Our Program

Our Team

Our Advisory Committee

Our Program

Our Team

Alexandra Hicks

 Team Leader

Alex is in charge of mustering the team and looking ahead as the program develops. Alex looks for new ideas, builds relationships, works on contract management and keeps the team motivated! Alex joined the NSW DPI in 2017. Alex has a background working in media and project management. Her last gig was with the University of Sydney working on projects for 5 years. Alex has also worked for a training group organising traineeships. Prior to becoming an office bumpkin, Alex worked in regional television helping to make the local news bulletin. Outside of work, Alex lives on a farm near Dubbo, running free-range pigs. In her spare time, Alex can be found renovating her farm house with her husband or looking at their neglected vegetable garden with great optimism. Alex really gets that running a farm business is very complex and the office part can be tricky. She is motivated to make this journey easier and is passionate about the Young Farmer Business Program being genuinely useful on the ground.

Phone: 0419 110 714
Email: young.farmer@dpi.nsw.gov.au

Tim Flynn

 Program Coordinator & Merino Man

Tim grew up on a sheep and cattle property in Mudgee and has a strong passion for superfine wool. Tim's professional background is quite different. Before Tim joined the YFBP team he worked as a commercial and property lawyer in Dubbo. In his spare time you will see Tim renovating his house or back at Mudgee on the family farm lending a helping hand (or 'getting in the way' as his dad would say). Tim's role within the program is organising and delivering workshops, coaching programs and liaising with young farmer network groups. Tim loves a good yarn which is good because he is constantly out and about chatting with young farmers and fishers with an aim to continuously improve the program.

Emma Rémond

 Assistant Project Officer

Emma Rémond is the program's admin star. Emma grew up on a property west of Walgett, so she really understands the word ‘dry’. Emma has a background working in administration and her most recent role was with the Western Plains Cultural Centre where she kept everyone organised and also managed their social media. Emma’s role is to keep everything in order, workshop registrations, contracts, meetings and to remind Alex to tidy her desk. In her spare time, Emma heads west to visit the family property.

Phone: 0428 066 023
Email: emma.remond@dpi.nsw.gov.au

Our Advisory Committee

Andrew Rice

 Mixed Farmer and Agri-Consultant

Andrew Rice is a partner in a mixed farming business near Parkes. Andrew also operates ASPIRE agri, an agricultural and management services business, providing support services and coaching to farm businesses. Andrew is chair of the board for Foundation for Arable Research Australia. He has completed the Australian Rural Leadership Program and is a graduate of Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Angus Groves

 Grain Manager

Angus is a grain accumulation manager for Cargill Australia. Angus recently started an organic hops business with 2 friends on a farm near Barrington Tops. Their startup business is selling fresh hops to local breweries. Normally located in Dubbo, Angus is currently in Western Australia with Cargill owing to the drought, he will return to Dubbo in early 2019.

Melissah Barrett

 Professional Fisher

Melissah owns a professional fishing business at Coffs Harbour with her fiancé Danny Green. Melissah works as a nurse and is also actively involved with the Professional Fisherman’s Association and attended the Seafood Directions 2019 conference. Melissah has participated in individual and group coaching with the Young Farmer Business Program.

Alexandra Bunton

 NSW Farmers Association – appointed representative

Alexandra is acting Policy Director - Cropping, Horticulture and Young Farmers at NSW Farmers Association. Alexandra is based in Sydney and actively involved with the CWA Mascot Branch. Alexandra has previously worked with the federal Department of Agriculture and Water Resources. Alexandra is representing the NSW Farmers Association.

Mitchell Plumbe

 Aspiring farmer and LLS leader

Mitch is an aspiring farmer based at Broken Hill. Mitch works with NSW Local Land Services as a team leader. Mitch grew up in Dorrigo and completed a Bachelor of Rural Science at UNE. Mitch has 5 years of experience in extension services. Mitch has been a champion for the Young Farmer Business Program at Broken Hill where 2 workshops have been held.

Olivia
Falkiner

 Future Farmers Network - appointed representative

Olivia is a non-executive Director of Haddon Rig, a mixed-enterprise agricultural company in Warren, NSW. She is also a non-executive director of the Future Farmers Network. Olivia has worked as Senior Policy Advisor for the NSW Deputy Premier, managing the regional NSW portfolio, including the Regional Investment Fund and the NSW Drought Program. Olivia previously worked with Chapman Eastway Capital after studying Agricultural Economics at the University of Sydney.

Camilla Herbig

 ASC of NSW Next Gen - appointed representative

Camilla works with the Rural Adversity Mental Health Program covering Dubbo to the QLD border, where she delivers mental health education and information to rural and remote communities. Camilla and her husband are based on a family farm at Collie as mixed farmers. Camilla is representing Agricultural Societies Council of NSW Next Generation and is Vice President.

Hannah Cargill

 NSW Farmers Young Farmer Council – appointed representative

Hannah is currently studying agriculture and business at UNE in Armidale. Hannah is the New England Young Farmers Branch Chair and is involved with her family’s Angus stud near Braidwood. Hannah is also the Careers Fair Coordinator for the 2020 Farming Futures Executive Committee. Hannah is representing the NSW Farmers Young Farmers Council.