Our Board
North Coast 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 two 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 (Bob) Smith, Mylestom
Bob has a 40 year background in the delivery of sustainable management and use of natural resources. Robert has extensive experience in the management and evaluation of community businesses and the interactions of government, private sector and community. This is Bob’s second term as Chair of the North Coast Local Land Services Board.
Appointed Board members
Jolyon Burnett, Bexhill
Jolyon has over 35 years’ experience in the horticulture and agriculture industries. He has degrees in Agriculture and Environmental Science and is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors course. He is the Chair of the National Farmers Federation Horticulture Council and is a non-executive Director of Santos Organics Limited a small not-for-profit food retailer in the Northern Rivers. He has previously been CEO of horticultural and agricultural industry organisations and served as Chair and non-executive director of state, national and international bodies. This is Jolyon’s first term on the North Coast Local Land Services Board. Jolyon and his wife Anne live on a small acreage at Bexhill.
Gary Humphreys, Port Macquarie
Gary brings over 20 years of experience in operating large corporations with specific skills in areas such as corporate governance, strategic planning, financial management and customer service. In a previous role Gary was the Chief Operating Officer of Essential Energy (Australia's largest electricity distribution network). Gary is currently a non-executive director on Hastings Cooperative, BCU and CanAssist NSW. Gary lives in Port Macquarie and owns a farm at Cooperabung where he runs beef cattle. Gary was appointed to the North Coast Local Land Services Board in 2019.
Tracey Stinson, Nobbys Creek
Tracey Stinson is an experienced non-executive director who has held a variety of board positions from health, local government, employment services, and tourism sectors.
For the past seven years, Tracey was the Director of Sustainable Communities and Environment at Tweed Council providing executive leadership to a diverse customer facing portfolio with approximately 220 staff and an annual budget of $65 million.
Tracey has spent 30 years in executive and senior leadership roles within local government and runs a successful management consulting business specialising in executive leadership coaching, independent mediation, and stakeholder engagement.
Tracey holds qualifications in business administration, economics and dispute resolution.
Elected Board members
Bruce Lyle, Yorklea
Bruce is a land manager and beef cattle producer who, with his family, has run stud and commercial Angus cattle at Yorklea near Casino for over 30 years. Bruce has a background in agriculture, business management and is particularly interested in maximising production sustainably. Bruce is also actively involved in local producer groups and initiatives. This is Bruce’s first term on the North Coast Local Land Services Board.
David Michael Dawson, Bonny Hills
David is currently building a cattle business on properties in the Macleay and Hastings Valleys following a career spanning all areas of agriculture, forestry, water and natural resource management in the government and media sectors. He is involved in the community through the Hastings Feral Deer Management Group culling program and works with neighbours and contractors to control Wild Dogs. This is David’s first term on the North Coast Local Land Services Board.
Adam Chapman, Fine Flower
Adam has operated a family beef cattle breeding, fattening and cropping property at Fine Flower in the upper Clarence for the past 20 years. Adam has extensive board experience with Local Land Services’ predecessor organisations and is particularly interested in animal health, biosecurity and invasive pests and weeds. This is Adam’s first term on the North Coast Local Land Services Board.