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Business Impact Director

Walter Batt

Walter holds deep family ties to regional Australia and is a passionate advocate for environmental and social causes.

Walter holds deep family ties to regional Australia and is a passionate advocate for environmental and social causes. An experienced sustainability governance practitioner, Walter leads complex innovations, manages risk and applies his deep strategic
engagement and relationships skills to achieve balanced outcomes for people, communities, and the planet.

Walter’s experience spans leading governance and delivery streams for corporate Environmental, Social and Corporate Governance (ESG) including being responsible for the impactful stewardship of substantial charitable and corporate funds. In addition, Walter has led policy, advocacy and communications for an agricultural NFP, delivering national submissions on sustainable agriculture, climate change, electricity transmission equity and health.

Drawn to FCA for its unifying ambition around shared purpose, Walter is determined to leverage his passion for the environment and genuine love for farmers and farming communities to amplify farmers’ voices and achieve strong climate policies that benefit and
protect regional communities in Australia. A Juris Doctor candidate at Monash University in his second year of study, Walter also holds a Bachelor of Communication (Public Relations, Politics).

Impact & Strategic Relationships Advisor

Rose Bourke

Rosie has over five years of experience working in philanthropy and high-value stakeholder management. She has led the grant and corporate partnerships work at two previous not-for-profits.

Rosie has over five years of experience working in philanthropy and high-value stakeholder management. She has led the grant and corporate partnerships work at two previous not-for-profits. Alongside these directorships, Rosie has worked at Farmers for Climate Action for two years in the fundraising team. Rosie moved to Farmers for a pivot to the climate action space, after beginning her career in the youth development sector. In addition to her fundraising work, Rosie is experienced in not-for-profit strategy and evaluation.
She has a love for systems management and evaluation processes.

She has facilitated workshops, training, and field days for thousands of young people, with a focus on developing key professional and citizenry skills in young regional students. In addition, she has led teams in research, strategy, and grants development. Rosie has a keen sense for professional development and mentoring that has continued from her time in youth development sector.

Rosie is also a recent graduate of an arts and social impact degree and has also worked in regional outreach and consultancy. Outside of Farmers for Climate Action, Rosie is a writer and a researcher.

Community Programs Manager

Atienne Bakker-Szumer

Atienne grew up in Lamington, Queensland, and is passionate about finding positive outcomes for farmers and rural communities whilst creating a more robust and sustainable food system.

Atienne grew up in Lamington, Queensland, and is passionate about finding positive outcomes for farmers and rural communities whilst creating a more robust and sustainable food system. Atienne has extensive experience in event organising, education, and project management which he brings from 8 years of experience within the creative arts. He comes to FCA having considerable experience with community outreach within the environmental non-for-profit sector.

Atienne has a Masters of International Relations where he studied the intersection between Climate Change, Agriculture, and Politics. He is constantly trying to further his understanding of farming practices and often spends time in Queensland on the family farm. He is currently based in Melbourne.

Office Manager

Tryphena Watson

Tryphena joins Farmers for Climate Action with over 20 years of experience in office coordination and administration-based roles within the media and marketing industries. Most recently Tryphena was the community development manager for a local community centre in Canberra, fulfilling her passion for developing and fostering community.

Tryphena joins Farmers for Climate Action with over 20 years of experience in office coordination and administration-based roles within the media and marketing industry in Adelaide as well as most recently in the community sector in Canberra.
Most recently Tryphena was the community development manager for a local community centre in Canberra, fulfilling her passion for developing and fostering community.
Based in Canberra, Tryphena loves the family lifestyle and opportunities offered by living in the bush capital.
CEO

Natalie Collard

Natalie is a highly-regarded advocate for regional Australia, agriculture, renewable energy, innovation and women’s leadership.

Natalie is a highly-regarded advocate for regional Australia, agriculture, renewable energy, innovation and women’s leadership.

An experienced cross-sectoral executive and board director, Natalie’s most recent role was CEO for Food and Fibre Great South Coast and Quartz Group, where she is an executive coach.

Her career highlights include being awarded Telstra Business Woman of the Year – Victoria (Community and Government, 2013) and Woman in Renewables of the Year (2018) for business transformation in dairy and energy respectively.

Natalie has spoken at the United Nations, managed over $1.2bn of corporate contracts, negotiated seven bilateral agreements, including Australia’s first treaty with an organisation, NATO, and was previously Chair of Women in Renewables.

Natalie’s other career highlights include managing Rural Affairs for the National Farmers’ Federation, and leading Telstra’s Corporate Affairs for Victoria and Tasmania.

Executive Assistant to the CEO and Project Coordinator

Kelsie Williams

Hailing from regional Victoria, Kelsie brings a unique perspective to environmental issues, having grown up in close proximity to farming communities.

