DairySA Team

Melissa has extensive experience in natural resource management, project management and team leadership.

Melissa relishes the opportunity to work in  agriculture with a focus on team leadership. She is passionate about delivering practical and relevant opportunities for dairy farmers that can assist in running a sustainable business.

In her spare time, Melissa enjoys reading, cooking, spending time with her family and the occasional trip to the beach.

Melissa's dairy favourties: Golden North Honey Ice Cream, as it reminds her of her childhood growing up in the Flinders Ranges.

Based in Mt Gambier

With a Bachelor degree in Agriculture and a Masters in Global Food and Agricultural Business, Alberta has over ten years experience as a Senior Extension Officer with Cocoa Research Institute of Ghana, now finding her place in Australian agriculture and the dairy industry.

Alberta is inspired by farmers and their passion to continually improve their business operations and is keen to build meaningful connections with dairy farmers and stakeholders along the value chain to assist them in achieving their goals. Together with her husband and two children Alberta enjoys spending time exploring her hometown of Mount Gambier in SA's Limestone Coast.

Alberta's dairy favourites: Summer -Yoghurt or ice cream with fruit / Winter - butter on toast with a latte milo or coffee

Shannon grew up in the suburbs of Adelaide, and quickly fell in love with the livestock industry after work experience in high school. This led her to completing a Bachelor of Science (Animal Science) at the University of Adelaide. 

During her time at university, Shannon worked part-time as a veterinary nurse and simultaneously was a milker on a dairy farm, before being promoted to calf manager. After graduating, Shannon gained employment in the red meat and wool industry, focusing on projects, advocacy, and some policy work. She is currently studying her Masters in Global Food and Agricultural Business and is excited that her career has led her back to the dairy industry. 

You will find Shannon facilitating workshops in the central region along with Dairy Discussion Groups and coordinating the Young Dairy Network. 

After growing up in Adelaide and relocating to Melbourne where she gained her Bachelor of Communications, Abbie Taylor is now based regionally with her husband on their Beachport cattle station. In the south east, Abbie has enjoyed working within the local community, helping to run the family business, and learning more about the agricultural industry. Her communications experience has included creative agency, local media, and agricultural education work, with a strong focus on copywriting and social media management. In addition, Abbie has worked in an accounts and administrative role for two local agricultural enterprises. Abbie is passionate about working with regional, farming, and creative communities to help tell their stories.