Our Board
Greater Sydney Local Land Services is governed by a board of local people.
Board members work closely with landholders and local communities to identify and deliver services that are relevant to local needs.
Local boards are comprised of a mix of Ministerially-appointed and elected board members who bring a wealth of skills, experience and commitment to the organisation.
The Chair and three board members are appointed by the Minister for Agriculture and Western New South Wales while the remaining three board members are elected by Local Land Services ratepayers.
Together they focus on the strategic direction of the organisation, promoting the services offered, encouraging partnerships and building strong relationships with investors while also communicating the priorities and concerns of customers to local boards.
Section 29 of the Local Land Services Act 2013 sets out the functions of local boards. They are legally binding and should be interpreted as the definitive reference regarding the role of local boards.
Chair
Polly Bennett, Paddington
Polly Bennett grew up in Coonamble and her family have mixed farming enterprises at Gulargambone and Narromine, although she now currently resides in Sydney.
Polly has over 30 years of senior executive experience in the NSW government, including CEO of NSW Food Authority, Director Agribusiness Development with DPIRD and chairing the NSWFA’s meat, dairy, chicken, egg and seafood committees.
Polly currently chairs the SkillsIQ Board and advocates and collaborates with industry, the Australian and NSW governments.
Polly is also an independent member of the NSW Biofuels Expert Advisory panel, providing advice to Government, with a focus on the management of the Biofuels Act 2007 and the application of the exemption regime for registered fuel suppliers.
Past board and committee roles include Australian Lot Feeders Association, National Red Meat Advisory Committee, Maritime Advisory Council, and Freight Advisory Council.
Polly holds a Bachelor of Economics degree an Executive Fellow of the Australian New Zealand School of Government, is a CEDA Trustee and an AICD graduate.
Appointed Board members
James Kellaway, Turramurra
James Kellaway has extensive experience, as an executive and a non-executive director, across regulatory and commercial entities within the agricultural sector of the Australian economy over 30 plus years in many rural and regional communities. This has included employment with state and federal government statutory authorities, public companies, not-for-profit entities, a proprietary entity and a farmer co-operative business.
James is currently CEO at Oz Group Co-Op Ltd, past CEO of NSW Chamber of Fresh Produce, past Managing Director at the Australian Egg Corporation, GM at Horticulture Australia Ltd and Industry Services Manager at MLA.
Amongst other qualifications, James has a Graduate Diploma in Applied Corporate Governance, is a graduate of AICD, has an MBA and Bachelor or Applied Science (Agriculture).
Danica Leys, West Pymble
The current CEO of the Country Women’s Association of NSW, Danica Leys has held senior policy and legal roles with NSW Farmers and worked as an agronomist in Central West and North West NSW as an agronomist. In 2012 Danica received the NSW/ACT RIRDC Rural Woman’s Award for her vision and commitment to a vibrant primary industries sector. Danica was appointed to the Greater Sydney Local Land Services Board in 2019.
Linda Bracken, Wrights Creek
Linda Bracken has had a varied career within the ABC, from being appointed as manager of triple j to revitalise the brand for young Australians, to being Head of Content and Multiplatform for ABC Radio where she had staff in 54 locations and was responsible for the on-air strategy and talent selection across all ABC radio networks including ABC Rural. Concurrent to this, she was one of the key executives charged with leading the digital transformation of the organisation.
Linda is now a consultant, and is working with Board Matters, a governance and strategy company. Through Board Matters, she works with boards (from national organisations, corporates, charities and government entities) to develop their strategic plans and facilitates board strategic planning workshops.
Elected Board members
- Sean Hooper
- Richard De Abreu Lourenco
- Linda Smith.