DOCUMENTARY MAKER

Peter Byck is currently helping to lead a US$10 million research project comparing Adaptive Multi-Paddock (AMP) grazing with conventional grazing; collaborating with 20 scientists and 10 farm families, focused on soil health and soil-carbon storage, greenhouse-gas cycling, microbial/bug/bird biodiversity and water cycling. The research also includes a new, 4-part docuseries called Roots So Deep (you can see the devil down there), directed by Peter, which is all about the inventive farmers and maverick scientists building a path to solving climate change with hooves, heart and soil. View the trailer and CNN segment.

Peter is a professor of practice at Arizona State University, in both the School of Sustainability and the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism, where he teaches students to make short documentary films about sustainability solutions. He is the director, producer and writer of carbon nation, a documentary film about climate change solutions. In 2020, Peter completed carbon cowboys, a 10-part documentary short film series, focused on regenerative grazing.

FARMER, FOUNDER, FUTURIST

Nikki Davey is the co-founder and CEO of Grown Not Flown, a digital platform that supports micro and small-scale farmers globally. She champions a future in which small-scale farming thrives, benefiting both local communities and the environment. In 2023, in recognition of this work, she was awarded AgriFutures Rural Women of the Year.

She has more than 15 years’ experience in change management, project management and operational excellence and an MBA and a Master of Analytics Management from Melbourne Business School. Her journey into AgTech began on her family farm in Glenmore, where she saw firsthand the challenges faced by small growers.

Originally launched to support the cut-flower industry, Grown Not Flown has since expanded to include other types of producers and agritourism, connecting users in more than 37 countries. It aims to reduce flower and food miles, provide technology tailored to small farmers and offer consumers more sustainable, locally grown alternatives.

SOIL HEALTH EDUCATOR

Joel Williams is an independent plant and soil-health educator and consultant who has worked extensively in Australia, Europe and Canada, where he is currently based. He has a keen interest in plant and soil microbiomes, plant nutrition and crop diversification and how these may support the development of sustainable production systems.

Joel is originally from Australia, where he obtained a Bachelor of Agricultural Science specialising in plant and soil dynamics. He also lived in the UK for 10 years working with European farmers, focusing on biological approaches to soil management. In Europe he obtained an Master of Science in Food Policy, in which he explored farmers’ motivations and barriers to the adoption of intercropping.

Joel has a passion for teaching and sharing a combination of scientific and practical information and has lectured to farming audiences internationally.

AG CONSULTANT, NUFFIELD SCHOLAR

Colette Glazik is a lawyer by training, a food and fibre producer by practice, a design thinker by principle and for nature by purpose.

During five years as a sheep farmer of wool and meat in the Midlands of Tasmania she became curious about the carbon footprint of production and how international frameworks, government policy and consumer preferences impacted farmers on the ground.

Awarded the 2022 Australian Wool Innovation Nuffield Farming Scholarship, she travelled the world looking at the diverse range of agricultural supply chains, governments and corporations.

A Wolf Called Opportunity is the title of her Nuffield research into carbon and nature markets examining where the value is for agriculture.

REGENERATIVE FARMERS

Nats Hardy and Jono Hurst have been regeneratively farming Dja Dja Wurrung Country at Brooklands Free Range Farms at Blampied, Victoria, since 2012.

They manage a closed herd, breeding and raising British White cattle and Berkshire pigs, selling beef and pork at farmers’ markets and supplying award-winning local restaurants. They have concentrated on rare breeds for their inherent suitability to their environment and to their business and farming objectives.

Nats and Jono were a part of the founding committee of Central Victorian Regenerative Farmers, completing multispecies cover-crop and grazing trials over many years. The results of these trials have informed the development of regenerative systems for their farming model – delivering amazing results!

FOOD EXEC, FARMER

Stu Grainger has 35 years of experience in food and agribusiness across all parts of the supply chain from paddock to plate.

Coming from a farming family, with a biotechnology background and having led one of Australasia’s largest consumer food businesses, he has rare breadth of experience and understanding.

Stu is a former member of the Federal Government’s Food Strategy Group and continues to work with state and federal governments on food security and sustainability.

In 2023 he left the world of full-time corporate work to focus on the things that he felt most passionate about: regenerative farming, coaching and mentoring the next generation of food and agri leaders, and a portfolio of board roles. Stu and his wife, Amanda, run Red Angus cattle and Ryeland sheep at Lemah Park in the Macedon Ranges.

REGENERATIVE FARMER

Sam is a fifth-generation farmer practising regenerative agriculture in the granite hills of Sidonia, near Kyneton.

After studying a Diploma in Organic Agriculture and achieving organic certification, he discovered Alan Savory’s holistic management and planned grazing – this was life changing and made farming fun again! With the help of his family’s black angus cattle he is working to build landscape resilience and soil health – extending the grazing season while improving environmental and animal health.

Sam and his family sell beef direct to consumers under the brand Sidonia Beef. Naturally. He is a member of holistic management and regenerative farming groups, co-presents the Healthy Landscapes grazing course with Jason McAinch and sees value in bringing farmers together to share knowledge and skills.

