It’s a fresh start for NACC in 2017

With the start of a brand new year, NACC also welcomes a brand new Chair of its Board, Dr Rob Keogh.

Dr Keogh’s move to the Chair’s seat comes with the resignation of Dr Jill Wilson, who has stepped-down after many years’ service to the organisation.

 

In announcing her resignation to the Board at their December meeting, Jill said her main reason for resigning “is purely to do with succession planning.”

“NACC is going very well, I have served for several years, and it seems like an appropriate time to step down and allow someone else to take the helm,” she said.

“I am still expecting to be active in various issues and activities, but am looking forward to a bit of a change.”

See NACC CEO Richard McLellan’s column for more on Jill’s departure.

Mr McLellan said that although Jill will be “sorely missed”, he was looking forward to Dr Keogh taking the reins of the organisation.

After a year on the Board of NACC and with a passion for flora, fish and farming in the Northern Agricultural Region, Rob said he is committed to NACC and the region, and looks forward to his new role.

“Dr Wilson has left NACC with a competent and cohesive Board and a highly capable and committed staff, so well lead by Richard McLellan,” he said.

“Agriculture has been part of my professional life for 40 years, and the local flora and coastline have become important parts of our lifestyle in the Northern Agricultural Region.

“I have a strong commitment to the Northern Agricultural Region (NAR) having been a rate-payer in the Shire of Coorow and a part-time resident of Green Head for more than 15 years.”

Dr Keogh’s professional background is in the agricultural and environmental fields with a PhD in an Agricultural Science discipline (plant pathology) and he has an extensive career in agriculture and biological sciences, environmental impact assessment and biosecurity management.

Dr Keogh has had much experience in management and corporate governance, within the Wesfarmers organisation and has broad expertise as a senior manager and director in a not-for-profit enterprise in the agricultural sector.

Rob is also a Patron of the Kwongan Foundation for the Conservation of Australian Biodiversity and a member of the Green Head Volunteer Bush Fire Brigade.

But off the field, fitness is what makes him tick.

“My other passion is fitness, particularly cycling,” Dr Keogh said.

“I have cycled for many years and average about 10-12,000 km/ per year including on the roads around Green Head and Geraldton.”

NACC welcomes Dr Keogh as the incoming Chair of the Board. His role will be effective from 1 January 2017.

 

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CEO’s Report

In 2020-21 I talked about ‘raising the bar’. In 2021-22 we worked on setting the bar on fire. Over the last 12 months, the team at NACC NRM has not stopped.

The Sustainable Agriculture team has extended the program’s reach through collaborations with grower groups in the regions. Specifically, the Beyond Reasonable Drought project and Grower Group Alliance – South West WA Drought Innovation Hub – Geraldton Node project. The Beyond Reasonable Drought partnership with grower groups supported farmers across the region to improve the environmental sustainability of their agricultural production and drought resilience. The outcomes of this project have been consolidated through our successful Expression of Interest to the South West WA Drought Innovation Hub, with support from grower groups across the region, to host the Geraldton Node of the Hub. The program continues to focus on working with agricultural networks to share technical expertise and provide opportunities that will improve land management practices in agriculture across the region.

The conservation outcomes of ranger teams have expanded through work on several land tenures. Maintaining Heritage sites such as Willi Gulli, Racecourse Paddock and Buller River has long been a priority. During 2021-22, the teams have increasingly focused on threatened species and ecosystems.

To this end, Western Mulga rangers have improved management across 19,000 ha for the conservation of Malleefowl through firebreak and access management. They completed the maintenance of water holes and supported the monitoring of over 90 Malleefowl mounds.

Similarly, the Kwelena Mambakort Aboriginal Corporate ranger team have contributed positively to Carnaby’s Black Cockatoo populations by installing artificial hollows and habitat restoration.

All ranger teams have collected native seed, propagated native plants for restoration, and planted native vegetation in key locations across the NAR. Seed collection provides valuable industry experience and has facilitated the planting of over 100,000 seedlings during the year.   

In September 2021, the NACC NRM team delivered the WA Threatened Species Forum, held in tandem with the National Malleefowl Forum. Given the impact of COVID and the timing of this event, having more than 100 delegates from all over Australia was a significant achievement. The two Forums brought together 12 events over five days and featured 14 local artists, 25 businesses and 36 youth participants.

Following the successful relaunch of our updated NARvis, NACC NRM was invited to help lead a significant piece of strategic planning work for the region with Mid West Development Commission and the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development. With funding from the Australian Government’s Future Drought Fund, the consortia delivered a Regional Drought Resilience Plan covering the shires of Northampton and Chapman Valley and the City of Greater Geraldton, along with significant technical analysis of drought vulnerability for the South West land division. The development of this plan also included extensive community consultation to ensure that local knowledge and technical advice guided the development of priorities for action.

This planning work links to existing NACC NRM on-ground projects, including Beyond Reasonable Drought and the Chapman Catchment Collaborative regeneration project.

It was a busy year for events with face-to-face events becoming commonplace again. During 2021-22 we hosted events in Gingin, Moora, Dalwallinu, Cervantes, Jurien Bay, Walkaway, Nabawa, Perenjori, Kalannie and Morawa. We supported events in Karakin, Thundellara, Perenjori, Paynes Find, Wubin, Cataby, Warradarge, Northampton, Yuna, Dalwallinu and Dandaragan.

We also supported on-ground works throughout the region, including at the following locations Yuna, Dalwallinu, Dandaragan, Merkanooka, Goodlands, Kalannie, Bunjil, Yardarino, Canna, Kondut, Latham, Kadathinni, Nabawa, Red Gully, Sandy Gully, Waddy Forrest, Devils Creek, Perenjori, Bowgada, Ellendale, Wandana, Namban, Hill River, Warradarge, Gillingarra, Regans Ford and Moonyanooka.

Our region is vast – slightly larger than Tasmania, which for comparison, is serviced by three separate NRM organisations. Covering the NAR region and its many environmental threats is challenging. We continue to focus on partnerships and collaboration to address this challenge. We know that by working with our community through passionate delivery of collaborative on-ground projects and education, the community will value and actively protect our region’s natural capital.

This year we have launched a new Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP). The RAP Working Group consulted widely and developed an Innovate RAP which Reconciliation Australia approved in March 2022. The activities to fulfil these commitments are now in full swing.

Sadly, at the end of 2021, we farewelled former NACC NRM CEO Shelley Spriggs, who lost a long battle with cancer. Shelley was an inaugural inductee to the NRM Leadership Honour Roll. I will always be grateful for her guidance and no-nonsense approach, not to mention her passion for life.

While we have said farewell to some, we have welcomed many new faces across all programs, including our Administration team. We have also hosted a school-based trainee from Nagle Catholic College who has been working towards a Certificate II in Conservation and Ecosystem Management. This trial position has been very successful, and we look forward to making this opportunity available again in 2023.

During 2022 we have taken on new projects that align with our organisational and program objectives, and we have successfully completed some great initiatives that support continued conservation and sustainability outcomes. I want to thank the whole team who continue to go above and beyond for the organisation and each other proving their ongoing commitment to our purpose and our values.