Tom Lewis

[BSc(Hons), UTas 1984; MSc, UTas 1991; PhD UTas 2001; FAICD; MAIFST; Dip Project Management, Tasmanian Skills Institute 2010]

Tom is a Director and CEO of Rural Development Services, with over 20 years experience in the agri-food industry, having held senior positions in commercial (Tasmanian Univalve; SALTAS; Rural Development Services) and academic (Australian Food Safety Centre of Excellence) organisations. Key responsibilities have ranged from research and technical design and development to organisational management and strategy. Tom serves on a number of professional bodies within his Tasmanian and national communities – including the Tasmanian Fisheries Research Advisory Board, the Tasmanian Aquaculture Council, the Tasmanian Business Sustainability Round Table and the Board of Rural Alive and Well Inc.

In addition to his internal CEO and business development duties for Rural Development Services, Tom manages and works in projects in such areas as strategic planning, facilitation, leadership training and provision of Executive Officer services to peak industry organisations.

A key motivator for Tom is his commitment to developing sustainable competitive advantage for client and partner organisations through focus on the people involved in each project. Tom has a strong track record in project design, management and delivery, as well as in preparing successful funding proposals across a number of jurisdictions.

Contact ph: 0417 537 806
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Maree Fudge

[BA, ANU 1999; MBA, QUT current]

Maree joined Rural Development Services as a Partner in 2010. Maree is a consultant specialising in facilitation, people development, leadership, governance, management, organisational and strategic development.

With a background in advocacy, industry development and policy, Maree brings strategic thinking to clients, and networks within key Tasmanian stakeholder groups, service providers and funding agencies.

Maree has over 10 years experience in leadership and governance roles within the community sector in Tasmania and the ACT. Prior to establishing her consultancy, Maree was the Industry Development Manager of the peak Tasmanian community sector body, TasCOSS, where she was responsible for establishing their Industry Development Unit. Maree provided capacity building support and development to member organisations, and managed the development and implementation of the Tasmanian Community Services Industry Plan 2008-12.

Maree brings a diversity of key skills to the RDS team, particularly in facilitation, change management, organisational and strategic development (leadership, governance and management), community engagement, and action research and learning. She has invaluable experience in the areas of corporate governance and management, and workforce and business development.

Maree's passion is for supporting positive change. Her professional mission is to support the development of individuals, organisations and communities in rural and regional Australia.

The key values that orient Maree's work are:

• Transparency and open communication – staying in contact to ensure people can see progress and impact
• Capacity building – ensuring knowledge and skills are transferred back to the individual or organisation
• Consultation and participation – critical knowledge and experience reside in the people affected by any project, and change is managed most successfully where those affected are empowered to have a role in the process.

Contact ph: 0416 244 241
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Don Defenderfer

[BA Environmental Studies (Hons), UCalifornia Santa Cruz 1981; Dip Ed, Murdoch U 1984; M App Sci Social Ecology, University of Western Sydney, Hawkesbury 1995; Dip Project Management, Tasmanian Skills Institute 2010]

Don is a Senior Consultant with Rural Development Services and is based at the Rural Development Services' office in Launceston. Don has extensive experience in working with rural communities, having worked in the areas of Landcare, sustainable farming and natural resource management for the past 15 years.

Most recently Don was based at the Tasmanian Farmers & Graziers Association where he was employed from 2004-2008 by the Federal Government as State Landcare Coordinator for Tasmania. Don was also Executive Officer for the community-based Tasmanian Landcare Association from 1995-2002.

Don's career has focused on the social approaches that are needed to address complex natural resource management issues. He has a successful track record in working cooperatively with community groups, government, industry and other stakeholders to achieve sustainable solutions.

Don works in the following areas within Rural Development Services: project development, management and implementation; community, industry and government engagement; social research and facilitation. Don's key skills lie in the areas of: communication, networking, capacity building, facilitation, project development, management and implementation; report writing; natural resource management; media liaison; committee representation and lobbying.