SOCIAL RESEARCHER IN AGRICULTURE

Ruth leads the Rural Innovation Research Group at the University of Melbourne. Her research focuses on people and change, work and employment, agricultural extension and innovation.

Current research projects focus on the topics of young people and why they enter, stay or leave agricultural jobs and careers and people management practices on Australian farms.

Ruth is a board member of the International Association of Work in Agriculture and in 2019-2020 was the Deputy Chair of the National Agricultural Labour Advisory committee (NALAC) and a co-author of the National Agricultural Workforce Strategy (NAWS) for the Federal government.

FARMER

Harry Lloyd grew up on a dairy farm in Victoria’s Goulburn Valley and is farming again in his home district after graduating with a Bachelor of Business (Agribusiness) from LaTrobe University and gaining varied experience working in cattle and sheep farming operations around Australia.

On farm, he’s trialling a variety of regenerative methods he’s learned about in his travels through his work and independent research and through simply seeking out and starting conversations with other farmers who are also doing things differently.

He is an ambassador with Dairy Australia and was recently awarded a Rural Ambassador Scholarship for his home town of Kyabram. He hopes to share his passion for regenerative agriculture, cattle and land management and community engagement.

FORESTER AMONG FARMERS

Rowan Reid won the Australian Eureka Prize for his farmer course, The Australian Master TreeGrower, which he continues to deliver around Australia and internationally to support farmer and community forestry programs in Africa, Timor Leste, Indonesia and Vanuatu.

In 1991 Rowan designed and presented the first – and current – agroforestry subject at Melbourne University. He left full-time academia in 2010 to work more closely with farmers.

Most importantly, Rowan is a farmer and tree grower, with a family farm in the Otway Ranges of southern Victoria and is a founder of one of Australia’s most successful Landcare groups, the Otway Agroforestry Network. More than 12,000 visitors have toured his Bambra Agroforestry Farm, which is set up as a 42ha outdoor classroom for farmers, scientists, students and tree lovers and is a living laboratory for his own learning.

Currently Rowan is working fulltime on his farm growing, harvesting, milling and drying timber and building a new family home from trees he planted himself.

Rowan’s latest book is "Heartwood - the art and science of growing trees for conservation and profit".

SUSTAINABILITY MANAGER

Luke Hooke is Sustainability Policy and Program Design Manager for Nutrien Ag Solutions in Australia. Luke has more than 10 years experience working in agriculture and public policy, working previously in farm advocacy and politics at the state and federal level.

Luke holds a Bachelor of Laws and International Relations and a Graduate Certificate in Professional Political Practice. He completed the Australian Rural Leadership Program supported by the John B. Innovation in Agriculture Scholarship that saw him complete a EU study tour in 2024 focused on on-farm sustainability and decarbonisation.

Luke is also a Member of the Victorian Agriculture and Climate Change Council, tasked with providing advice to the Minister for Agriculture on how the agriculture industry can prepare for and respond to the impacts of climate change.

In his current role with Nutrien Ag Solutions, Luke is developing high-integrity on-farm measurement, reporting and verification programming that meets the needs of supply chain actors.

SOIL LIFE SPECIALIST

Mark Berndt began his career in software, networks, engineering and complex systems but moved to Wagga Wagga more than 20 years ago to study the multidisciplinary field of wine science. Mark now produces boutique wines from vineyard to bottle at Habitat Vineyard on Mt Canobolas at Orange.    

When Mark began winemaking it quickly became apparent that costly and toxic chemicals were not sustainable, nor did they make the vineyard a nice place to work. And so in 2010 he began working towards producing organic wines.

Many dead ends and false trails were found and followed until he recognised the similarity of fermentation, human gut and soil microbiology. The tools and technology were available so he started to measure and improve soil life. Improvement was rapid and he achieved organic and biodynamic certification for his wines in 2018.

Mark was so enthused by all he had discovered he wanted to find ways to share his knowledge with a broader audience. Through his GroundGrocer store and composting and soil health consultancy he teaches gardeners, vignerons and farmers the tools, tactics and technology for soil health.

PODCASTER, FARMER

Kirsten Diprose is a communications and podcast business specialist who lives on a sheep and cropping property near Caramut, in southwest Victoria.

Kirsten founded the Rural Podcasting Co, a podcast coaching and agency service specifically for people in rural areas. She has experience in media, marketing and knowledge-brokering in agriculture, agtech and agricultural science, previously working for Deakin University and agrifood venture capital firm Tenacious Ventures. Kirsten also founded and co-hosts a podcast specifically for rural women, called Ducks on the Pond. Her new podcast is Town Criers, to tell the big stories of the small towns of Australia.

Prior to this, Kirsten worked as a TV and radio journalist for the Australian Broadcasting Corporation in both regional and metropolitan newsrooms.

FARMER, FLOUR MILLER

Ian, with his wife, Courtney, runs Woodstock Flour on their farm in Rutherglen, northeast Victoria. They have been milling organic grain, grown by themselves and their family, for bakeries, restaurants and home bakers for more than eight years.

