Our Members Council - Your representatives

Landcare Tasmania's purpose is to represent, support, strengthen and grow community Landcare in Tasmania. We do this by supporting our members, and in turn, we need to be informed, aware and guided by the interests and needs of the membership. This role is fulfilled by our Members Council.  Its purpose is to:

• provide a forum for members to discuss matters of strategic direction and Landcare policy
• provide advice and make recommendations to the Board on matters of strategic direction and Landcare policy
• assisting and/or facilitate the implementation of policies, strategies and projects as approved by the Board

The Members Council plays a vital role in Landcare Tasmania's operations.

 

Jason Orr - Chair

Jason has been heavily involved in a range of groups for some years now, particularly within coastal communities. He volunteers his time tirelessly and is passionate about weed management and eradication. Jason is the current Chair of East Tamar Landcare, as well as the Tamar NRM working group - 'The George Town Coastal Communities Management Group'. Jason was also elected to the George Town Council in 2022.

 

 

  Gill Basnett

Gill Basnett is an ecologist specialising in wildlife  management and fire ecology. She has been the National  Feral Cat and Fox Management Coordinator for the Centre  for Invasive Species Solutions since early 2021. Gill has a  background in community engagement, science communication, Landcare and natural resource management with extensive experience in wildlife ecology and management, and fire ecology. She has spent much of her career in positions that improve environmental conservation and sustainable agriculture through research, hands-on field work, education, engagement and empowerment of the community. Throughout, the management of cats and foxes have been a common theme. She has worked across several Australian states in a range of roles for government and non-government organisations as well as a private consultant.

Gill has a passion for Landcare and fully supports the work that Landcare Tasmania and local volunteers do to improve the environment in local reserves and on farms and properties throughout Tasmania.

 

Todd Dudley

Dedicated to the protection, maintenance and ecological restoration of the natural environment.
President of the North East Bioregional Network, Todd has a deep knowledge of landscape conservation with large-scale projects such as plantation restoration at Skyline Tier in the North East being a significant highlight for successful, socially supporting restoration of biodiversity. Todd has also been instrumental in supporting appropriate planning and development, and sits on the committee of Planning Matters Alliance Tasmania. Todd is dedicated to the protection, maintenance and ecological restoration of the natural environment. He is based in the North East of Tasmania.

 

Michael Nichols

Michael is the owner and farmer of Nichols Chickens at Redbanks, a 380 hectare property in north-west Tasmania, operated by the Nichols family for over 20 years. An exemplary enterprise for profitability and sustainability, almost one-third is natural bush, wetlands and revegetation areas. Most importantly, the Nichols have educated those around them that Landcare values do not conflict with production values by showing very clearly that the two can operate in harmony with great success. He is part of Soil First Tasmania and continues to be a leader in soil and biodiversity management on his farm. He is based in the North West of Tasmania.

 

Kerry Bridle

Kerry is a geographer and ecologist who has lived in Tasmania since 1990. She is a member of the Ecological Society of Australia and she works part-time in natural resource management at Beaufront, Ross and also has casual appointments teaching field methods and environmental management in the School of Geography, Planning and Spatial Science at the University of Tasmania, and in the Department of Continuing Education at the University of Oxford. Kerry works with many volunteers on Beaufront including the UTAS Landcare Society and the Nipaluna Landcare group. She is a passionate advocate striving for good conservation management outcomes in agricultural landscapes, especially native grasslands and grassy woodlands. She is based in the South-East and the Northern Midlands.

 

Peter Lawrence 

Peter has been bushwalking for 70 years, worked as a scientist in agricultural plant diversity, both internationally and nationally, and now volunteers for various local nature conservation groups. He has been secretary plus held other executive roles for Wynyard Landcare and North Central Field Naturalists but prefers working outside on practical tasks.

