The expert panel

Virginia (Gini) Boyd – Recruitment

Virginia grew up on a 100 acre property with her family in Dookie. After working at the University of Melbourne, Dookie Campus for four years, she studied a Bachelor of Business (Human Resource Management) at Charles Sturt University.

After graduating, Virginia worked in a number of recruitment companies and was National Operations / HR Manager with Workforce On Tap prior to marrying a dairy farmer and returning Dookie.

Since then she has raised a young family and studied for a Graduate Diploma in Vocational Education and Training. She is now working as a sessional teacher at GO TAFE delivering Human Resource Management subjects and is Course Co-ordinator for the Diploma in Human Resources (Dairy) at the National Centre for Dairy Education Australia.

Jennifer Corkhill – Industrial relations

Jennifer Corkhill is a lawyer in Adelaide who specialises in industrial law and contracts law and provides a consultancy service on industrial relations issues. She worked for the South Australian Farmers’ Federation for four years providing advice to farmers on industrial relations issues. In 2006-2007 she worked with the National Farmers’ Federation preparing materials for and teaching the WorkChoices Employer Advisory Programme. During that time she also prepared materials for the WorkChoices Employer Advisory Programme for the building industry.

Chris Hibburt – Farm Systems

Chris graduated from vet school almost 30 years ago and spent the first 15 years of his career as a clinical dairy veterinarian in Timboon, western Victoria. He became increasingly involved in the whole farm operation rather than just animal health and completed a business degree to assist in widening his services.

Chris believes that people are the key to the success of a dairy business and emphasizes this in his role as a farm management adviser. He also has interests in a corporate dairy farm and the veterinary pharmaceutical industry.

Outside of work Chris and his wife Katy enjoy bringing up their young family and traveling and fit in time on the bike and in the pool to keep in shape.

Ruth Nettle – Research & evaluation

Ruth is a Senior Research Fellow at the University of Melbourne and has worked in the rural sector for over 20 years. Originally trained as a rural scientist Ruth worked in dairy extension in Tasmania and rural financial counselling in Victoria before embarking on a research career. Ruth gained her doctorate exploring the issues concerning farm employment relationships and the form of support industry needs to improve employment outcomes (like unattractive jobs and poor retention strategies).

Ruth’s research focus is the people side of the innovation and change that are important for rural industries to be productive, profitable and sustainable. This has included issues like water, land-use change, new technologies and farm employment. As part of The People in Dairy, Ruth has been involved in the design and development of the program including reviewing past projects, developing “The people approach” tools, contributing to the resource kit, researching workforce planning methodologies and program evaluation strategies.

Andrew Sullivan – Farm health and safety

Andrew has an agricultural science degree and has been involved in farmer education for over 20 years.

He undertakes project work and provides health and safety consultancy, training and auditing for individual farmers, agricultural businesses and a range of clients including the commercial agricultural operations of the Indigenous Land Corporation and governments.

In 1998 while at the University of Ballarat, Andrew established the Victorian Farm Safety Centre in response to industry requests for relevant and practical health and safety training and resources.

Sylvia Vagg – Skills development

Sylvia has 26 years experience in vocational education and training for farmers. She was a rural education officer for 18 years before holding a number of senior educational positions including the inaugural Gippsland Manager for the National Centre for Dairy Education Australia (NCDEA).

Sylvia is currently the Manager of Educational Development at the NCDEA. Her role includes the development of educational standards and a program for the development and training of NCDEA trainers, assessors and dairy industry personnel.

She has a Bachelor of Agricultural Science, Diploma of Education, Graduate Diploma of Secondary Studies (Education) and Masters level training in business, leadership and education.

Sylvia grew up on a dairy farm and is a partner in a dairy and beef farming business in South Gippsland. She is particularly interested in the development of farmers and young people in rural communities, as she believes that productive and happy dairy people are necessary for a sustainable industry.

Kerry Ryan – Business and people management

Kerry Ryan is a Registered Agribusiness Consultant who helps primary sector businesses achieve their goals through his professional focus on strategic planning and best practice for people management. He is active in all areas of management for farming and corporate clients in New Zealand and Australia.

Kerry is a regular speaker and publisher on management, planning and motivation. He has a Degree in Agricultural Commerce and has spent over 25 years in commercial and consultancy roles.

He is columnist for New Zealand Dairying Today, Rural News and Australian Dairy Farmer. Married with five children Kerry supports his wife Christine in the operation of Daybreak Montessori Preschool and together they are active in a number of community groups.