GippsDairy Board
GippsDairy is governed by a board of nine directors. The Board is made up of six dairy farmers and three specialist directors. Board members are appointed for three year terms and can serve a maximum of three terms.
Lauren has been a farmer director on the GippsDairy board for the past seven years and has recently been elected as the new chair.
She has been dairy farming in Gippsland for the past fifteen years and her business was awarded the 2016 Weekly Times Dairy Farmer of the Year.
Jessica Knight
Farmer Director
Jessica is a dairy farm owner with a passion for the agriculture industry, especially its promotion and accessibility to young farmers and women.
She is a participant in The Observership Program and a recipient of a Young Farmer Upskill and Invest Scholarship. She is also a member of the Young Farmers Advisory Council.
She is a participant in The Observership Program and a recipient of a Young Farmer Upskill and Invest Scholarship. She is also a member of the Young Farmers Advisory Council.
Sarah O'Brien
Farmer Director
Sarah has been farming in the MID for fifteen years. She has been a director on the GippsDairy board for the past three years and has previously managed the Macalister Demonstration Farm before starting share farming.
Her farm has received both Dairy Australia Milk Quality awards and Premium Milk Quality awards.
Her farm has received both Dairy Australia Milk Quality awards and Premium Milk Quality awards.
Peter Fort
Specialist Director
Peter grew up on a dairy farm in South Gippsland and has nearly 30 years' experience in the industry including dairy farming, milk processing & manufacturing.
He has previously worked for Bonlac Foods & Murray Goulburn, ran his own dairy farm and is currently the Milk Supply Manager for Burra Foods in Korumburra.
Shiona Berry
Farmer Director
Shiona has been a farmer director on the Gippsdairy Board since 2017 and has recently been elected as the Deputy Chair. She has been dairy farming in Glen Alvie, South Gippsland since 2003, starting in a share farm arrangement, moving onto farm ownership in 2006. Prior to dairy farming she worked as a nutrition consultant to farmers across the Gippsland region and Southern NSW Coast.
Martin Fuller
Specialist Director
Martin is a born and bred Gippslander. He grew up on a dairy farm at Dumbalk and has worked in the agricultural and natural resource management sectors for over 25 years.
He is the CEO of West Gippsland Catchment Management Authority.
He is the CEO of West Gippsland Catchment Management Authority.
Ken Lawrence
Farmer Director
Ken is a first-generation dairy farmer and has been farming in Gippsland for over thirty years. He is an active member of the VFF/UDV and is passionate about encouraging and supporting the next generation of dairy farmers.
He has twice been a finalist for ‘sharefarmer of the year’.
He has twice been a finalist for ‘sharefarmer of the year’.
Michelle Axford
Farmer Director
Michelle has been a farmer director at GippsDairy since 2017. She has a keen interest in genetics, and currently works for DataGene.
She’s been farming in Gippsland for over twenty-five years.
Dan Armstrong
Dan, a dairy consultant from Jindivick, joined the GippsDairy board in 2016. He adds a wealth of knowledge to the board, having worked as a private consultant for D-ARM consulting, a senior lecturer at LaTrobe University and in research and extension for the Department of Primary Industries Victoria, Ellinbank.
He specialises in farm business management.