MEMBERSHIP
Lyn Coulston – Chairperson
Community Representative North East
As a community member of the Upper Murray Blackberry Action Group and Secretary of the Upper Murray Landcare Network, Lyn is a committed supporter of the community weed model.
Lyn operates a native plant propagation business, is a Board Member of the North East Catchment Management Authority and is involved with a broad range of community organizations in North East Victoria.
Lyn was elected Chairperson of the Victorian Blackberry Taskforce in November 2005
Virginia Harman
Department of Sustainability & Environment
Virginia currently works as a member of the Pest Management Unit in the Department of Sustainability and Environment in Melbourne. She has 20 years experience in natural resource management operations, planning and policy with a focus on public land.
Until 2003 Virginia worked in regional Victoria in forestry, and with her family ran a beef farming business in Victoria's North East.
Virginia joined the Victorian Blackberry Taskforce/Natio
Glen Jameson
Parks Victoria
A Park Ranger and Natural Resource Technical Manager in the Middle Yarra Region for 14 years including time on the Eltham Pest Plant Committee and the Middle Yarra Pest Plant Working Committee. Presently working in the Research Branch of Parks Victoria developing monitoring protocols for pest plants and animals.
Ian Lobban
Victorian Farmers Federation
Ian operates a commercial Angus breeding herd at Brown’s Plains in NorthEast Victoria and has more than thirty years experience in agricultural politics.
He has been a member of the Victorian Farmers Federation Land Management Committee for twenty-five years and has received a Citation of Merit for contribution to agriculture in Victoria and Australia.
Ian is a Life Member of the Rutherglen Agricultural Society and also the Murray River Action Group Incorporated, as well as being a foundation member of the Anti-Rabbit Foundation of Australia.
David Boyle
Department of Primary Industries
Garry Hammer
Community Representative, West Gippsland
Garry’s professional experience is as a dairy farmer whose personal interests have led him to recognise a need for greater natural resource management and sustainability.
He is an active resident in the Macallister Irrigation District and has developed a keen interest and understanding of Gippsland’s farming practices and varied Landcare issues. Upon completing a Diploma in Natural Resource Management he gained employment with the Department of Natural Resources and Environment where he quickly became immersed in the many aspects of weed management and rehabilitation programs, predominantly in fire affected areas. Garry is now an active member of the West Gippsland Catchment Management Authority where he holds a position on the Wellington Community Consultative Committee.
Dr. Robin Adair
Department of Primary Industries
Robin is a Research Scientist with Primary industries Research, Department of Primary Industries, Victoria and Section Leader, Weeds of Natural Ecosystems. As project leader for Victorian blackberry research, Robin is currently involved with biological control and impact evaluation.
Robin’s interests include natural ecosystems management, wine appreciation, breeding black Labradors and writing scientific papers.
Alex Arbuthnot
Community Representative, National Landcare
Dawn Parker
Community Representative, East Gippsland
Shane O Laughlin
Community Representative, Northern Central
Michael Reid, Executive Officer
Michael Reid is apart of DPI's Farming Services Victoria: Landscape Protection. He joined the Victorian Blackberry Taskforce as the Executive Officer in July 2007.
Michael's professional interests include sustainable farming, community engagement and co-operative forms of governance between community and government. Michael has a Bachelor of Arts majoring in Rural and Environment Sociology and a Bachelor of Applied Science in Agriculture.