Committee Members

Mal Peters - Chair

Mal and his wife Anne run a beef, sheep & cropping enterprise in Ashford, 80 kilometres north of Inverell and Mal has a lifelong connection with the Northern Inland.  Mal  is committed to increasing the population of the13 Local Government Areas in Northern inland NSW whilst ensuring that services are of a city standard.  Mal is also passionate about breaking the welfare cycle that can be found in many regional areas.

Mal hasexperience across all three levels of government as the Mayor of Inverell, a member of the Regional Development Advisory Committee to the NSW Government, board member of the Rural Assistance Authority, member of the Federal Ministerial Advisory Council on Regional Australia and is the Chairman of the Regional Australia Institute.

Mal  writes a fortnightly column in 'The Land' and is a life member of Australian Farm Institute and the NSW Farmers Association of which he is a former President.
 

mpeters@rdani.org.au

Les Parsons - Deputy Chair

Les owns and operates Olives of Beaulieu and is a Director of Gwydir Olives Pty Ltd.  In addition he is also Managing Director of Arlington Pty Ltd. Les has 15 years experience in tourism development in NSW and has served as Chairman of several tourism organisations.

Les is a previous Chairman of the Inverell Regional Business Enterprise and is the Chairman of the Inverell  Enterprise Resource Investment Centre, a project management group.

lparsons@rdani.org.au

Heather Ranclaud

Heather operates a mixed farm with her family at Willow Tree producing commercial beef cattle and eggs. In addition to agricultural production, Heather has an interest in environmental issues and renewable energy.

Heather has qualifications in Nursing, Youth Work and Rural Entrepreneurship and  works part-time as a community services officer in local government. This background provides her with an opportunity to engage with a range of community groups and implement various community development initiatives.

Heather is currently a member of Upper Mooki Landcare, the Northern Inland Council for the Environment and the Liverpool Plains Shire Council's Friend of the Royal Theatre.  Heather has previously been a board member of the Namoi Catchment Management Authority.

hranclaud@rdani.org.au

Neil Argent

Neil Argent (PhD) is an Associate Professor in Geography at the University of New England, Armidale. Prior to joining the University in 1996, Neil worked as a self-employed grazier and shearer in South Australia.

Neil has stayed somewhat true to these roots in his academic work; researching and teaching in the fields of regional development and rural social, economic and demographic change.

Through his active teaching and research roles throughout the Northern Inland, Neil has an excellent understanding of  many and various economic, social and environmental opportunities available within the region, as well as the potential and real threats to future development opportunities.

nargent@rdani.org.au

Scott McLachlan

Scott  is the Director of Operations - Primary and Community Networks for Hunter New England Health and is responsible for directing and managing the eight clusters across Hunter New England, which include 33 hospitals and Multi-Purpose Services, 62 community health services, an area-wide Drug and Alcohol Service, Oral Health, Aged Care & Rehabilitation and is involved in the development of some Area Clinical Networks.

Scott is based in Tamworth and provides an 'on the ground' insight into the health needs of the Northern Inland.

smclachlan@rdani.org.au

Ray Tait

Ray is the New England District Manager of the Ambulance Service of New South Wales and is a Support Paramedic with over 35 years of service. Ray was also an Ambulance Rescue Officer for 28 years in various parts of NSW.

Ray also volunteers his time and expertise as a Flight Paramedic with the Tamworth based Westpac Helicopter Rescue Service which provides a vital service to the people of the Northern Inland.

Ray has been a Councillor on the Tamworth Regional Council  2008 and is the Chair of the Crime Prevention Committee, the Chair of the Waste Services Committee and a Member of the Liquor Licensing Committee.

rtait@rdani.org.au

Matt Patterson

Matt is the Northern Regional General manager for Essential Energy as well as the Chairman of the Business Life Cycle Challenge, the Treasurer of the Tamworth Business Chamber and a member of the Northern Inland Academy of Sport.

Matt is passionate about small to medium business, providing opportunities for young people in regional Australia and working together as a region.  Matt believes that creating the necessary regional infrastructure, providing ongoing and sustainable social programs ans attracting and retaining new residents as well as industry are all vital to the prosperity of the Northern Inland.

mpatterson@rdani.org.au

Jane Kreis

Jane Kreis (PhD MA), is the Regional Arts Development Officer as well as Executive Officer for Arts North West and as a resident of Glen Innes, knows the Northern Inland region well.

Jane is an experienced arts and cultural development officer with particular experience in Australian independent theatre and perfoming.  Jane has a professional background in French and journalism and has worked in cultural, educational, research and arts centres up and down the East Coast of Australia as well as abroad.

In addition to other executive roles with not-for-profits, Jane has also been an actor, director, researcher, editor, arts marketer, teacher and translator.

jkreis@rdani.org.au

Melanie Dowell

Melanie has been involved in regional development with a focus on community and employment services for 17 years.  her work with BEST employment and the Business Enterprise Centre has given her an unique insight into a wide range of issues affecting regional communities.

Melanie's key areas of interest include community capacity building and sustainability, rural mental health and reducing social disadvantage and welfare dependency in regional communities.

mdowell@rdani.org.au

Sue Price

Sue has been involved in the Northern Inland since her time as a student at the University of New England in the 1970s.  Sue has been a key member of the Mungindi community since moving there in 1982 and runs a farming enterprise there with her husband Glen.

Sue was elected to the Moree Plains Shire Council in 2008 and has been Deputy mayor since then.  Sue is also the Treasurer of the Australian Rural Roads Group and a member of the Moree Plains Strengthening Basin Communities Program.

Sue is a fierce proponent for the need to upgrade and maintain rural infrastructure with a particular focus on local roads as they are where most of Australia's food and fibre begin their journey to market.

sprice@rdani.org.au

Ian Lobsey OAM

Ian runs a small beef cattle enterprise near Wallabadah and is currently the Mayor of the Liverpool Plains Shire Council.  Ian is also a judge of the Country Link Inland Tourism Awards and  a judge of the NSW Tourism Awards.

Ian has been involved in local governments for the past 26 years and has always championed regional development.  Ian is passionate about providing opportunities for young people in regional areas and believes that any development must be sustainable for communities.

ilobsey@rdani.org.au

Anita Taylor

Anita is a Chartered Accountant and also holds qualifications in Psychology and Mediation.  As a Director of DSP Taylor Pty Ltd, she consults in business advisory services across a range of industries.  Anita also operates a superfine wool and beef cattle property in Kentucky alongside her husband Bruce.

Anita currently sits on the board of the Gliding Federation Of Australia and is the Member Protection Officer for the NSW Gliding Association.  With previous roles in community banking and home based business development, Anita is dedicated to the succes of local enterprise and is passionate about the Northern Inland region.

ataylor@rdani.org.au