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
Robert Webster, McMahons Point
Robert has extensive governance experience having sat on government and listed company boards for over 20 years. Robert was a member of the NSW Legislative Council from 1991 - 1995. Robert currently lives in Sydney and has a grazing property at Bigga. This is Robert’s second term on the Greater Sydney Board. He has previously acted as Chair of the Greater Sydney Local Land Services Board.
Appointed Board members
Melissa Joseph, Lilli Pilli
Melissa has a background in agriculture, banking, finance and management. Melissa has strong leadership, strategic planning and management skills with broad connections in the government and private sectors. This is Melissa’s second term on the Greater Sydney Local Land Services Board.
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.
Linda is currently a board member (and Deputy Chair) of the Australian Horse Industry Council and board member of the Bobby Goldsmith Foundation.
Elected Board members
Bob Stacy, Yarramalong
Bob Stacy, lives on the Central Coast in the Yarramalong Valley. He grew up in the Hunter Valley on a large cattle property and now runs a small farm producing cattle, eggs, fruit and marmalade. Bob has vast experience in the public and private sectors here in Australia and offshore. His main area of expertise is in the area of non-financial risk - workplace health and safety, human resources and environmental protection and sustainability. This is his first term on the Greater Sydney Local Land Services Board.
Tally Matthews, Ebenezer
Tally is a Horticultural Agronomist from Ebenezer who works both locally and regionally with a diverse array of agricultural producers. A primary producer since 1994 producing vegetables, turf and beef cattle, he was also the winner of the NSW Farmers ‘Young Farmer of the Year’ award in 2008. Tally has been involved in a number of industry and community based projects and was a founding member of The Sydney Field Vegetable Demonstration Farm at Richmond. This is his second term on the Greater Sydney Local Land Services Board.
Ian Lanham Ross McDougall, Kenthurst
Ian lives on 10Ha in Kenthurst. Ian has a background in law working as a lawyer and magistrate. Ian is particularly interested in the biosecurity function of Local Land Services in the Greater Sydney region. This is Ian’s second time on the Greater Sydney Local Land Services Board, having also been a member of the inaugural Board.