- president@gympielandcare.org.au
- +61 (0) 407 773 171
- 5 Groves Road Araluen, QLD. 4570
President
Alex Van Beek
Charged with providing leadership and direction to the committee, the President is responsible for ensuring that the committee fulfills its responsibilities for governance and success. The President is generally the spokesperson and should work to maintain key relationships within and outside the committee.
It’s taken 50 years, a chequered career path and 2 degrees (social geography and psychology) to finally find my calling as a social systems researcher. With that aim, I am now at the tail end of a doctorate focussed on how collaborative community-based research can create social change. It may sound boring, but it’s not!
We all know our natural environment with the incredible life it holds, is in serious jeopardy. It is now that we need as many people as possible working together to turn this around. I believe that there are certain principles that can help this along. These include being strengths and solutions focussed; valuing diversity and collective creativity; and sharing decision-making and resources. While it can take a while to get it moving, the ability of collective action, based on inclusive, empowering and positive relationships, can do amazing things.
At a personal level, my sister and I own 30 acres at Calico Creek. Our aim is to rehabilitate our land back into wildlife habitat while still maintaining space for our 4 spoilt horses and 3 gorgeous little cows.
EXPERIENCE
Land-carers are generally focussed on restoring the ecosystems around them, whether these are agricultural, natural or urban. However, in this age of the Anthropocene, it is actually humans who need to change their behaviours and their systems. This is my both my interest and contribution to Gympie Landcare.
Through both a wide-ranging career path and my passion for learning, I bring a wealth of both hands-on people knowledge and experience, as well as deep theoretical knowledge of social and systemic change.
SKILLS
I bring the following skills to GDLG:
- Systems thinking
- Applied social and wellbeing research
- Strategy development
- Excellent people skills
- Communication and writing skills
- Innovation, creativity and lateral thinking
KNOWLEDGE
I bring my own focus on human behaviours and social systems, as well as personal strengths of systems thinking and relational skills to the Gympie Landcare table. Restoring and preserving this beautiful region for many generations to come, will take a collective effort, with many people and organisations working towards this common purpose. I truly believe this is achievable, and that together, we can achieve the extraordinary.
EMPLOYMENT SUMMARY
- Researcher in systemic wellbeing and complex social change
- Equine soft tissue therapist
- Frontline manager and process technician in metallurgical processing
- Eternal student
QUALIFICATIONS
- PhD – School of Human, Medical and Applied Sciences; CQUniversity
- Bachelor of Psychological Science (Honours First Class)
- Graduate Diploma of Psychological Science (Distinction)
- Bachelor of Arts, Major: Social Geography; James Cook University of Queensland
COMMUNITY VOLUNTEER ROLES
- Gympie & District Landcare (previously general committee member)
- Land for Wildlife – member
- ANARRA – member
PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS
- International Society for the Systems Sciences
- The Systems School Australia
- Collective Impact Forum
- secretary@gympielandcare.org.au
- 07 5483 8866
- 5 Groves Road Araluen, QLD. 4570
SECRETARY
Nicole Harper
The Secretary is responsible for the documentation and communication of the activities of the committee. The secretary is the primary administration and legal officer of the committee and provides the links between the committee, members and outside agencies.
There is so much potential in what Landcare can do and be and I hope to bring skills and experience to contribute to making Gympie & District Landcare a thriving hub for land and environment management in the region. Having lived and worked on some of the largest agricultural properties in Australia and now residing in Gympie, my spare time is spent creating a sustainable and biodiverse urban farm on 800 sq metres.
EXPERIENCE
I have a diverse background which brings a unique experience to Gympie & District Landcare. My experience includes tourism, horse breeding and management, cattle stations, the arts and creative sector, and local government.
SKILLS
The skills I bring to Gympie & District Landcare include:
- Grants and revenue raising
- Marketing and promotion
- Strategic thinking
- Innovation and creativity
KNOWLEDGE
My qualifications in sustainability and community provide a foundation for my work in regional areas that has always focussed on outcomes that provide social benefit. The Gympie region has significant environmental credentials that I believe are integral to the fabric of our community and vital for a sustainable future.
EMPLOYMENT SUMMARY
- Local government in economic and community development roles.
- Creative sector roles for arts development organisations.
- Living and working on cattle stations in NT and western Queensland.
QUALIFICATIONS
- Bachelor of Arts, double major: Sustainable Development, Community Development
- Adv Dip Equine Management
COMMUNITY VOLUNTEER ROLES
- Founding Committee member Creative Arts Gympie Region
- Arts Council and Gallery Management Committees
- School Management Committee
PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS
- The Resilience Canopy Collective
- National Association for the Visual Arts
- The Systems School Australia
- Collective Impact Forum
- +61 (0) 407 708 705
- treasurer@gympielandcare.org.au
- 5 Groves Road Araluen, QLD. 4570
Treasurer
Lynne Wilbraham
The purpose of this position is to bring additional and desired skills to the Management Committee.
EXPERIENCE
Growing up on a farm and then working in and running businesses in a wide range of industries with many different people, has given me the skills and knowledge to appreciate the diversity of our world and the challenges facing our environment.
I have been involved and volunteered in many organisations which led me to value and appreciate the time and commitment to developing a successful, sustainable organisation.
I am passionate about protecting our natural environments and animals and doing all I can to promote awareness about simple yet powerful actions we can take to ensure they are in safe hands and looked after for generations to come.
SKILLS
I bring over 30 years’ experience working with and in community organisations and businesses at all levels of growth.
