper OAM - Secretary

East Gippsland

Beth is an active participant and enthusiastic promoter of community networks. She is a member the Boards of Maffra and District Landcare Network and the Gippsland Plains Rail trail and is President of the Avon Landcare Group and the Lakes Entrance Community Landcare Group. She has also served two terms as an elected Wellington Shire Councillor – including one term as Mayor. Beth is a founding member of The Wellington Sustainability Group, the Gippsland Climate Change Network and Segue Community Hub and Arts Café – Stratford’s Neighbourhood House. She has been working part time for the Gippsland Community Power Hub - working on community renewable energy and efficiency projects. She is also a partner in the Small Planet Cafe in Briagolong, providing great food to encourage a plant-based diet.

Alice Knight OAM

Corangamite

Alice is passionate about Landcare and was a keen leader in the Woady Yaloak catchment group. Alice won the Bob Hawke award for best farming practice and encouraging others to participate in Landcare, and is a recipient of the Joan Kirner award. Alice was awarded an OAM for services to the environment the CFA and the Anglican church of Australia and has just retired as chair of the Corangamite CMA having been the chair for 10 years. Alice is keen to see Landcare move forward with a new vision to support landowners’ participation and investment on the ground.

Vacant

Glenelg Hopkins

The Glenelg Hopkins director position is currently vacant.

 

Vacant

Goulburn Broken

The Goulburn Broken director position is currently vacant.

 

Vacant

Mallee

The Mallee director position is currently vacant.

 

John Birse

Port Phillip & Westernport

As a qualified Accountant and practicing bookkeeper, John has had a long association with financial governance and volunteering and sees Landcare as a key part in impacting environmental accounting and making a difference to threatened species. John lives in Dixons Creek in the Yarra Valley on 13 acres with miniature horses. He has been part of Northern Yarra Landcare Network (currently President/Treasurer) and Dixons Creek Landcare Group (currently President) for over 10 years. John sees Landcare Victoria playing an essential role in supporting grassroots landcare and making sure our community appreciates and supports the goals set by our members.

Ric Oldham

West Gippsland

Ric, as a four term Chair of the Bass Coast Landcare Network, has been a member of the Bass Valley Landcare Group since its inception having held the presidency of the group for three terms. As an Angus Beef Breeder at Archies Creek for the past twenty years, Ric looks to optimise their agricultural enterprise adopting sustainable farming for climate practices in their quest toward net zero GHG emissions, whilst protecting and enhancing the natural environment for the generations to come. Ric believes that within Landcare, we have passionate people tirelessly doing exceptional things for our community.

Kerri Robson

Professional Landcarer

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

Professional Landcarer

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.

Robert Spittle

Skills Based

Robert has more than 30 years of experience in shaping and building more effective organisations, and is currently working in management consulting, assisting businesses to become more sustainable and competitive. He is keen to bring these skills to the Landcare Victoria Inc. Board, to help it continue to build a more engaged and effective organisation. Robert is passionate about the land, and he and his family are actively involved in landcare in Gippsland and he believes that now is the time to shape a bold and sustainable future that future generations will be thankful for.