Robert (Rob) Lee, a sheep and beef producer in central west NSW, is one of our climate smart farmers in focus. Rob and his family have changed the structure of their farm business to better manage increased climate-volatility.
Dr Robin Gunning is a world authority on insecticide resistance, recently retiring from Principal Research Scientist with the NSW Department of Primary Industries. Robin’s work has resulted in major advances, with international patents and awards including the Churchill Fellowship. Concerned about rural community disbelief in climate change and the effects on agriculture, Robin joined the Al Gore’s Climate Reality Project, giving presentations to raise the profile of climate issues in her area and with politicians.
Queensland grazier Simon Gedda has found a ‘healthy environment equals healthy cows equals a healthy bank account!’
Robert has been growing sugar cane in Northern NSW for over 50 years, and is passionate about developing practices on his farm to address climate variability in a changing climate. Robert has been recognised for his admirable environmental work, receiving the 16th McKell Medal in 2006, and being selected as the Australian Carbon Farmer of the Year in 2014.
Jim farms on the Liverpool Plains in NSW. His interests and studies are inspired by understanding and mitigating risks to the maintenance of the natural resources and landscape systems supporting his business, local environment and community. Jim is a member of the CSIRO Land and Water Flagship Advisory Committee. He has GCs in Environmental Science, Management and Planning of Natural Hazards and is studying for his Masters. Jim is a past member of the Federal Independent Expert Scientific Committee for Coal Seam Gas and Large Scale Coal Mining. Jim has a long history in natural resource management (water reform, research and development, resilience, and cumulative impacts), and was the inaugural Chairman of the Namoi Catchment Management Authority. Jim is a Governor Member of Farmers for Climate Action. Last year he led the charge for renewable energy as the originator of an open letter in The Land which was signed by over 2,000 farmers.
Sarah Sulman
Breeza, NSW
Sarah Sulman
Breeza, NSW
Sarah Sulman is a young farmer from Breeza, producing sheep on the beautiful Liverpool Plains. Sarah has been heavily involved in the Liverpool Plains Youth, including leading local opposition to the Shenua Mine. An inspirational young woman, Sarah almost single handedly runs the family farm after the death of her grandfather and is emerging as a rising champion for rural Australia. Sarah’s passion for agriculture and her dedication to sustainability has earned her considerable respect from the conservative agricultural community.
Angus Emmott
Longreach QLD
Angus is a third generation grazier, running Noonbah Station near Longreach in outback Queensland with his wife Karen. An expert in water management, he is former Chairman of the Lake Eyre Basin Community Advisory Committee and a former member of the Great Artesian Basin Coordinating Committee, a government advisory body. He is also a self taught naturalist fascinated by the flora and fauna of the Australian arid zone. In 2004 Angus was awarded an honorary masters of science degree by the University of Central Queensland.
Matthew Pitt
Huon Valley, TAS
Matthew has experience running his mixed farm of wool, beef and cropping in the beautiful Derwent Valley. After recently selling his family farm, Matthew has moved to the Huon Valley, Franklin, where he is starting up a consultancy business. Mr Pitt is the former chairman of Landcare Tasmania, worked on the board of the National Resource Management South, and is also the co-convenor of Climate Tasmania. Matthew is a very passionate man when it comes to doing more to combat climate change and promote sustainable agriculture for the future.
Dr Robin Gunning
Tamworth, NSW
Dr Robin Gunning is a world authority on insecticide resistance, recently retiring from Principal Research Scientist with the NSW Department of Primary Industries. Robin’s work has resulted in major advances, with international patents and awards including the Churchill Fellowship. Concerned about rural community disbelief in climate change and the effects on agriculture, Robin joined the Al Gore’s Climate Reality Project, giving presentations to raise the profile of climate issues in her area and with politicians.
Robert Quirk
Tweed Valley, NSW
Robert has been growing sugar cane in Northern NSW for over 50 years, and is passionate about developing practices on his farm to address climate variability in a changing climate. Robert has been recognised for his admirable environmental work, receiving the 16th McKell Medal in 2006, and being selected as the Australian Carbon Farmer of the Year in 2014.
Andrew Pauley
Pingelly, WA
Andrew is the third generation on his farm, with over 30 years farming experience. Andrew believes that WA farmers are on the front line of climate change, with reduced winter growing season rainfall. Andrew is now a strong advocate for the need to reduce carbon pollution nationally via government policy.
