GippsDairy Board
GippsDairy is governed by a board of ten directors. The Board is made up of six dairy farmers, three specialist directors with skills required by the Board, and the Executive Officer. Board members are appointed for three year terms and can serve a maximum of three terms.
Hallora dairy farmer Grant Williams has been a GippsDairy director since 2012 and was appointed Chair in February 2017.
Grant is keen to spread the message of the dairy industry being an integral and responsible part of the wider Gippsland community.
He is a passionate dairy farmer who is proud of the industry and is keen to continue to promote dairy farming as a long term, profitable and sustainable way of life.
Lauren Finger
Deputy Chair
Yannathan dairy farmer Lauren Finger sees the GippsDairy Board as a step in developing a leadership role in the dairy industry. Lauren's experience includes working as a vet in private practice and working with the Department of Primary Industries.
Around the board table, Lauren pushes for initiatives that promote farm profitability. She sees her role on the board as a great opportunity to learn more about the industry, how the board operates, how the industry operates, where dairy levy money goes and how it is spent.
Jack Fitzgerald
Jack Fitzgerald is a specialist director on the GippsDairy Board, bringing his skills as a financial advisor with Westpac in Warragul. With a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture, he provides a balanced viewpoint on financial matters.
Sarah O'Brien
Sarah and her husband Michael have been leaders in the Macalister Irrigation District since moving to Denison 12 years ago.
Dan Armstrong
Dan Armstrong is a farm business management consultant based at Jindivick.
With his broad experience in research, development and extension, Dan is able to provide the expertise to develop programs aimed at building wealth within the industry.
Shiona Berry
Glen Alvie dairy farmer Shiona Berry wants to encourage innovation during her time on the GippsDairy Board. Milking 750 cows with husband Caleb on hilly country, Shiona can see huge potential in digital developments like virtual fencing.
Shiona, who has a background as a ruminant nutritionist, believes innovative thinking could change the way the Gippsland dairy industry looks at home grown feed, making a big difference to profitability.
David Johnson
Neerim South's David Johnson joins the Board after a career in dairy that has been different to most.
He has spent time in the US state of Minnesota and in northern Victoria, where he studied farming systems very different to West Gippsland, as well as being a partner in the successful Tarago River Cheese Company.
David's experience not only on-farm but with specialty cheese gives him an insight into value-adding products, quality of milk and a wide network.
Michelle Axford
DataGene evaluation manager Michelle Axford said joining the board seemed like a good fit after two decades of working in the dairy industry.
Outside of her role with DataGene, Michelle has broad interests in dairy, having been involved in Cows Create Careers and the Young Dairy Development Program when it was just getting off the ground.
Michelle, who milks 250 cows with husband Michael at Korumburra, said she would like to use her on-farm experience and knowledge of genetics to help GippsDairy deliver better outcomes for the region's farmers.