Dr Penny Schulz, Chair
Penny is a leading livestock production system advisor, with a passion for sustainable farming. She has extensive experience and education in agribusiness, agri-technology, livestock genetics and company directorship. She is the co-owner of Schulz Livestock, a sheep and beef farming operation at Field in the upper Limestone Coast. She consults, mentors and advises across the agribusiness sector and numerous livestock industry bodies.
Penny uses her leadership skills to solve problems. She is interested in developing strong community connections with all elements of natural resource management and sustainable primary production. Managing this landscape is complex and challenging, and she hopes the Board is recognised for the full breadth of landscape management challenges and opportunities.
Aside from farming, working with farmers and community, and raising a young family in the Limestone Coast, Penny is passionate about the next generation and future leaders of agricultural and environmental leaders, through mentoring programs and sponsoring development opportunities.
Mark Bachmann
Mark is a leading ecologist and entrepreneur with a passion for biodiversity, solving complex water and land management issues, community education and supporting First Nations aspirations in landscape management.
He has lived and worked in the region since 1999, raising a family and working professionally in the environment sector, while also caring for his own bushland properties.
Mark wants to see the region deliver bold environmental programs that tackle the challenging issues facing our region to make a real and lasting difference.
Mark has extensive experience in applied environmental science and natural resource management. He is the Managing Director and Founder of Nature Glenelg Trust, an independent not-for-profit environmental organisation that has been delivering projects for community benefit across south-eastern Australia since 2012.
Peter Bissell
Peter has been a winemaker of the region for the last thirty five years with a passion for the pursuit of sustainability in the interests of both business and the environment.
He has raised a family in the Limestone Coast, living in the Coonawarra and Penola.
Peter acknowledges the region’s highly productive agriculture, viticulture, forestry and other primary productions systems. He champions the interconnectedness of these industries with well managed conservation areas, wetlands and lakes that support native wildlife, and brings recreation and tourism to the region.
Peter has extensive experience and education as a winemaker. He is a winemaking consultant and owner of Broken Windmill Vineyard in Wrattonbully. He has served for twenty years on the Limestone Coast Grape and Wine Council with five as President and currently is Chair of the Greenrise Lake Advisory Committee that looks after Greenrise Arboretum and recreational area at Penola.
Robbie Davis
Robbie believes the Board must strive to attain an equitable and common sense balance between profitable agribusiness and the natural environment for a resilient future.
Her family has a property on the Narrung Peninsula which abuts Lake Albert, and she frequents the Limestone Coast for both work purposes and leisure.
Robbie advocates for the use of funding for long-term high value projects which provide the most benefit to the region. She sees cross agency collaboration as key to successfully provide stewardship for the fragile systems of the Coorong and Murray Darling Basin. Her focus is on equitable water resource management and the control of invasive pest plants and animals.
Robbie has extensive experience and education in agribusiness and company directorship. She brings strong corporate governance, and risk and financial management skills to the Governing Board.
Tom Linnell
Tom is an educator, with a passion for the environment and leading future generations to a sustainable future.
He has lived and worked in Mount Gambier his entire life, growing up at Lake Bonney now raising a young family in Mil Lel.
For Tom, a resilient and sustainable future for our young people is very important. He wants to see young people preference regional communities for the numerous economic, environmental and social benefits. And he wants to see the connections between country and community, and traditional knowledge and intergenerational dialogue continue to be strengthened. Our region should be known for its natural beauty, but also as a leader in sustainable primary production.
Tom’s unique journey sees him balance education and sustainability. He is currently employed by the University of South Australia working as a regional coordinator for education, following 8 years as the inaugural sustainability coordinator at Tenison Woods College. Tom’s thirst for lifelong learning sees him continue to research the role of education and young people in a sustainable, resilient future.
Fiona Rasheed
Fiona is a Limestone Coast farmer who is deeply invested in the sustainable management of our regional landscape to support our important industries and to build community connection to the landscapes of the Limestone Coast.
She moved to the Limestone Coast in 2007, raising a family on her sheep and cattle property at Keilira, north of Kingston.
Fiona works on both a localised and landscape scale, recognising the complex interaction of natural resources and the importance of developing policies that balance the needs of industries, communities and the environment. She has a particular interest in water policy, sustainable agriculture, pest plant and animal control and community engagement.
Fiona has extensive experience and education in law, environmental management and agribusiness. She is a manager and co-owner of Boolapuckee Pastoral Company in Keilira, Limestone Coast and an elected member of the Kingston District Council.
Tracey Strugnell
Tracey has a strong background working in sustainable agriculture, environmental management and economic development in regional communities. She has a passion for working with the community and strategic thinking, particularly where landscape and economic benefits can be demonstrated.
Tracey is employed as a Senior Sustainability and Grants Officer with the Coorong District Council, Tatiara District Council and the Coorong Tatiara Local Action Plan.
Tracey works with land managers and a range of stakeholders to plan, manage and deliver landscape scale and extension projects, such as improved production on sandy soils, adoption of livestock water security technology, improved understanding of dryland salinity, and the preservation and enhancement of our region’s unique biodiversity.
She is well known for her work with farmers and groups, attracting external funding and building partnerships to deliver a range of projects across the Upper South East.
Tracey and her husband run a sheep enterprise on their property east of Coonalpyn.