GippsDairy Board
GippsDairy is governed by a board of nine directors. The Board is made up of six dairy farmers and three specialist directors. Board members are appointed for three year terms and can serve a maximum of three terms.
Sarah has been farming in the MID for over fifteen years. She has been a director on the GippsDairy board since 2019 and has previously managed the Macalister Demonstration Farm before starting share farming.
Her farm has received both Dairy Australia Milk Quality awards and Premium Milk Quality awards.
Ken Lawrence
Deputy Chair
Ken is a first-generation dairy farmer and has been farming in Gippsland for over thirty years. He is an active member of the VFF/UDV and is passionate about encouraging and supporting the next generation of dairy farmers.
He has twice been a finalist for ‘sharefarmer of the year’.
He has twice been a finalist for ‘sharefarmer of the year’.
Aaron Thomas
Farmer Director
Aaron is a dairy farm manager in Southeast Gippsland. He began working casually on dairy farms during school and followed his passion to begin a career in dairy in 2007.
Aaron is a graduate of Dairy Australia’s Developing Dairy Leaders Program and completed Course 29 of the Australian Rural Leadership Program. He has won numerous industry awards, including runner up in the Weekly Times Farmer of the Year.
Lisa Broad
Farmer Director
Lisa is farming with her husband and son in Wonthaggi. They are actively involved in elite genetics and breeding and have been recognised by Genetics Australia for their outstanding contributions.
Lisa is no stranger to governance having served on the Jersey Australia Board for over 10 years and has been involved in numerous dairy leadership programs.
Mick Hughes
Farmer Director
Mick started his dairy career in the MID and has followed the traditional path in the dairy industry from a farm worker, to manager, to a share farmer, then leaser and lastly an owner. During this time, he has farmed in West and South Gippsland.
Mick received the Weekly Times Dairy Farmer of the Year award in 2019 and is passionate about creating a sustainable and profitable industry.
Raelene Hanratty
Farmer Director
Raelene is a dairy farmer from the MID and has extensive experience in governance positions.
Her current and previous board roles have been in health, not for profit organisations, sporting associations, as well as regionally based government committees.
Martin Fuller
Specialist Director
Martin is a born and bred Gippslander. He grew up on a dairy farm at Dumbalk and has worked in the agricultural and natural resource management sectors for over 25 years.
He is the CEO of West Gippsland Catchment Management Authority.
He is the CEO of West Gippsland Catchment Management Authority.
Peter Fort
Specialist Director
Peter grew up on a dairy farm in South Gippsland and has approximately 30 years' experience in the industry including dairy farming, milk processing & manufacturing.
He has previously worked for Bonlac Foods & Murray Goulburn, ran his own dairy farm and is currently the Milk Supply Manager for Burra Foods in Korumburra.
Tony Platt
Specialist Director
Based in Sale, Tony is a Senior Rural Manager for Rabobank Australia and joined the GippsDairy board in 2022. Prior, Tony has held roles with Dairy Australia in Gippsland and the West Gippsland Catchment Management Authority.
Tony originally hails from central NSW with a family sheep, beef and cropping background. He brings tertiary qualifications in Agricultural Business and Environmental Science along with over 15 years' experience in the agricultural and natural resource industry.