Meet the BCG staff

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Alexandra Gartmann - CEO

Alexandra commenced with the BCG in July 2001. She was 2005 Equity Trustees Not For Profit CEO of the Year for Significant Innovation and a Telstra Business Women's Award Finalist in 2008. Alexandra is a member of the Regional Telecommunications Independent Review Committee, Chair of the CSIRO Sustainable Agriculture Flagship Advisory Council, a member of the Australian Landcare Council, a Board member of Rural Finance and a member of the Women in Primary Industries Advisory Panel. She has a Bachelor of Science (Resource and Environmental Management) Honours, ANU. Previous work includes Local Government in WA, Murray Darling Basin Commission, Greening Australia and consulting on an AusAID project in northwest China.

Simon Craig - Research Agronomist

Simon commenced with BCG in 2004. In 2005, he was awarded a 'Science and Innovation Award for Young People' for his research looking at the potential use of liquid fertilisers for phosphorus and micronutrients in the Mallee, part of a Masters by Research (part-time) with the University of Adelaide. Simon completed a Bachelor of Agricultural Science (Hons) at La Trobe University in 2003 and was a recipient of GGA 'Partners in Grain' scholarship.

Margaret O'Keefe - Corporate Relations and Events Manager

After operating her own events management consulting business for 12 years in Warrnambool, Margaret joined the BCG in April 2005. Her portfolio of experiences embraces managing national conferences, exhibitions and major events including directing the inaugural Sydney International Children's Festival. Margaret's experience includes event management, strategic planning, marketing, logistics, sponsorship and media liaison. Margaret organises the annual BCG Expo and field days and liaises with corporate sponsors to maintain and develop partnerships.

Janine McIntyre - Communication and Extension Officer

Janine commenced work at BCG in 2008. Her role includes communicating research results and agronomic information to the farming community. Janine also leads the Web 2.0 project and 2020 Vision initiative. She has completed a Bachelor of Arts (with distinction) at Deakin University and farms near St Arnaud.

 
 

 Kate Ferrier - Extension Coordinator

Kate commenced at teh Birchip Cropping Group in June 2010 as the new extension coordinator. Kate completed a Bachelor of Arts and Science at Deakin University and for the past five years has been working as an Animal Health Officer for the Department of Primary Industries. Kate was born and bred on a mexed farming enterprise north of Birchip and is excited to be back closer to the family farm and getting involved in the local community.

Janice Kelly – Finance Manager (P/T)

Janice joined the BCG as part-time Finance Manager in August 2002. Working two days per week, she is responsible for all aspects of BCG's finances. Janice has 18 years experience as a Chartered Accountant. She also farms with her husband Chris, along with three girls, near Woomelang.

Nathan Gustafson - Administration Officer/Personal Assistant

Nathan joined the BCG team in January 2009. Previously a personal banker, and mortgage loan assistant at two banks in America, he has a broad administration knowledge. Originally from Roseau, Minnesota, USA, Nathan graduated from university with a major in History and a sub-major in Business. Nathan resides in Woomelang with his partner Heidi and they are excited to be living in Australia.

Angela Liston - Membership Officer (P/T)

Angela is the Membership Officer, managing the members' database and services. She is also the finance assistant managing debtors and creditors. Outside of BCG, Angela sits on the East Wimmera Health Service Board of Management, is the Vice President of the Birchip P-12 School Council and works in a part-time capacity at the Westpac Birchip Branch. The life of the party, Angela is an integral part of the BCG team.

Claire Browne - Trials Coordinator

Claire joined the BCG Trials team in March 2007 as a Technical Officer working on the Flexible Farming Systems project. Claire grew up on a mixed cropping and sheep farm at Marrabel in South Australia’s mid north. Claire completed a Bachelor of Agriculture in 2006 at the University of Adelaide, Roseworthy Campus, before moving to Birchip.

Kaylene Nuske - Research Officer

Kaylene commenced at BCG in September 2009 in the role of Research Officer. She grew up on a mixed cropping and grazing property at Tintinara in the Upper South East of South Australia. Kaylene has completed a Bachelor of Agriculture in 2006 and previously worked as Environmental Officer with the SA Farmers’ Federation. She spent four months on a working holiday in Tasmania and is getting involved in the Birchip community.

Alison Frischke - Grain & Graze Systems Officer (P/T)

Alison joined BCG in March 2010. Based in Bendigo she is working on the Northern Victorian Grain and Graze Program and BCG livestock activities. She has a Bachelor of Agricultural Science (Hons) majoring in animal science at Adelaide University, and previously worked at SARDI’s Minnipa Agricultural Centre. There Alison conducted low rainfall research and management with Grain and Graze projects focusing on ways to improve farm production, efficiencies and exploring flexible farming system options.

Daryl Burdett - Technical Officer

Daryl comes from the Hopetoun area. He has a farming background and joined the trials team in April 2009 assisting with field trials and machinery maintenance. Daryl brings a wealth of practical experience and local networks.

