Glenys Oogjes – Animals Australia

Glenys has been Executive Director at Animals Australia for the past 24 years. A long-time animal advocate, Glenys was instrumental in the lobby effort to establish the first-ever ‘Senate Standing Committee on Animal Welfare in Australia’ in 1983. Glenys is a member of several committees including the National Consultative Committee on Animal Welfare – advising the Federal Minister for Agriculture, a number of institutional Animals Ethics Committees and the ‘Code Liaison Group’ which determines the national policy and Code relating to animals in research. She is also a long-standing member of the Victorian Animal Welfare Advisory Committee, and represents the animal view on many special purpose Government-initiated review and writing groups.



Professor Paul Hemsworth – University of Melbourne

Paul Hemsworth is a professor in the Melbourne School of Land and Environment at the University of Melbourne, and is Director of the Animal Welfare Science Centre, a joint centre of the University of Melbourne, Monash University and Ohio State University. He is also an Adjunct Professor in the Department of Animal Science, Ohio State University. Paul has had an extensive research career studying the behaviour and welfare of farm and companion animals. He is recognised for his research on human-animal interactions and for his research on housing and husbandry effects on animal welfare and behaviour.



Maria Mercurio - RSPCA

Maria has been the CEO of RSPCA Victoria since 2002, prior to which she was CEO at Moreland City Council. With a Bachelor of Arts (Economics) and a Master of Business Administration, Maria has enjoyed a successful and varied career in business and commerce in the United States and Australia. During her management career, Maria has had experiences in the Finance, and Retail industries as well as a time with CSIRO. She’s also worked in the Food Manufacturing sector, combining her career in operations management with running a small hobby farm in rural NSW.



Mick Keogh – The Australian Farm Institute

Mick Keogh has been Executive Director of the Australian Farm Institute since 2003. An independent research organisation for the Australian farm sector.The Institute promotes policy solutions to maximise the economic and social wellbeing of farmers. Mick has dedicated his life to agriculture, obtaining qualifications in Wool and Pastoral Science after growing up on a farm in southern New South Wales. Mick has worked as a manager of a beef cattle research station, a researcher at the University of New South Wales, an agribusiness consultant and as General Manager of Policy at the New South Wales Farmers Federation. He has also authored a wide variety of publications on farm-sector issues.



The Hon. Joe Ludwig – Federal Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry

Senator Joe Ludwig has been the Federal Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry since 2010. Born in Longreach, QLD, Senator Ludwig began his career as an Industrial Inspector and Training Consultant, before moving to the Queensland Branch of the Australian Workers’ Union. He is also a barrister and served for over ten years with the Australian Army Reserve. Joe has served a number of roles in parliament, including Shadow Minister for Justice and Customs, Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs and Shadow Attorney-General, Minister for Human Services and Special Minister of State and Cabinet Secretary.



The Hon. Ted Baillieu – Premier of Victoria

Ted Baillieu is the 46th Premier of Victoria. Before entering Parliament, Ted was a Director of Knight Frank, a Trustee of the Melbourne Convention & Exhibition Trust, a Board Member of Tourism Victoria, and a Partner with Mayne & Baillieu Architects. He has also served as a Board Member of the Melbourne Comedy Festival and the Australian Children’s Television Foundation. Ted is passionate about improving the lives of Victorians, and has a clear plan to encourage a growing competitive economy, make our services work, provide a government Victorians can trust, foster strong families and vibrant communities, secure our water supplies, and create a healthy environment.



Sam Kekovich – Media personality

Well known for his passionate support of the Australian lamb industry through his work as Meat and Livestock Australia’s ‘Lambassador,’ Sam first entered the public sphere playing football for North Melbourne and Collingwood. He is now a prolific radio personality and can be heard regularly across Victoria’s airwaves. Sam is sure to bring an excellent morning of entertainment to the VFF conference.



Gavin Hanlon – Goulburn Murray Water

Gavin Hanlon is Managing Director of Goulburn Murray Water. He joined the organisation in 2011 after three years running Coliban Water in Bendigo. Gavin has been in CEO roles in Catchment Management Authorities and Water corporations for the last ten years across Northern Victoria. He is passionate about rural Australia and is committed to realising all the benefits of a $2 billion investment in Goulburn-Murray Water’s infrastructure for its communities and customers. A country boy at heart, Gavin grew up in Temora in NSW. His two young kids and wife keep him busy in any spare time.



Richard Hancock – National Heavy Vehicle Regulator Project Office

Richard Hancock is the Project Director of the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator Project Office where he oversees the work to nationally harmonise laws for heavy vehicles over 4.5 tonnes. The Project Office has a budget of over $10M, a dedicated team of over 30 staff and contractors and is responsible for the establishment of the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator by December 2012. In his previous roles, Richard has been the Chief Executive Officer of the Department of Construction and Infrastructure for the Northern Territory Government, and the Chief Executive Officer of Ballarat City Council.



Lisa Sturzenegger – WorkSafe Victoria

Lisa Sturzenegger is the General Manager, Health & Safety Operations with WorkSafe Victoria. The Health & Safety Inspectorate supports workplaces throughout Victoria to ensure that employers such as farmers are meeting their OH&S obligations. Lisa has spent over 24 years working in both the Public and Not for Profit Sector across Australia, the UK and the USA. Lisa was heavily involved in the 2009 Victorian Bushfires Royal Commission, giving evidence on Land Use Planning that resulted in planning reform within Victoria. Since joining WorkSafe Lisa has commenced significant reform to advance Health & Safety Operations to the future.



Hugo Armstrong - Powercor

Hugo Armstrong is Corporate Affairs Manager for CitiPower and Powercor Australia, a single business running two of Victoria’s five electricity distribution networks. Hugo is responsible for the business’ stakeholder relationship management. Hugo has worked with Powercor since 1998, after spending time at South East Water and Telstra. Before he moved to into corporate affairs, Hugo was an ABC journalist and reported on programs including the 7.30 Report and Countrywide.