Our Management Committee

Ben commenced as Tamar NRM’s President after the 2021 AGM. Ben is a third-generation farmer on a property at Beaconsfield, focused on lamb production and maximising grazing efficiency. He holds a Master of Business Administration - Agricultural Innovation and a Graduate Certificate in Management as well as an Agribusiness and an Advanced Diploma of Farm Business Management. Ben is the current Chair of the Tamar Valley Branch of TFGA and offers tutor support to Exeter High School. Ben passionately believes in education and self-improvement for everyone in the community, especially in areas of NRM and agriculture. His previous industry roles include; Board Selection Committee for Meat and Livestock Australia; Member and Chair of TFGA Meat Council; and State Representative to the Sheep Meat Council of Australia.

Brigid has undertaken roles as an industry investigator for adaptive water resources management with Sense-T, Environmental Policy advisor and has four years' experience as an associate Lecturer at UTAS. She holds a Bachelor of Applied Science (B.A.Sc. Hons), Plant Biology and Geography (Aquaculture minor) and worked as a research assistant at the Centre for Phytophthora Science and Management at Murdoch University.

Kathryn is an ecologist, currently employed as City of Launceston’s Manager Parks and Sustainability, Infrastructure and Assets Network. Kathryn has extensive experience in landscape water quality and aquatic habitat monitoring, impact assessments and threatened species management, and more recent experience in drainage asset management. She has a Bachelor of Science and is a Certified Environmental Practitioner.

Roger believes in making a positive difference in the communities in which he lives and works. Roger moved to Tasmania in 1987 after buying a 240-hectare beef and sheep farm at Liena, Tasmania. He had previously owned a Tree Surgery business in Melbourne. Having sold the property in 2000, he moved to a smaller farm at Exeter, and then to suburban living in Launceston. He has worked in agricultural extension, agri-politics, training, and workforce development and has been active in community not-for-profit organisations. Having missed farming he spent 2.5 years working as the Farm Manager at Hagley Farm School. Roger is now back working in skills development. In recent years, Roger has chaired Landcare Tasmania (2016 - 2018) and Migrant Resource Centre (2018 - 2020).  Roger served as Tamar NRM’s President from 2015 until the 2021 AGM when his term expired.  

Tim is a farmer and agricultural contractor and lives with his young family at Rosevale on a medium-sized farm, with a sustainable/regenerative focus. After completing a horticulture traineeship in a native plant nursery, Tim stayed in the horticulture and agriculture sector working on various farm enterprises both in Tasmania and New Zealand, and developed an interest in forestry and sustainability and the link to soil health and plant growth. Tim was the Winner of the 2021 Landcare Tasmania Farmer of the Year Award. Past President of Soils First Tasmania and the Launceston Mountain Bike Club and current President of the Rosevale Hall Committee, Tim hopes to bring his experience as a land manager and his passion for a heathy and sustainable environment to his new role at Tamar NRM.

Michael is a member of the executive management team at West Tamar Council where he works in the role of Manager Works.  He is responsible for managing the Works Department’s operations in delivering works and services to the developing communities of the West Tamar region.  Michael has over 12 years’ experience in contract/project management, procurement and coordination/management roles in the local government sector as well as an extensive background in the building and construction industry.  He has a passion for building highly capable and effective teams, emphasising safety, quality and integrity, helping people fulfil their potential and working to their strengths. Michael has Work Health & Safety, Fleet Management, Building and Construction Management and Competitive Systems and Practices (LEAN) qualifications, specialising in continuous improvement and productivity improvement.  Away from work, Michael is a family man, enjoys holidaying and caravanning and is an avid road cyclist.

John is a trained agricultural scientist and extension officer having worked at all levels from the field to highest levels of government. He is a participant in community groups and volunteers his time to local causes. He recently retired from his business, John Thorp Australia, which undertook resource management and agricultural projects for government and private enterprise. He has fulfilled the role of National Weeds Management Facilitator and was Project Manager for the implementation of the National Weeds Strategy and Executive Officer to Australian Weeds Committee. John is currently the Chair of Tamar NRM's Weed Working Group.

Chris's background is horticulture and landscape architecture. Having run his own landscape company for 15 years, he moved to Tasmania and joined George Town Council (GTC) as Parks and Gardens Supervisor. After one year in this role, he became the GTC representative on the Tamar NRM Management Committee. Chris also engaged with the Weeds Working Group and Weeds Project Committee to develop the new Tamar Valley Weed Management Strategic Plan.

Greg is a forest ecologist and Senior Lecturer in the School of Geography and Environmental Studies, University of Tasmania in Launceston. His teaching subjects include Agroforestry, Forest Ecosystems and Ecology and Management. Research interests centre on the dynamics of tropical and temperate forest ecosystems and the Eco physiological processes which sustain forest diversity and productivity.