Greg Dennis
Beaudesert, QLD
Greg is a fifth-generation dairy farmer that was named the 2014 Australian Dairy Farmer of the Year. After exiting the industry in protest of the deregulation in 2003, he since re-entered and is now an advocate to consumers on the importance of
farming in Australia. Now facing the direct impacts of rising temperatures from climate change on his farm, Greg is passionate about a need for government policy to support the transition to clean, renewable energies.
David Bruer
Langhorne Creek, SA
David has been experiencing first hand the impact climate change has on the wine industry, with significant fruit losses and seasonal changes. Running three carbon neutral vineyards using a variety of adaption tools to address climate change, David believes that we have no choice but to address climate change in order for there to be a future for farming.
Derek and Kirrily Blomfield
Liverpool Plains, NSW
The Blomfield’s are the founders of the initiative, The Conscious Farmer, producing nourishing grass fed beef, directly from their farm to your plate. This movement attempts to express the importance of every farming decisions impact on the environment, the quality of produce, the community and farming generations to come. Strong advocates for sustainable farming, Derek and Kirrily were also awarded the NSW farmers of the year in 2014.
Jon Wright
Cowra, NSW
Jon is a seedstock and commercial beef producer from Cowra, in Central NSW. He breeds composite cattle and is passionate about improving efficiency and productivity within the beef industry. In recognising the contribution of the beef industry to overall emissions, Jon wants to support and encourage the industry to adapt their practices to ensure both the industry and the environment have a viable future.
Lynne Strong
Jamberoo, NSW
At its peak Lynne Strong’s award winning family farming operation proudly provided the milk for 50,000 Australian breakfasts every day. Lynne has won some of agriculture’s most prestigious awards including the inaugural Bob Hawke Landcare Award, the National Landcare Primary Producer Award, as well as being both a Eureka Prize and Banksia Award finalist. Lynne has a vision for agriculture as the strong, prosperous and vibrant building block underpinning the health and happiness of Australia’s landscape and people. Under the banner of Picture You in Agriculture, Lynne has brought together a team of experts to help young people develop the innovative ideas, tools and relationships they need to create the next exciting chapter in the future of Australia’s agri-sector.
Gavin Scurr
Wamuran, QLD
Gavin is a seasoned fresh produce grower and industry leader with over 30 years’ experience in Australian horticulture. Gavin is passionate about farming pineapples, strawberries and mangoes responsibly as climate change predictions forecast rising temperatures and extreme rainfall. Piñata Farms is renowned for innovation and commitment to quality as a result of farming adaptations.
Charlie Prell
Crookwell, NSW
The Prell family have owned a sheep and cattle grazing property in Crookwell for over a century. Charlie Prell is passionate about farming and has expanded this passion to include wind farms. A committed member of the Crookwell community, Charlie has also been championing wind farms and the potential benefits they can bring to regional communities for many years. He strongly endorses moves towards a benefit sharing planning and development model for wind farms. As well as managing his farm, Charlie is also currently working part-time as the NSW Regional Organiser for the for the Australian Wind Alliance.
Sid Plant
Darling Downs, QLD
Sid is a fifth-generation cattleman who is passionate about sharing his vision for a climate-safe farming future. Sid and his family have pioneered new sustainable research practices to cope with climate change in their area. They have also assisted with revealing how best to apply climate science and forecasting to agricultural planning, risk management and climate change relevant policy. Sid has won several awards for his tireless work in communicating climate issues through his well known talk, "Climate Change in a Nutshell" and work with leading climate scientists.
John Pettigrew
Goulburn Valley, VIC
John is a retired fruit grower from Bunbartha, north of Shepparton in Victoria. He was a director of major Australian fruit processing company SPC Ltd for 13 years. Other past directorships have included Goulburn Murray Water and the Goulburn Broken Catchment Management Authority. John was also the founding Chair of the Environmental Farmers Network. Over the past decade, John has also been an adamant spokesperson on climate change, presenting widely with the Climate Reality Project.
Anika Molesworth
Broken Hill, NSW
Anika is the Australian Young Farmer of the Year and a 2015 Crawford Scholar. Her family runs a dorper sheep station near Broken Hill and she is passionate about sustainable farming practices. Anika is currently completing her PhD in international agricultural development, focusing on improving soil fertility in water constrained environments.
Marian Macdonald
Gippsland, VIC
Drawn by a love of cows and the land, Marian Macdonald interrupted a public relations career in the city to become a dairy farmer. In her well-known Milk Maid Marian blog, she writes about the roller-coaster ride of life on the farm with two young children, as she and husband Wayne not only chart their course through fire, flood and drought but innovate to cope with the changing climate.