Eugene Liston- Trials Technical Assistant

Eugene Liston joined BCG in February 2010 as a Technical Assistant. A Birchip local, Eugene is working with BCG during his ‘gap year’ between high school and university. In his spare time Eugene is heavily involved in the music scene and plays both acoustic and electric guitar in the local band ‘Loaded Dice’.

Jonathan Starks - Ecologist (P/T)

Jonathan moved to the region from Melbourne and has an extensive background in wildlife monitoring, endangered species management and ecological research. Jonathan has been the Project Officer on the 'Diversity in a Piped System' and 'Frogs on Farms' projects. He is currently working on a pastures project that will determine whether native pasture establishment and pasture cropping can be developed into a viable farming system in the Wimmera and Mallee.

Tim McClelland - Yield Prophet Co-ordinator

Tim joined BCG in July 2008 to coordinate the Yield Prophet service delivery across Australia. Previously employed as the Research Analyst at Adviser Edge Investment Research, Tim grew up on a mixed enterprise family farm at Birchip and has enhanced his affinity with agriculture by completing a Bachelor of Agricultural Science/Commerce, University of Melbourne. Tim is based in Melbourne.

Stephen van Rees – Yield Prophet Web Programmer

Stephen is based in Sydney and is responsible for maintaining and further developing the Yield Prophet web interface and associated technology. Stephen is a RMIT student in his final year of an Engineering and Business degree. He is also winner of the 2005 Microsoft Windows Embedded Student Challenge competition, beating finalists from around the world. 

 Dr Cherie Reilly - Research Support (maternity leave)

Cherie returned from maternity leave in April 2009. She provides scientific research support to various projects including the Landcare Delivery Sites, Perennial Pastures, Wheat Phenology and Women's Agronomy Group. Cherie has been a team member since 2002 and also farms with her husband and young daughter at Corack.

Meet our consultants

Ben Jones - Consultant 'Flexible Farming Systems' project

Ben provides research services to BCG in the Flexible Farming Systems project. The project aims to 1. find new ways of making decisions about what crop to plant where and when, 2. confirm whether no-till works on heavy soils with subsoil limitations, in a variety of systems, and 3. improve farmer skills in managing no-till systems (with Vic No Till). Ben is interested in nearly everything, and aims to bring a global outlook to research in the Mallee via his company, Mallee Focus. Previous work includes the 'novel farming systems' project (using GPS-guidance to change Mallee crop agronomy, with DPI Walpeup), and a PhD project on predicting protein in wheat at flowering time. Ben and wife, Noreen, enjoy the Mallee lifestyle, living on the family farm in Manangatang and growing up with their kids.

Bill Long - Yield Prophet Champion

Bill is principal consultant with Ag Consulting Co based on the Yorke Peninsula of South Australia, providing agronomic and economic advice to a large number of farm businesses across the northern cropping districts of the state. Ag Consulting Co has initiated the development of critical soils characterisation required for the adoption of Yield Prophet in South Australia and Bill and his team are active users and promoters of the Yield Prophet program.

Mike Stephens - Human Resource Management

Mike Stephens has been consulting to BCG for over 15 years. Mike is the principle director and CEO of Mike Stephens and Associates, based in Yendon. Mike and his team provide human resource management services and advice to BCG including annual performance appraisals and recruitment for new staff. Mike has broad knowledge of agriculture, people, and rural Australia, with a strong background in farm management as well as over 20 years experience in human resource management.

Dr Lauren Rickards - Thinker in Residence (on maternity leave)

Lauren Rickards joined the BCG team in July 2008 as Thinker in Residence to lead the Group’s ongoing social research. An Associate Partner at RMCG, Honorary Fellow at the University of Melbourne and Rhodes Scholar, Lauren has a wide range of experience in studying rural and social issues. As Thinker in Residence, she will be extending the insights developed through the Critical Breaking Point research that she led, working to identify the research directions and practical measures that are needed to better understand and respond to rural pressures. Originally from Bendigo, Lauren is looking forward to working more closely with the BCG team.

John Stuchbery (JSA Independent)

John is a consulting agronomist with BCG for the Flexible Farming systems project, the Water Use Efficiency Project and the Profit Risk project. He has had a long association with BCG as a general committee member up until 2001 and involvement in trial sowing and operations in the early BCDS days. John is a senior consultant at JSA Independent (formerly John Stuchbery and Associates), providing independent agronomic and management advice to clients throughout western Victoria. He is based at Donald, Victoria and has been consulting since 1993.

 Kate Burke (JSA Independent)

Kate has been a consulting agronomist to BCG since 2001, stemming from her involvement with Wimmera Farming systems. She is a senior consultant with JSA Independent (formerly John Stuchbery and Associates) and is based at Murtoa, Victoria. Kate was the statewide project manager of the barley agronomy project from 2008-2009 administered by BCG. She also lends her research and extension expertise to the Flexible Farming Systems project. She is a regular speaker at BCG events and contributes regularly to the BCG technical bulletin. She also provides support for BCG research sites.