Our Board
Riverina 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
Lisa Anderson, Wagga Wagga
Lisa Anderson is a grain and sheep producer from The Gap near Wagga Wagga. An experienced leader, she has broad networks and a desire to create connections across industries and regional boundaries. Her genuine curiosity across all of the local land services portfolio has given her an excellent background for strategic decision making.
Lisa is a graduate of the Australian Rural Leadership Program. She has a bachelor of Economics and a Bachelor of Laws from the University of Sydney and is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
Other advisory roles held by Lisa include SALRC (Southern Australia Livestock Research Council) SNSW Chair, member of the Meat and Livestock Australia (Red Meat Panel) and the Agrifutures Pasture Seeds Advisory Panel Chair.
This is Lisa’s second term on an LLS Board, and first term as Board Chair.
Appointed Board members
Elizabeth Lyne, Cootamundra
Elizabeth Lyne has been appointed to numerous government and not-for-profit boards as a consumer and skilled based director over the past 10 years, including the NSW Rural Assistance, NSW Responsible Gambling Fund, Crown Holiday parks Land Manager, and Murrumbidgee Primary health Network.
Elizabeth is a qualified accountant with over 25 years of experience. In chartered accountancy Elizabeth has worked for Deloitte and has held ownership interest in a multi-office rural practice as an associate.
Elizabeth runs a mixed farming enterprise with her husband, a third-generation farmer at Cootamundra.
Michael Friend, Wagga Wagga
Michael Friend is passionate about the agricultural industries and has held a long career teaching the next generation of agricultural managers through is work with Charles Sturt University.
Michael is currently Pro-Vice Chancellor (Research and Innovation at Charles Sturt University, which involves leadership of CSU input with various Co-Operative Research Centres.
Other board and advisory roles held by Michael include the Southern NSW Drought Resilience Adoption and Innovation Hub and the NSW Connectivity Innovation Network Advisory Boards
Michael was the past President of the Australian Society of Animal Production and is on the advisory committee for both Meat and Livestock Australia and Australian Wool Innovation.
Michael has a Bachelor of Science (Wool and Pastoral Sciences) and a PhD in the nutritional effects on wool staple strength.
He is currently a primary producer, having two landholdings in the Riverina LLS–one at Euberta and the other at Cootamundra.
Sarah Roche, Gilmore
Sarah Roche is a qualified senior leader with more than 20 years’ experience across diverse industries in the private and public sector, managing rural geographically dispersed teams of up to 1,500 FTE.
Until recently Sarah was the Head of Network Operations, for Essential Energy where she was accountable for the overall strategic operational management and oversight of the electricity network for 95% of NSW.
She has now commenced as General Manager Southern Operations with Paraway, and lives on a sheep and cattle property at Gilmore, near Adelong with her husband and three children.
Previously she has held agribusiness leadership roles through employment with various industry operations, including GrainCorp, Rabobank and proAGtive.
Sarah has qualifications in Commerce and Teaching, and is an active RFS member.
Sarah was a Telstra Businesswoman of the Year finalist in 2020 and won the GrainCorp Region of the Year Award in 2026 when Manager Regional Operations Southern NSW. Whilst HR Manager for Grain Corp Southern NSW she was also the recipient of the 2012 and 2013 People Award and recipient of the 2012 Community Award.
Elected Board members
Names of board members elected in the recent elections will be published soon.