ALMS board

The eight ALMS board directors are highly committed to the ALMS philosophy and the benefits of implementing the ALMS system. Four of our directors are landholders (and one a former landholder) so they know about the practicalities of implementing ALMS and what will work and won't work on the farm.

Tony Gleeson, the ALMS executive director, is also a landholder. Tony has been intimately involved in developing ALMS and its support material, including the software, myEMS.

John Drinan ALMS Group Chairman

John has been a researcher, educator, administrator, consultant and, with his wife Anne, a part-time farmer. He was Principal of Tocal College and has had various roles at the University of Newcastle. He has played a leading role as chair of several dairy industry organisations and of the Committee of Chairs of the Rural Research and Development Corporations. John is chair of Singleton Landcare, led the formation of the Glendon Brook Catchment Group, and is a member of the Community Reference Group for the Hunter-Central Rivers CMA.

Jock Douglas produces desert limes and beef cattle near Roma, Queensland. He has an enduring interest in the sustainability of natural resources and the wellbeing of rural communities. Jock is a Landcare member and President of the Roma Bush Gardens Association. He was involved in the genesis of Landcare and was Chairman of the Queensland Landcare Council from 1992-96.  He has been President of the Cattlemen's Union of Australia and an executive member of the National Farmers Federation and the Cattle Council of Australia. In 1996 Jock was awarded the McKell Medal for outstanding contribution to soil and land conservation and in 1997 he was appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia for ‘service to primary industry and to conservation’.

Genevieve Carruthers Board director

Genevieve has been employed by several or­ganisations as an entomologist and ecologist. She is currently employed by the NSW Department of Primary Industries to provide environmental management system services to all agricultural industries. Genevieve is recognised domestically and inter­nationally as a leader in the area of applying environment management systems in agriculture. She owns a small patch of koala habitat and remnant rainforest on the Far North Coast of NSW.

Drew English Board director

Drew owned and operated a mixed dryland and irrigation business at Kerang in northern Victoria for 27 years producing cereals, oilseeds, legumes, beef cattle, wool and lucerne hay. He chaired the board of the North Central Catchment Management Authority for its first 6 years, was a Kerang Shire councillor for three terms, Shire President and a commissioner with the new Gannawarra Shire Council for 2 years. Drew was also a member of the Murray Darling Basin Ministerial Community Advisory Committee for 7 years and a member of the Australian Landcare Council for 4 years.

Tony Gleeson Executive Director, the ALMS Group

Tony has over 35 years experience in research, policy and political analysis. With his partner Liz he has managed their beef property in northern NSW since 1981. In 1990 Tony established Synapse, a Brisbane based company specialising in policy and strategic analysis. Tony is an Adjunct Associate Professor, Faculty of Agriculture and Law, University of New England and a member of the Advisory Board to the Centre for Rural and Regional In­novation, University of Queensland. He has been a director of the Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation and the Queensland Abattoir Corporation. Tony’s studies on motivation, crea­tivity and innovation have influenced the design of ALMS.

Bruce and his partner have a cattle property in the Adelaide Hill sin South Australia where he also works as a communications consultant in natural resource management. He has sixteen years of experience with the landcare movement, much of it in leadership roles. He is currently Chair of the Landcare Asociation of South Australia and also chairs a steering committee responsible for implementing an ALMS pilot program with a local catchment group.

Geoff Penton Board director

Geoff is an Agricultural Science graduate from the University of Western Sydney (Hawkesbury) who has been working in landcare since 1989. He is one of four regional landcare facilitators employed by teh Queensland Department of Primary Industries, and has had a continuous involvement in landcare for sixteen years. Geoff now works as manager of planning and implementation for the Queensland Murray-Darling Committee. He has a key role in natural resource management, including involvement in the landcare program in the region, and is chairman of the Queensland Landcare Foundation, a non-profit fundraising company dedicated to supporting the landcare movement across the State.

Nelson Quinn Board director

Nelson has has many years experience in developing and managing envronmental policies and programs in Australia and overseas. He has particular expertise in law, science-user interaction and strategic planning. He how owns a small property near Canberra, where he grows sheep, cattle and olives. He is also director of Southern Tablelands Olives Pty Ltd and president of the the New South Wales Olive Council. He is heavily involved in landcare activities, including as chair of the Murrumbidgee Landcare Association. He was awarded a Centenary Medal for "service to the environment and conservation through landcare".

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