Peter Holding
Harden, NSW
Peter is a third-generation farmer in south east NSW, growing crops such as canola and wheat, as well as running sheep for wool. Peter is also a member of the Climate Kelpie – a central location for farmers after practical information and tools with which to manage climate change risk and impacts. Peter has an extensive knowledge and first hand experience with the strategies farmers can use to manage and adapt to climate change.
Liz Hirst
Cape Tribulation, QLD
Originally from the UK, Liz is the joint owner of Wildwood and the Cape Trib Exotic Fruit Farm in the QLD heritage listed Daintree rainforest. The orchard has 800 trees and 50 different species of rare exotic fruit, including mangosteens, soursop and rollinia. With Cape Tribulation being the largest community in Australia to live off the grid, Liz is passionate about addressing climate change by harvesting rainwater, using solar power and educating her guests on how to take a carbon neutral holiday.
Josh Gilbert
Canberra, ACT
Josh is a young farmer and climate advocate, with a passion for his aboriginal and agricultural heritage. Josh has been recognised for this agricultural and climate change advocacy, being selected for and receiving many awards throughout 2015. These include selection in the Pro Bono Australia’s Impact 25 most influential people in the not for profit sector, leading the NSW young farmers climate change motion at the NSW Farmers Annual Conference, and attending Paris for the COP21 and the Conference of Youth.
Lucinda Corrigan
Albury, NSW
Growing up in Western NSW, Lucinda now runs a large multi-property cattle genetics enterprise with her husband in the Murray Valley, east of Albury. Lucinda’s leadership on climate change adaption in the grazing industry was recognised by the National Climate Change and Research facility, being named the 2012 Climate Adaption Champion. To accompany this, Lucinda is also the Director or Chair of multiple Organisations and Councils, including the Commissioner of the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research.
Andrew is the third generation on his farm, with over 30 years farming experience. Andrew believes that WA farmers are on the front line of climate change, with reduced winter growing season rainfall. Andrew is now a strong advocate for the need to reduce carbon pollution nationally via government policy.
Sarah Sulman is a young farmer from Breeza, producing sheep on the beautiful Liverpool Plains. Sarah has been heavily involved in the Liverpool Plains Youth, including leading local opposition to the Shenua Mine. An inspirational young woman, Sarah almost single handedly runs the family farm after the death of her grandfather and is emerging as a rising champion for rural Australia. Sarah’s passion for agriculture and her dedication to sustainability has earned her considerable respect from the conservative agricultural community.
Greg is a fifth-generation dairy farmer that was named the 2014 Australian Dairy Farmer of the Year. After exiting the industry in protest of the deregulation in 2003, he since re-entered and is now an advocate to consumers on the importance of
farming in Australia. Now facing the direct impacts of rising temperatures from climate change on his farm, Greg is passionate about a need for government policy to support the transition to clean, renewable energies.
farming in Australia. Now facing the direct impacts of rising temperatures from climate change on his farm, Greg is passionate about a need for government policy to support the transition to clean, renewable energies.
Angus is a third generation grazier, running Noonbah Station near Longreach in outback Queensland with his wife Karen. An expert in water management, he is former Chairman of the Lake Eyre Basin Community Advisory Committee and a former member of the Great Artesian Basin Coordinating Committee, a government advisory body. He is also a self taught naturalist fascinated by the flora and fauna of the Australian arid zone. In 2004 Angus was awarded an honorary masters of science degree by the University of Central Queensland.
David has been experiencing first hand the impact climate change has on the wine industry, with significant fruit losses and seasonal changes. Running three carbon neutral vineyards using a variety of adaption tools to address climate change, David believes that we have no choice but to address climate change in order for there to be a future for farming.
Matthew has experience running his mixed farm of wool, beef and cropping in the beautiful Derwent Valley. After recently selling his family farm, Matthew has moved to the Huon Valley, Franklin, where he is starting up a consultancy business. Mr Pitt is the former chairman of Landcare Tasmania, worked on the board of the National Resource Management South, and is also the co-convenor of Climate Tasmania. Matthew is a very passionate man when it comes to doing more to combat climate change and promote sustainable agriculture for the future.
The Blomfield’s are the founders of the initiative, The Conscious Farmer, producing nourishing grass fed beef, directly from their farm to your plate. This movement attempts to express the importance of every farming decisions impact on the environment, the quality of produce, the community and farming generations to come. Strong advocates for sustainable farming, Derek and Kirrily were also awarded the NSW farmers of the year in 2014.
