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Wimmera CMA

Street Address:
24 Darlot Street, Horsham, 3400
(enter via Gleed St)

Postal Address:
PO Box 479, Horsham, VIC, 3402
Phone: (03) 5382 1544
Fax: (03) 5382 6076
Email: wcma@wcma.vic.gov.au
 
Office Hours:
Monday to Friday, 8:30 - 5:00pm
(excluding Public Holidays and Christmas - New Year Closure.  Office may also be closed for short periods Monday mornings)

Board

Wimmera CMA Board is appointed by the Victorian Governments’ Minister for Environment, Climate Change and Water. Board members have experience and knowledge in land management, water resources management, natural resource management, primary industry, business management, and community engagement. Wimmera CMA Board is accountable for the overall performance of the Authority. Its role is to guide, govern, and provide professional and strategic advice in the development of the Authorities strategic direction for land, biodiversity, and water management in the Region.

How do people get involved?

The Minister, following an ‘Expression of Interest’ process, appoints members for a term of up to four years.

 
 Peter Hilbig  

Peter Hilbig

Peter Hilbig (Chair) was appointed Chair in October 2017. He has lived at Halls Gap for most of the past thirty years employed locally as a teacher, education consultant then principal at Stawell Secondary College.  He has also been a teacher and principal in Malaysia and Northern Territory.  He currently supports school improvement through leadership coaching, training and review .  Peter's particular interest in the Wimmera and passion for sustainable catchment management was developed through six years as manager of Project Platypus - Upper Wimmera Landcare, where he was inspired by the commitment of a diverse range of stakeholders using science to monitor and inform improvement in land and water quality, and to enhance biodiversity.
Peter is Captain of the Halls Gap CFA and a Justice of the Peace.  He is keen for the CMA to engage effectively with all stakeholders to achieve a healthy Wimmera catchment.
 Emelia Sudholz  

Emelia Sudholz

Emelia Sudholz has been a member of Wimmera CMA Board since October 2011. Emelia is an agricultural scientist, teacher, and partner with her husband in a cropping and sheep farm business at Rupanyup South. Emelia has a strong background in water management, is on the Board of the Wimmera Development Association (WDA) and the Wimmera Southern Mallee Regional Partnerships Committee. Emelia brings experience in Natural Resource Management, stakeholder engagement, governance, and a strong farming background and involvement to the Board. She is committed to the Wimmera after moving here over 20 years ago and is heavily involved in local community groups.
   

 David Drage  

David Drage

David Drage was appointed to the Board in October 2013, and reappointed in October 2017.             
David brings a diverse mix of farming, Landcare, community, and waterway experience and involvement to the Board.
David lives on the family farm with his wife and two children. The farm grows winter cereals and legumes and they run a small flock of Merino ewes for wool and prime lamb production. There is also a strong focus on preserving and conserving the remaining remnant buloke and box vegetation on the farm.
David’s long-term goals are utilising his land-based resources for food production, and his family’s livelihood, while preserving the farm to ensure it is handed on to the next generation in the best possible condition.
David is a member of several community groups including Warracknabeal Apex Club and Lah Landcare Group.

   

 John Goldsmith  

John Goldsmith

John was appointed to the Wimmera CMA Board in October 2013. He has spent the majority of his life in the Wimmera/Southern Mallee.
John is keen, through his role with the Board, to contribute to long-term sustainability of the Wimmera region. For the past 28 years John has worked at Longerenong College and has been General Manager for the past 10 years. 
In his current role, John deals with farmers and farming issues on a daily basis, through the college’s 1070-hectare cropping, sheep and beef cattle enterprise. He is also surrounded by young people, who are starting their agricultural careers, and their contribution to the Australian agricultural industry.
 La Vergne Lehmann 2019  

La Vergne Lehmann

La Vergne Lehmann was appointed to the Wimmera CMA Board in October 2017.
La Vergne lives near Dimboola and brings a broad range of experience including natural resource management, community engagement, research, communications and media and tourism. Over the last 6 years La Vergne has worked in waste and resource recovery in a senior management role and has most recently led the development of the inaugural regional implementation plan for the Grampians Central West Waste & Resource Recovery Group. La Vergne is passionate about sustainability and environmental issues in the region along with building a greater understanding of traditional owners through her role as an independent director with the Barengi Gadjin Land Council. 
 Michael Porter  

Michael Porter

Michael Porter was appointed to the Board in November 2015.
Michael owns farming Victoria’s Western District, near Ballarat.  He has had extensive experience in the Agricultural sector where he was the CEO of SQP Co-operative for almost four years. He has particular interest in soil re-generation and making the best use of our limited resources, such as water.  Before working for SQP, he held Senior Management roles within ASX listed companies. 
Michael holds a Bachelor of Business Studies with a major in Enterprise Development, a post Graduate Qualification in Change Management and is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. He also holds other Board Positions, including being a member of the Audit Advisory Committee for the City of Ballarat, Director Angel Seafood Holdings Ltd and Murray River Organics Ltd. Outside of farming, and these roles, he is also an Active Reservist where he holds the rank of Commander in the Royal Australian Naval Reserve.
Michael is keen to contribute to the governance and overall strategic direction of the Wimmera CMA
 Michelle Graymore  

Michelle Graymore

Michelle Graymore was appointed to the WCMA board in October 2017.
Michelle is an environmental sociologist who is passionate about helping rural and regional communities be sustainable and resilient, particularly in the Wimmera. She is a Senior Research Fellow at Federation University Australia who works with environmental scientists and natural resource managers helping ensure that the social aspects of environmental and water management are considered in decision making. As well as a family connection to the Wimmera, she spent four years leading the Wimmera Research Group (formerly known as Horsham Campus Research Precinct) at Federation University in Horsham. She brings to the board expertise in sustainability, water management, climate change adaption, social change processes, community engagement and community resilience. In her role on the Board Michelle is keen to use her skills to contribute to the long-term sustainability of the region.