Our Board
Northern Tablelands 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
Dr Alexander (Alex) Ball, Armidale
Dr Alex Ball has been a key contributor to the agricultural industries, especially in red meat, over the last 25 years. During that period, he has acquired acknowledged skills in RD&A program management, strategy development and implementation, project management, portfolio analysis, industry engagement and consultation, industry representative structures, corporate governance and more recently in natural capital and ecosystem services frameworks and evaluation.
Alex has participated in the development and implementation of several national industry and cross-sectoral RD&E strategic plans and RRFP projects as well as their review.
Alex maintains an active interest in R&D and is the author of 3 book chapters and over 85 refereed journal articles. He is an Adjunct Professor at the University of New England (UNE) and co-supervises several HDR students. He is also a non-executive board member of two NFP organisations, for one of which he chairs the Finance and Risk Committee.
Prior to establishing Rural Analytics in 2018, Alex was employed as CEO and company secretary of Herefords Australia, and was employed with MLA for 18 years with his last role being General Manager Red Meat Innovation. Alex has been a member of the Minister for Agriculture’s independent selection committee for two RDCs. He has delivered projects for Sheep CRC, UNE, AgriFutures Australia, APL, Australian Meat Processor Corporation, MLA, Integrity Systems Company, Greening Australia, Cattle Council of Australia, NEOGEN Australasia, LAMBEX, several agricultural corporates and state departments. Alex is also an active beef and sheep producer and has an extensive network of contacts across Australian agriculture.
Alex completed the Australian Institute of Company Directors Course in 2006, and a fellow of the ARLP. He is currently the chair of a human fitness company, a director of the SRS merino company and a director of DataGene (a Dairy company). He holds a bachelor of rural science and a PhD (in restricted and maintenance feeding of sheep).
APPOINTED BOARD MEMBERS
Martha Saw, Armidale
Martha Saw has extensive experience with boards, having started in 1993 as the inaugural CEO of a not-for-profit entity raising money for medical research.
Since then, Martha has been CEO and Company Secretary of the UNE Foundation (4 years), and a non-executive Director of the regionally based companies of Jobs Australia Enterprises Ltd (10 years including as Company Secretary for the past five years) and Starfish Enterprises which is involved in multiple sustainability initiatives.
Martha holds qualifications in project management, communications and media and agriculture. In 2021, Martha received a Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet’s Women’s Regional, Rural and Remote Scholarship to obtain her AICD certification.
Martha currently runs a sheep and cattle operation near Armidale and is a keen amateur beekeeper.
Rechelle Leahy, Kelly Plains
Armidale based Rechelle is a principal sector specialist in governance, contract management, procurement and social policy issues. Her passion lies with gender equality, equity, disability services, domestic violence, rural and regional workforce planning and employment and improving policy through advocacy, specifically related to the specialised issues of rural, regional and remote women and girls in Australia. Rechelle was appointed to the Northern Tablelands Local Land Services Board in 2019.
Julie Bird, Bukkulla
Julie’s passion for the agriculture industry has provided her with a wealth of experience and knowledge, from working in the heart of government, to jointly managing a wool and beef cattle enterprise. Julie has performed roles including Director of Agriculture, Department of Climate Change, Senior Research Manager, Rural Industries R & D Corporation and External Research Manager in Bioenergy for AgriFutures Australia. She also runs her own consultancy in rural innovation and co-owns a wool and beef cattle enterprise. Julie was appointed to the Northern Tablelands Local Land Services Board in 2019.
ELECTED BOARD MEMBERS
Names of board members elected in the recent elections will be published soon.