Victorian Association of Agricultural & Horticultural Educators
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Dr Caroline Duddy, Carrus Park Veterinary ServicesDr Duddy is an Equine Vet who specialises in reproductive medicine and neonatology, originally from Northern Ireland, Caroline’s passion for racing has taken her around the world. She worked in Ireland, England and Hunter Valley as a vet before settling in north-east Victoria. Caroline has a genuine passion for Victorian Racing and Breeding and she lives and breathes this in a hands-on way each and every day. Highly regarded by her peers, Caroline has been an advocate for, and mentor to, many younger female Vets as well as other industry participants. She works tirelessly in her many roles within the equine community. |
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Joshua Gilbert, Indigenous Consultant, Agriculturist & InnovatorJoshua Gilbert is a Worimi man with extensive experience in Indigenous affairs, environmental sectors, and sustainable agriculture, advocating for Indigenous identity and truth-telling. Pursuing a PhD on Indigenous modernity through agriculture at Charles Sturt University with support from the Food Agility CRC, he has just launched a book entitled "Australia's Agricultural Identity: An Aboriginal Yarn." Josh is recognised internationally for his work, announced in the inaugural 50 Next: People Shaping the Future of Gastronomy cohort. He is the Assistant Director for the UTS Centre for Indigenous People and Work. He serves on the Future Drought Fund’s Consultative Committee, the board for Indigenous Business Australia, the Royal Australasian College of Physicians, and the Australian Conservation Foundation, and is the Aboriginal Co-Chair of Reconciliation NSW. Josh is also an advisor for the CSIRO’s Agriculture and Food Advisory Group and the First Nations Trade and Investment Advisory Group. |
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Rachael Cann, Bachelor’s degree in Agricultural ScienceRachael is a first year student at the university of Tasmania studying a Bachelor’s degree in Agricultural Science with Honours. Rachel is originally from the Goulburn Valley, and attended Greater Shepparton Secondary College, graduating in 2024. She was lucky enough to gain a full-time job at a dairy farm in Numurkah thanks to an excursion in VCE Ag and Hort, where she found my passion for agriculture. When Rachel graduates from university she’d love to work with farmers and researchers to bridge the gap between science and practical actions on farm. Into the future She is hoping to see more agricultural education being taught into schools and local communities, as well as an increased awareness of tertiary education and future careers into agriculture. |
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Sarah Parker, Executive Officer of the Victorian Farmers Markets AssociationSarah is the Executive Officer of the Victorian Farmers Markets Association. She is the VFMA’s representative for the World Farmers Markets Coalition. Sarah holds a Masters in Agriculture and Rural Development and a Bachelor of Leisure Management. She is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, National Farmers Federation Diversity in Agricultural Leadership Program, and the Victorian Climate Smart Agriculture Fellowship Program. She has experience in executive and management roles in agriculture, extension and research, community development, and education including Children’s Services Manager, Milk Supply Manager, CEO of a regional RD & E organisation. Sarah has been a partner in an irrigated dairy farm at Undera, in the Goulburn Valley, since 2004. The dairy farm focuses on breeding registered Illawarra (Milking Shorthorn) cattle that are suitable for challenging conditions of our world, including adapting to impacts of climate change. Genetics from Glencliffe have been exported into the EU, UK, USA and New Zealand. |
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Jenny Hughes, Education Manager, Cotton AustraliaJenny is a strategic thought leader and influencer, known for her advanced relationship skills and extensive network. Her responsibilities include managing the Cotton Classroom resource library, creating curriculum-linked educational materials, and supporting teachers and undergraduates through scholarships to attend relevant events. She also oversees the Teach the Teacher Field Trips program, delivers workshops at education and career events, and manages Cotton Australia's interactive displays at major agricultural shows like The Sydney Royal and EKKA. |
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Karen Edwards, Lecturer, School of Agriculture, Food and Ecosystem Sciences, University of MelbourneKaren Edwards is an educator at the University of Melbourne’s Dookie Campus, specialising in agricultural science. Her teaching and outreach activities focus on engaging students with the challenges of sustainable food production in the context of climate change and environmental pressures. Through school outreach programs, she promotes agriculture as a rewarding field of study and career pathway. Karen is dedicated to inspiring the next generation of students to pursue innovative, science-based solutions for sustainable agriculture and resilient food systems. |
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James McLennan, Chief Executive Officer/Co-Founder Farm My SchoolJames is the CEO and Co-founder of Farm My School. He lives and breathes environmental conservation, preservation and regeneration. Combined with his passion for and extensive experience in the sustainability sector, he has seen a fruitful history of partnering with schools on education programs. Over the last 15 years, James has dreamed, designed, developed and implemented education programs to engage people of all ages with their surrounding environment. James was recently awarded the Jamie Oliver, Food Hero Award - Food Entrepreneur of the Year, 2024. |
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Mark Pullin, GM Education and Training, VEG EducationMark Pullin, General Manager at VEG Education, brings over 25 years of experience in education, training, and workforce development across Australia and New Zealand. With a strong background in curriculum design, instructional leadership, and compliance, including roles at the Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority, Mark is dedicated to developing high-quality, industry-aligned learning programs.