• Strategic Planning
• Project management
• Export market development
• Marketing and promotions
• Network and Cluster Development.
EMPLOYMENT SUMMARY
• Self-employed – Business development and training facilitator
• Strengthening Business Facilitator – Deloitte
• Entrepreneurship Facilitator – Regional Business HQ
• Grant Attraction advisor – Gympie Regional Council
• Manager Economic Development – Gympie Regional Council
QUALIFICATIONS
• Master of Business Administration
• Bachelor of Business Marketing
• Diploma of Local Government Administration
• Certificate IV in Training and Assessment
COMMUNITY VOLUNTEER ROLES
• Current – Vice President Weeroona Management Committee
• Past President and Past member Gympie Cooloola Rotary
• Coordinator – Project AWARE Beach and Underwater Cleanups
• Judge Sunshine Coast Business Woman of the Year, Gympie Women in Business and Gympie Chamber of Commerce Business Awards
PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS
• Associated Country Women of the World member
- committee-member1@gympielandcare.org.au
- +61 (0) 403 266 344
- 5 Groves Road Araluen, QLD. 4570
Committee Member
Sandi Cohen
The purpose of this position is to bring additional and desired skills to the Management Committee.
I have always had a sense of adventure, fun, a love of nature and the natural world, and a passion for growing and providing people with clean nutritious food and promoting healthy, happy lifestyles.
My husband David and I were certified organic from 2000 until 2022 operating a commercial intensive horticulture farm supplying quality food to Australia and at times overseas. Having now sold the farm I still have a passion for developing local sustainable clean food and supporting farmers and landholders to manage our environment and ecosystems, to ensure the profits we make from farming is not at the expense of the planet.
I always have held a strong belief in Landcare, and I am keen to contribute from my business, farming and community experience. I have also spent many years working in the government and private sectors as a Local Area Coordinator and have benefitted from extensive training in building sustainable and inclusive communities
EXPERIENCE
My interest in GDLG is to ensure its relevance and value to farmers and land managers is maintained.
It is critical when managing our country for profit or lifestyle we are good custodians of the natural environment and ensure its continuing improvement.
SKILLS
I bring the following skills to GDLG:- Farm business management
- Organic system operation
- Community organisation management
- Training and facilitation
KNOWLEDGE
Natural Resource knowledge resides with the people who do the work on the ground. Participatory learning, staying connected and having access to higher level skills and knowledge as required are essential elements of this process. Landcare is a unique platform for this purpose.
EMPLOYMENT SUMMARY
- Director and Partner Biofields Pty Ltd
- Support Coordinator Staffing Options
- Local Area Coordinator Queensland Government – Gympie Region
- Company Secretary Galeru Pty Ltd
QUALIFICATIONS
- Cert IV in Training and Assessment
- Diploma of Horticulture in Organic Management
- Diploma of Community Services Coordination
- Graduate Building Rural Leaders Foundation Program and Facilitation Roles
- Extensive training and qualifications in the disability sector and community development
COMMUNITY VOLUNTEER ROLES
- Current: Committee, Gympie District Landcare Group
- Previous: Member and President of numerous community committees including rural leadership
PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS
- Nil Current
- +61 (0) 466 746 706
- committee-member3@gympielandcare.org.au
- 5 Groves Road Araluen, QLD. 4570
committee member
Petra Van Beek
The purpose of this position is to bring additional and desired skills to the Management Committee.
EXPERIENCE
I have over 30 years of HR, Training and Organisational Development experience I can bring to GDLG, to help build staff capacity.
I have managed many small to medium project in these areas, so bring excellent organisational skills.
SKILLS
I bring over 30 years’ experience working with and in community organisations and businesses at all levels of growth.
- Human Resource Management
- Organisational Development
- Leadership Training
- Team Building
- Communications Training
- Project Management
EMPLOYMENT SUMMARY
Currently providing consulting services in the Organisational Development, Team Building, Leadership and Communication areas in the Gympie Region.
Previous experience has been over 30 years in Human Resources for a variety of small, medium and large organisations, both in Australia and overseas.
QUALIFICATIONS
· Bachelor of Business Management, majoring in Human Resources
· Graduate Diploma in Adult Education
· Graduate Certificate in Second Languages
COMMUNITY VOLUNTEER ROLES
· Gympie Chamber of Commerce (Board member since 2020)
· JobMatch Employment Board (since 2020)
· Gympie Rotary Club (since 2020)
PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS
• Nil
committee member
Nonie Metzler
The purpose of this position is to bring additional and desired skills to the Management Committee.
As a member of the Management team I hope to assist in the work of Landcare wherever possible.
EXPERIENCE
Born on a dairy farm close to the Murray River in Victoria, educated in Melbourne, and after years of travel I settled in Gympie in 1974 with my family.
SKILLS
- I taught in high schools for 40 years.
- Now retired, I live on 30 acres on McIntosh Creek Road. I joined Land for Wildlife and spent many years turning a property of weeds and trees into a better place, and learning much about the beauty and value of the natural environment.
EMPLOYMENT SUMMARY
- Bachelor of Arts
- Diploma of Education
- Graduate Diploma of Teacher-librarianship
COMMUNITY VOLUNTEER ROLES
- Koala Action Gympie
- Mary River Catchment Coordinating Council
Want to join the team?
Management Committee Vacancies
MC member (Finance and business support)
If you have sound financial and business experience and are ready to contribute back to community, contact us today.