People
Our primary commitment is to put the community at the centre of everything we do and work with inspired committee members and mentors.
VRAN isn’t just about rabbits. VRAN is very much about people. It’s about helping people overcome the problems that they have with rabbits. It’s about bringing people and ideas together, learning from each other and helping overcome the challenges and also most importantly empowering people to make decisions that they are able to carry through themselves.”
Board
VRAN is led by a steering group of community members, government representatives and industry leaders who, with the support of the VRAN Executive Officer, facilitate opportunities and strategies to support community-led rabbit action.
| MEMBER | AFFILIATION |
|---|---|
| Gerald Leach (Chair) | Chair, Victoria Farmers Federation Land Management Committee and Chair, National Farmers’ Federation Natural Resources Committee |
| Neil Devanny | Member, Gooram Valley Landcare Group Committee and Granite Creeks Project Inc. |
| Lyn Coulston | Chair, Victorian Blackberry Taskforce |
| Geoff McFarlane | Member, Bellarine Landcare Group, Member GCoG Rural and Peri Urban Advisory Committee |
| Simon McGuinness | Associate, RMCG |
| Lisa Adams | Director, Lisa Adams and Associates |
| Chelsea Vercoe | Regional Manager Plants, Chemicals and Invasives South West, Agriculture Victoria |
| Tina Konstantinidis | Senior Analyst, Environment and Conservation, Parks Victoria |
| Vanessa Lucy | Invasive Species Program Officer, Department Environment, Land, Water and Planning |
Mentors
Meet the ‘A team’ of rabbit control in Victoria!
The VRAN mentors are recognised experts in rabbit management and community-led action. As a group, they provide expertise and insights from community, industry and government perspectives.
The mentors deliver VRAN’s Rabbit Leadership Program and provide ongoing support for the VRAN learning networks. Each VRAN mentor has a few rabbit seasons under their belt and experience in working across both private and public land and in different landscapes across the state. They will share their knowledge with you and are good listeners too. Once you get to know them, you will no doubt teach them something new too.
| MEMBER | AFFILIATION |
|---|---|
| Neil Devanny | Member, Gooram Valley Landcare Group Committee and Granite Creeks Project Inc. |
| Brad Spear | Pest and Weed Management Consultant, Enviro Vic 2000 |
| Tim Bloomfield | Pest Animal Consultant, Environment First Pty Ltd |
| John Matthews | (Retired) Biosecurity Manager, Established Invasive Animals, Agriculture Victoria |
| Tom Miller | Natural Resource Management Officer, Moorabool Shire Council |
| Peter Barnes | Manager, Neds Corner Station, Trust for Nature |
| Geoff McFarlane | Member, Bellarine Landcare Group, Member GCoG Rural and Peri Urban Advisory Committee |