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Jordan Norman, Bachelor of Science (Animal Science) at the University of Adelaide / Ag Institute AustraliaJordan Norman is a passionate emerging leader in agricultural extension and education, currently completing a Bachelor of Science (Animal Science) at the University of Adelaide. As the 2025 PIEFA Student Compendium Intern and 2026 Student Compendium Project Officer Intern with Ag Institute Australia (SA Division), he is leading the expansion of the Ag Institute Australia National Student Compendium e-portal, connecting students with career pathways in agriculture. Alongside his work at Ag Institute, Jordan works at Urrbrae Agricultural High School as a Student Support Officer, supporting agricultural education. He plans to study a Master of Teaching (Secondary) specialising in Agricultural Education, combining his experience in communication, outreach, and livestock science to inspire future generations as an agricultural science teacher.
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Dr Jacqueline Cotton Senior Lecturer/Researcher Rural HealthDr Cotton has multidisciplinary scientific and industry expertise, in particular, translational research within human population health, agrichemical exposure, occupational health and safety, agriculture and animal production science. Her research has focused on agrichemical exposure and occupational safety practices in Victorian farmers and farmworkers. Dr Cotton has been a member of the NCFH team for over 10 years and is currently the course chair of Australia’s only Graduate Certificate in Agricultural Health and Medicine and a Rural Health Researcher. She is Chair of AusChem Training and she currently sits on the Agriculture Safety Reference Groups established by Worksafe Victoria and Safework NSW. She has provided expert advice and contributions on both industry and research reports as well as educational resources in the field of occupational health, particularly in areas of farmer engagement and safety practice. |
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Katelyn Lubcke- GRDC Manager Capacity and ExtensionKatelyn grew up on a sheep and grain property in Western Australia’s wheatbelt, where her family still farms after three generations. Her career spans commercial agriculture with Elders, station life in the Kimberley, and roles with Meat & Livestock Australia, where she managed the profitable grazing systems program and environmental markets portfolio. After a period in ag tech, Katelyn led sustainability policy and advocacy at Cattle Australia before joining the Grains Research & Development Corporation in 2025. In her current role as Manager, Capacity and Extension, she oversees scholarships, leadership programs, study tours, event sponsorships, PhDs, and workforce development initiatives. Passionate about delivering impact for Australian grain growers, Katelyn works to build capacity and leadership to help futureproof the agricultural workforce. |
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Nakala Maddock NutriSoil Managing DirectorNakala Maddock joined the family-owned and operated business based out of Wodonga in 2013. Nakala has a Bachelor of Business Management, a Graduate Diploma in Vocational Education and Training, a Graduate Certificate in Sustainable Agriculture, and is currently completing her Master's in Sustainable Agriculture. As a mother of two and active horsewoman, Nakala is passionate about how food is produced and supporting farmers to produce nutrient dense food. She envisages a future where farmers are rewarded for producing nutrient rich foods and consumers have them easily available to them. Nakala firmly believes the role of the soil microbiome and vermiculture in growing healthy plants and food needs to be built into the education system, to ensure a better understanding of beneficial microbes is broadly obtained. |
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Shelley Scoullar NutriSoil’s Communication CoordinatorGrowing up on a mixed irrigation farm in the southern Riverina, agriculture has been a passion for NutriSoil’s communication coordinator, Shelley Scoullar, as long as she can remember. With a Bachelor of Applied Science and a Graduate Diploma of Teaching, Shelley spent two decades in the education system in various capacities. More recently, Shelley spent 13 years managing and operating her own irrigation and cereal cropping farm alongside her family’s property before joining NutriSoil in 2021. Shelley is a strong advocate for farmers, believing they are the solution and not the problem. She can see the role that vermiculture and soil biology can play in keeping family farmers in business, with flow on benefits to human and planet health. |
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Michael Crisera, Grower Services Manager Fruit Growers VictoriaMichael brings extensive expertise in pome fruit production, Integrated Pest and Disease Management (IPDM), industry extension, and horticultural consulting. With experience as an IPDM consultant in both the commercial sector and for industry bodies, Michael has played a key role in connecting growers with research in both pomefruit and stonefruit, production across Victoria. He was instrumental in the development of the current degree day modelling app Growfruit, now widely used by Fruit Growers Victoria members and other organisations. In his current role, Michael works closely with Goulburn Valley fruit growers who supply directly to major retailers, providing technical support and advocacy on the many challenges faced by the industry. His work continues to strengthen the link between research, innovation, and practical outcomes for growers. |