Hailing from regional Victoria, Kelsie brings a unique perspective to environmental issues, having grown up in close proximity to farming communities. She is particularly invested in the well-being of farmers, drawing inspiration from her 97-year-old farming grandad, who continues to reside on a hobby farm. Kelsie has recently graduated with a bachelor’s degree of Environment and Society from RMIT. She is passionate about delving deep into environmental issues to arrive at optimal solutions. Her unwavering commitment to climate change action, environmental conservation, and sustainability drives her. She is dedicated to making a meaningful impact in these areas, leveraging her education and skills to contribute positively to our planet's future.
Community Outreach Officer

Peter Holding

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.

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.
Producer and Industry Development Adviser (currently on maternity leave)

Ellen Litchfield

Ellen and her husband live on the family property in the arid lands of South Australia near
Lake Eyre.

Ellen and her husband live on the family property in the arid lands of South Australia near Lake Eyre. With her family they run cattle and sheep on the pastoral rangelands. Before moving back to the property Ellen worked as a mixed animal veterinarian and was passionate about herd health and helping farmers with their animal health issues. After moving back to the station Ellen completed a masters of sustainable agriculture and a Nuffield agricultural scholarship where she studied the effects of climate change on pastoralism in the arid rangelands. The global travel associated with this scholarship highlighted the fundamental importance of effective policy frameworks in creating efficient and effective agricultural production systems. Ellen hopes to help position agriculture as the solution to mitigating and adapting to climate change and she believes this starts with engaged farmers.
General Manager Policy & Advocacy

Megan Hill

Megan is an environmental scientist with almost twenty years' experience. She is passionate about policy design that enables economy wide emissions reductions and supports sustainable food systems, farmers and regional communities.

Megan is an environmental scientist with almost twenty years' experience. She is passionate about policy design that enables economy wide emissions reductions and supports sustainable food systems, farmers and regional communities. Working on policy
and program development across a wide range of environmental, planning and social issues, Megan has used her communication skills to build understanding of complex ideas and foster collective support for change. Megan brings deep understanding of natural
environments, and economies that impact on them, together with deep analytical and research skills to find solutions to difficult problems. She is highly regarded for her track record of working collaboratively to advance environment, climate, energy, waste and water
policy.

Megan has a double degree in commerce (economics) and science (environmental), and postgraduate qualifications in development studies (international development/aid) and has over 30 years’ experience participating in the environment/NFP sector, and 15 years’ experience with government, statutory agencies and regulators, the last five years representing agriculture.

Policy and Farmer Engagement Officer

Paul Stark

Paul grew up in Toowoomba, Queensland, with farming being fundamental to his upbringing. He enjoys regular working visits to his family farm in the Northern Rivers of New South Wales, where they graze cattle. He is a recent graduate in both Law (majoring
in Climate Law with First Class Honours) and International Relations.

Paul grew up in Toowoomba, Queensland, with farming being fundamental to his upbringing. He enjoys regular working visits to his family farm in the Northern Rivers of New South Wales, where they graze cattle. He is a recent graduate in both Law (majoring
in Climate Law with First Class Honours) and International Relations.

Coming from a farming background, Paul understands the knowledge and wisdom that already exists in farming communities in matters of land and environment and firmly believes that embracing this wisdom, in partnership with innovation, policy change, and
scientific evidence, empowers farmers and regional communities to embrace sustainable action and lead the way for decarbonisation and climate friendly practice in Australia.

When he’s not on the farm or developing agriculture-friendly policy, Paul can be found enjoying a run or catching up with friends.

Communications and Impact Officer

Elinor Devenish-Meares

With a decade-long career in the fashion industry, the challenge of climate change drove Elinor to pursue a significant professional shift in a bid to align her pursuits with a deep commitment to caring for the environment. Degree-qualified in Environment and
Society, Elinor actively engages in community initiatives and has worked as a freelance sustainability consultant.

Originally hailing from Perth, Western Australia, Elinor's high school years were spent in Ipswich, United Kingdom, before making Melbourne her home. Her diverse life experiences have cultivated a sincere passion for environmental advocacy that she brings to Farmers for Climate Action.

With a decade-long career in the fashion industry, the challenge of climate change drove Elinor to pursue a significant professional shift in a bid to align her pursuits with a deep commitment to caring for the environment. Degree-qualified in Environment and
Society, Elinor actively engages in community initiatives and has worked as a freelance sustainability consultant. Her practical expertise, combined with academic knowledge, positions her as a valuable asset to address the intersection of climate change and
agriculture.

Beyond her professional commitments, Elinor holds a genuine desire to contribute to the wellbeing of our farmers and the broader community and is keen to leverage her proactive approach and stakeholder engagement skills to ensure FCA is working closely with farmers as we strive towards our ‘Farming Forever’ mission.

In her leisure time, Elinor finds joy in reading, walking her two dogs, and being in nature.

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