Woodstock Flour focuses on fresh and finely stoneground flour that tastes delicious, is nutrient rich and bakes consistently.

Ian manages operations at the flour mill and is committed to growing/sourcing more regenerative and organic grain to support wider landscape transformation.

FARMER, AGROECOLOGIST

Courtney is based in northeast Victoria where she runs Woodstock Flour with her husband, Ian, on their agroecological farm.

She's passionate about pushing the envelope in regenerative and organic grain growing by experimenting with a range of practices and system changes on her farm and supporting others to do the same.

Courtney works for Soils for Life managing their regenerative cropping project and she's also studying under Nicole Masters in the CREATE program – training to be an agroecological coach to support farmers to transform their businesses and landscapes.

CONSERVATION CRUSADER

Josh is a roadside conservation officer with Macedon Ranges Shire Council, committed to helping landowners manage pest animals and weeds while protecting local biodiversity.

He has a strong background in conservation and land management and is passionate about preserving native wildlife, restoring ecosystems and engaging with the community.

In recent years, Josh has led workshops on best-practice rabbit management in partnership with the Victorian Rabbit Action Network (VRAN). He recently completed VRAN’s Mentor Leadership Masterclass, strengthening his commitment to inspiring landowners to adopt proactive, sustainable rabbit control strategies for healthier landscapes.

Beyond conservation, Josh considers himself a backyard urban farmer with a unique approach to growing veggies, combing his conservation expertise with a deep appreciation for biodiversity.

BUSHLAND OFFICER

Martin is passionate about innovating restoration techniques of degraded environments, adapting approaches for local contexts, and working with people to build their capacity for positive change.

His love of the local flora and fauna started when young growing up in Macedon Ranges but a career focused on native grasslands, grassy woodlands, tall forests, saltmarshes and coastal environments extended his experience beyond the central Victorian landscapes of his youth.

He has studied Conservation and Land Management, with a focus on Box Ironbark Ecology, Planned Burning and Waterway Restoration, over his 25-year career. He completed a Graduate Certificate in Applied Business (Innovation) to support the development of innovative techniques and improved accountability for environmental projects.

After the birth of his two daughters he is more determined than ever to facilitate positive change for the community and local environments.

NURSERY OWNER

John Kent has held senior roles in journalism, business consulting, politics, major events and professional sport in Australia, the UK and the Middle East at the BBC, News Corporation, ABC, Crosby Textor, South Australian Premier's Office, Formula 1, cricket and football.

His expertise is in applying communications strategies across media management, PR, brand, marketing, digital, government, stakeholder relations and community engagement to achieve organisational objectives.

In recent years John has been dividing his time between corporate affairs work and running the renowned Spring Hill Nursery. He is currently Director of Stakeholder Engagement and Communications at Cladding Safety Victoria, a world-first agency established to reduce the fire risk posed by combustible cladding on apartment buildings.

At GROW, John will guide Q&As and moderate discussion panels.

FARMERS

Jack and Celia Tucker own and run Rhynie Pastoral, a 2130ha mixed-farming enterprise at Willaura North, western Victoria. With our two young sons, James and Johnny, we manage a 3000-head Dorper sheep flock on 830ha, with 1100ha used for growing canola, wheat, barley, faba beans and oats and the remainder dedicated to conservation.

We focus on combining conservation and production in all the management decisions we make across our entire farm landscape. Whether it's the soils or the vegetation, improving biodiversity has helped us build healthier soils, has positive effects on pest and disease control and led to increased resilience of our farming system as a whole.

As part of our effort to protect and increase biodiversity, we’ve created a 56ha sanctuary in the centre of our property, which is rotationally grazed like the rest of the grazing areas but in addition protects the flora and fauna from the impact of cats and foxes.

PRACTICAL GRAZING CHAMPION

Jason empowers rural land managers to achieve their – and their land’s – potential through the sharing of adaptive agricultural grazing knowledge.

He grew up on an irrigated dairy farm just out of Heyfield in Gippsland and with all grandparents and multiple extended family members also Gippsland dairy farmers, you can actually say he grew up with grass (and manure) between his toes.

After graduating with a science degree he returned to the 500-cow family farm. In 2000, an opportunity to join the Maffra “Ag Department” unleashed his passion for farmer education and building communities of practice. A change of path in 2012 with his wife’s return to the workplace resulted in seven brilliant years as primary carer for their three children and a move to Harcourt.

In 2019, Jason renewed his journey into co-designing knowledge in regenerative grazing and building the Healthy Landscapes – PRAC program in central Victoria, which in 2021 was a recipient of the Victorian Premier’s Choice Regional Recognition Award.

MULTi-SPECIES ADVISOR

Jade Killoran is an independent multi-species cover-crop advisor and researcher, working mainly in Victorian grazing systems. Jade completed an Honours year focused on multi-species in 2013 and she has aimed to evaluate their fit and benefit for Victorian farms ever since.

Jade founded ‘Healthy Farming Systems’ in 2020 and currently works mainly in on-farm, paddock-scale research, helping farmers trial, adopt and evaluate multi-species cover crops and their benefits to the farming system.