Hi Landcarers

Landcare NSW has announced the appointment of Dr Adrian Zammit as their new CEO to steer the organisation through the next stage of growth.

To ensure that Landcare across NSW keeps extending to it’s full potential, it was recognised that there was a need for a Chief Executive Officer position to be created and filled and Central West Lachlan Landcare are thrilled that a person with Dr Zammit’s credentials has been appointed.

The CEO’s role will be to build partnerships, generate new funding sources and deliver services that are valued by the Landcare community.

Adrian comes to Landcare NSW from his previous role as Chief Operating Officer with Healthy Land and Water, an independent not-for-profit responsible for protecting natural resources in South East Queensland.

With the support of the NSW Government and Local Land Services, Landcare NSW is building its capability and capacity to better support the 60,000-strong volunteer Landcare community.

Landcare NSW Chair, Rob Dulhunty, said he was delighted with the appointment, describing Adrian as a highly qualified person for the job with a science and commercial background, and a passion for working with the community to change the way we interact with the natural environment.

“As a result of programs underway, including the Local Landcare Coordinator Initiative, the operational task of leading Landcare NSW has grown significantly. We felt the time was right to engage our first Chief Executive Officer to support the valuable work that our member groups and volunteer Landcarers do,” said Mr Dulhunty.

“A healthy and well supported Landcare movement will equip us for future challenges and empowers capable and willing volunteers to work to protect and restore our natural environment.” Adrian has a Master of Business Administration (General and Strategic Business Management) and a PHD in Agriculture.

He is a senior executive and team builder with over 24 years’ experience in numerous leadership, senior executive and technical leadership roles in environmental consultancy and advisory companies.

In 2015, the NSW Government cemented its commitment to Landcare NSW by developing and funding a new Landcare policy.

The policy is being implemented through a partnership between Landcare NSW and NSW Local Land Services (LLS).

At the September 2015 Landcare NSW Conference in Orange a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with LLS was signed to strengthen the partnership between us for the benefit of communities and landscapes throughout NSW.

At the conference the Hon. Niall Blair, Minister for Primary Industries, announced a $15 million, four-year NSW Local Landcare Coordinators Initiative setting up a network of locally-based coordinators and a centralised support team to increase the effectiveness of the Landcare network.

The initiative includes development of a sustainable funding source to support volunteers into the future and has three prongs, explained below:

The Local Landcare Coordinators network of 60 part-time locally-based coordinators working with local Landcare groups and networks to deliver strategically-aligned programs, as well as providing support and guidance. Their goal is to build capacity and connections within local communities to produce on-ground change.

A centralised support team and community of practice to increase the activity and effectiveness of the Landcare network by providing a consistent approach to building capacity across the state.

The Landcare Trust Future Fund is a new model to enable philanthropists, governments, community members and partners from all sectors to assist in Landcare’s transition towards financial stability and continuity.

I am looking forward to meeting Dr Zammit at our upcoming Landcare NSW Council meeting.

For more information about anything in this article, please contact Central West Lachlan Landcare on 02 6862 4914, cwllpo@hotmail.com, facebook or our website at centralwestlachlanlandcare.org

Until next week, happy Landcaring!

Information courtesy of Landcare NSW.