Jan runs the show. She is the public face of the TFGA. When she is not on TV, on the radio or in the papers, she works on the continuing evolution of agricultural policy with the interests of Tasmanian farmers in mind. She hassles and haggles with three tiers of government, attends countless (sometimes seemingly endless) meetings throughout the state and interstate, and oversees the office administration. Jan is committed to strong corporate governance. She has more degrees than you can poke a stick at, so be careful when engaging.

Nick is responsible for organizing, facilitating and ensuring effective and efficient management of the TFGA policy and advocacy unit.  Specific areas that he looks after include biosecurity, chemicals, forestry and RD&E.  He is also responsible for providing high level policy advice and analysis, and communications directly to the CEO. Through his position at the TFGA, Nick is a director of TQA Australia.

Brigid has been working in the environmental industry for 20 years, long before it was considered an industry. She previously worked as a researcher, a consultant and was an associate lecturer in geography and environmental science at the Launceston campus of the University of Tasmania. Her most recent projects have involved climate change impact and adaptation research.

Brigid’s role at the TFGA focuses on providing policy advice on the rapidly expanding environmental portfolio area in agriculture, a complex one for farmers to contend with. In that role she develops ways for farmers to benefit from initiatives associated with climate change amelioration, such as carbon farming.

Brigid is our resident boffin. She is close to completing her PhD thesis on Tasmanian sea levels relative to climate change over the past 8000 years.

Kim works with all the TFGA’s commodity committees and groups to assist with policy development.  She was born in Launceston but has spent much of her life working overseas as a meat scientist and human nutritionist. Before joining the TFGA Kim worked as a policy advisor with the National Beef Association in the UK and then became its executive director.

A key role for her with the TFGA is working with external stakeholders and businesses to improve the TFGA’s partnership arrangements and the profitability of each sector.

Andrew is the state’s first vegetable industry facilitator, a joint appointment of the State Government and the TFGA. His appointment followed the reappraisal of the future of vegetable growing in the light of McCain Foods’ decision to close its vegetable processing plant at Smithton in 2010. Andrew’s background is in strategic industry development. His role is to update and implement the five-year Tasmanian Vegetable Industry Strategic Plan, launched in 2007. That seeks innovation in industry culture and structures, products and services, market development, marketing and PR, inter alia.

Melinda’s is a constantly challenging position in that it is a fluid role that reflects the issues of the day. The policy areas that are constants are energy, industrial relations, occupational health and safety and education. Some of the external bodies with which she deals are Proactive Agricultural Safety and Support (PASS), WorkCover, Workplace Standards Tasmania, Tasmanian Life Long Learning, the Department of Infrastructure, Energy and Resources, local government bodies, the Rural Support Network and the National Broadband Network.

Christine Miller copy to come.

Nardia is in charge of marketing, events and communications within the organisation. That includes organising the TFGA annual conference, awards dinner and field trip, and the association’s site at Agfest. She edits the monthly magazine VOICE and e-newsletter FastNews. Nardia manages the website, promotional material and issues the association’s media releases. She also looks after its business partners.

Chris came to the TFGA in February 2011 after 20 years with accounting firms and small business. A chartered accountant, he manages the TFGA’s finance, accounting and IT functions. This includes treasury, corporate finance, management of working capital and preparation of finance reports to the board. He also has input into human resource and management functions, and the development of the TFGA’s strategic direction, policy framework and business development.

Ian liaises with landholders on irrigation matters, normally through the irrigator representative bodies that have been established strategically around the state. They are the primary conduit between landholders and Tasmanian Irrigation Pty Ltd. Tasmanian Irrigation is developing 13 irrigation schemes across the state to service areas that have demonstrated a need for high surety irrigation water. Each scheme has a committee of irrigators, who are heavily involved in the design, building and operation of the scheme.

This is a part-time role, responsible for developing, coordinating, implementing and monitoring all tasks that relate to any specific project. David ensures that initiatives funded by the TFGA or other agencies are implemented for the benefit of the farming and rural community. Examples include property management planning, leadership courses, irrigation awareness workshops, the digital economy and agricultural skills plans.

Fiona acts as the secretary of the TFGA board and executive assistant to CEO Jan Davis and president David Gatenby as well as to commodity councils and committees. She performs the secretariat role for more than 60 meetings through the year. Fiona also has the responsibility of managing the TFGA membership database, which is a key ingredient in maintaining a close relationship with members.

Louise “Lou” Knowles joined the TFGA in September 2011 as its part-time receptionist for 12 months. Her recent employment included two years as an executive assistant with John Thorp Australia, which provides policy, strategic and operational advice to government and commercial organisations in the field of natural resource management, agriculture and the environment.