Jon is a seedstock and commercial beef producer from Cowra, in Central NSW. He breeds composite cattle and is passionate about improving efficiency and productivity within the beef industry. In recognising the contribution of the beef industry to overall emissions, Jon wants to support and encourage the industry to adapt their practices to ensure both the industry and the environment have a viable future.
Drawn by a love of cows and the land, Marian Macdonald interrupted a public relations career in the city to become a dairy farmer. In her well-known Milk Maid Marian blog, she writes about the roller-coaster ride of life on the farm with two young children, as she and husband Wayne not only chart their course through fire, flood and drought but innovate to cope with the changing climate.
At its peak Lynne Strong’s award winning family farming operation proudly provided the milk for 50,000 Australian breakfasts every day. Lynne has won some of agriculture’s most prestigious awards including the inaugural Bob Hawke Landcare Award, the National Landcare Primary Producer Award, as well as being both a Eureka Prize and Banksia Award finalist. Lynne has a vision for agriculture as the strong, prosperous and vibrant building block underpinning the health and happiness of Australia’s landscape and people. Under the banner of Picture You in Agriculture, Lynne has brought together a team of experts to help young people develop the innovative ideas, tools and relationships they need to create the next exciting chapter in the future of Australia’s agri-sector.
Peter is a third-generation farmer in south east NSW, growing crops such as canola and wheat, as well as running sheep for wool. Peter is also a member of the Climate Kelpie – a central location for farmers after practical information and tools with which to manage climate change risk and impacts. Peter has an extensive knowledge and first hand experience with the strategies farmers can use to manage and adapt to climate change.
Gavin is a seasoned fresh produce grower and industry leader with over 30 years’ experience in Australian horticulture. Gavin is passionate about farming pineapples, strawberries and mangoes responsibly as climate change predictions forecast rising temperatures and extreme rainfall. Piñata Farms is renowned for innovation and commitment to quality as a result of farming adaptations.
Originally from the UK, Liz is the joint owner of Wildwood and the Cape Trib Exotic Fruit Farm in the QLD heritage listed Daintree rainforest. The orchard has 800 trees and 50 different species of rare exotic fruit, including mangosteens, soursop and rollinia. With Cape Tribulation being the largest community in Australia to live off the grid, Liz is passionate about addressing climate change by harvesting rainwater, using solar power and educating her guests on how to take a carbon neutral holiday.
Sid is a fifth-generation cattleman who is passionate about sharing his vision for a climate-safe farming future. Sid and his family have pioneered new sustainable research practices to cope with climate change in their area. They have also assisted with revealing how best to apply climate science and forecasting to agricultural planning, risk management and climate change relevant policy. Sid has won several awards for his tireless work in communicating climate issues through his well known talk, "Climate Change in a Nutshell" and work with leading climate scientists.
Josh is a young farmer and climate advocate, with a passion for his aboriginal and agricultural heritage. Josh has been recognised for this agricultural and climate change advocacy, being selected for and receiving many awards throughout 2015. These include selection in the Pro Bono Australia’s Impact 25 most influential people in the not for profit sector, leading the NSW young farmers climate change motion at the NSW Farmers Annual Conference, and attending Paris for the COP21 and the Conference of Youth.
John is a retired fruit grower from Bunbartha, north of Shepparton in Victoria. He was a director of major Australian fruit processing company SPC Ltd for 13 years. Other past directorships have included Goulburn Murray Water and the Goulburn Broken Catchment Management Authority. John was also the founding Chair of the Environmental Farmers Network. Over the past decade, John has also been an adamant spokesperson on climate change, presenting widely with the Climate Reality Project.
Growing up in Western NSW, Lucinda now runs a large multi-property cattle genetics enterprise with her husband in the Murray Valley, east of Albury. Lucinda’s leadership on climate change adaption in the grazing industry was recognised by the National Climate Change and Research facility, being named the 2012 Climate Adaption Champion. To accompany this, Lucinda is also the Director or Chair of multiple Organisations and Councils, including the Commissioner of the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research.
Anika is the Australian Young Farmer of the Year and a 2015 Crawford Scholar. Her family runs a dorper sheep station near Broken Hill and she is passionate about sustainable farming practices. Anika is currently completing her PhD in international agricultural development, focusing on improving soil fertility in water constrained environments.