 

 

 

Hannah Lewis

 Hannah has worked with an array of agri-food businesses to execute change, implement sustainable processes and procedures, and capitalise on opportunities for business and impact growth. Currently Hannah works with the TAS Farm Innovation Hub as a project manager, supporting projects that increase Tasmania’s resilience to drought. Hannah is passionate about sustainable, ethical food and fibre production and the intersection of agriculture, environment and healthy communities. Hannah lives in Penguin, where she share farms vegetables, cereal and beef and lamb, and co-owns specialty grocer The Penguin Pantry, and cafe Seventy Acres.

 

 

 

Lyndon O'Neil

Lyndon is a proud Tasmanian Aboriginal person, a Trawlwoolway and Pairabeene man, a direct Descendant of Mannalargenna through the line of Woretemoeteyenner, and of his Grandfather, William'Rex' Kennedy.

Lyndon has a lifelong and deep connection to the land, sky and sea, from his own perspective as a contemporary Aboriginal man, and as a continuation of his family’s connection as caretakers and custodians of Country, Tasmania.

An important and valuable asset is his proven ability to apply this connection in ways that bring about positive outcomes for Country, with heritage being an integral element, both tangible and intangible.

Lyndon is a current director on the Board of Melythina Tiakana Warrana Aboriginal Corporation, Coordinator for the Tebrakunna Rangers, trained in Healthy Country Planning, is active and experienced in many areas of caring for Community and Country as a whole.

 

Ash Carden

Ash, originally from New Zealand, has over a decade of experience in community engagement. Her passion for travel has led her to work in diverse and remote locations, including regions in New Zealand, the canals and rivers of England, and the Channel Islands, where she managed Conservation Volunteers on Alderney Island. Currently, she oversees bushcare for the Glenorchy City Council. A consistent theme in Ash's career is her love of working with volunteers. She thrives on empowering individuals to make a positive impact in their environment and firmly believes that fostering connections between people and nature is crucial for preserving our natural areas. 

 

Iain Field

Iain is a farmer and ecologist based at Leap Farm, where he integrates sustainable farming with ecological conservation. With over 20 years’ experience, he focuses on soil health, biodiversity and low-input systems, demonstrating how productive agriculture can go hand in hand with environmental stewardship. Iain also shares his knowledge with other farmers, advocating for sustainable farming methods that benefit both the land and the community.

 

Janet Stone

Janet brings more than 25 years of volunteer experience across conservation and environmental organisations in Tasmania. A long-time Bushcare convenor and community organiser, she has been deeply involved in on-ground restoration, environmental education, and environmental initiatives. She has spent over two decades with Hobart City Council Bushcare, currently convening South Hobart, and has also volunteered extensively with Conservation Volunteers Australia and the Tasmanian Land Conservancy. A passionate organiser and collaborator, Janet has led grassroots weed-removal projects, contributed to faith-based environmental initiatives, and supported conservation training programs, including delivering conservation management training within Risdon Prison.

 

Robyn Moore

Robyn lives on Tasmania’s east coast and is convenor of the Dolphin Sands Community Network Landcare group. With a strong background in cultural safety, Robyn is passionate about inclusive, community-led care for the environment and the connections built through working together on Country. Through participating in regular working bees caring for the Nine Mile Beach peninsula, Robyn has seen first-hand how working together strengthens people's connections to each other and with their environment.

 

Kerrie Brown

Kerrie has a background in ecology and natural resource management and volunteers across Landcare and Coastcare projects on the Tasman Peninsula. Through her work in community development, she combines biodiversity, permaculture and community gardening to support nature-based and food security programs.

 

William Oliver

Originally from the UK, Will has spent the past 15 years in Tasmania working in community engagement and land management with the state government. An active Landcare and Wildcare volunteer, his experience spans local conservation projects through to international wildlife research.

 

Dibas Panta

Dibas works in local government natural resource management as an NRM Facilitator with Sorell Council. He supports community-led land and water care through projects focused on climate adaptation, biosecurity, rehabilitation and long-term environmental stewardship. Dibas enjoys facilitating volunteer activities, workshops and education initiatives that help people understand local environmental values, biosecurity responsibilities, and the practical steps we can all take to protect and restore Tasmania’s landscapes.