Contact ph: 0447 561 539
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Donna Lucas

[BAppSc(Agr)(Hons), UTas 2007; AssDipBus(Acc), Hobart Institute of TAFE 1993; MAIAST; Dip Project Management, Tasmanian Skills Institute 2010]

Donna is a Project Manager for several projects in the area of industry development and people development, particularly in horticultural industries; Donna is also responsible for business development within Rural Development Services. Donna has experience in and knowledge of rural business management, project management and scientific research with skills spanning both business and technical (agriculture/horticulture) areas.

Donna is interested in the sustainable development of agriculture, and in particular, increasing the global competitiveness of Tasmanian agriculture. Donna's key skills include project management, evaluation, business management, training and facilitation, business development, scientific research and report writing.

Contact ph: 0459 047 478
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Jodie Presnell

[Dip Project Management, Tasmanian Skills Institute 2009; M SocSc (International Development, RMIT 2005), B Sc (Agriculture, UNSW 1997)]

Jodie is a Project Manager with Rural Development Services with a particular interest in rural social research and rural community development. This interest grew from her work abroad in food security and agri-development projects in Pakistan, Afghanistan and North Korea. Jodie joined the Rural Development Services team at the beginning of 2007 and primarily has worked on Property Management Planning projects. Jodie's strength is not being a specialist but having a broad level understanding of issues facing rural Australia.

Jodie enjoys working one-to-one with farmers and working on the personal issues of their farming business.

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Ray Murphy

[BAppSc Biology, RMIT 1988; GradDip (Hons) Antarctic and Southern Ocean Studies, UTas 1993; Dip Project Management, Tasmanian Skills Institute 2010]

Ray has over 20 years experience within State government and academic organisations undertaking natural resource management and scientific research: particularly within the Tasmanian marine environment. He has conducted research in the fields of commercial and recreational fisheries and estuarine ecology, has worked as both a wild fisheries and aquaculture manager, and has managed marine protected area planning for the Tasmanian government. Through these roles, Ray has extensive experience liaising with community and industry stakeholders and within all levels of government. At Rural Development Services, Ray delivers technical and project management services to a range of projects.

Currently he provides all the GIS and mapping services within Rural Development Services, including Property Management Planning and Water Management Planning. Ray also provides Executive Officer services to the food and seafood industries. A key motivator for Ray is enhancing effective communication of research and policy between rural industries and government to achieve sustainable development outcomes.

Ray's key skills lie in the areas of: Research, data analysis and report writing; Effective stakeholder communication; Natural resource management and planning; and GIS and mapping services.

Contact ph: 0400 296 655
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Morag Anderson

[BSc, UTas 1987; BSc (Hons) Microbiology, UTas 1988; Dip Project Management, Tasmanian Skills Institute 2010]

Morag has a science background to which she now brings a client-focussed project management approach. In the 12 years prior to entering environmental consultancy, Morag undertook research and management roles in water quality microbiology, research in Antarctica, and retail.

During her six years with a Tasmanian-based consultancy, Morag pursued her strong interests in renewable energy, water, greenhouse and carbon trading issues as well as a very good grounding in environmental documentation.

A further two years were spent in the Northern Territory where Morag gained experience in the Northern Territory environmental documentation processes and in mining operations both as a team member and project manager. She successfully managed a large project for the Defence Forces to develop a Renewable Energy and Sustainability Strategy for the Northern Territory Region, which included energy and waste audits. Morag joined Rural Development Services in May 2009 and is looking to bring these skills to the primary industry sector.

Currently Morag is carrying out regular reporting to a client on responses to genetic modification issues and undertaking high level project management work. A key motivator for Morag is delivering quality to the client through good communication and clarity around the project objectives. Her key skills lie in the areas of: environmental documentation; project management; effective stakeholder communication; and research, data analysis and report writing.

Contact ph: 0438 343 008
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Alice Doyle

[Cert Bus Studies Accounting TAFE 1987; Currently enrolled in Diploma of Accounting, TAFE]

Alice has over 20 years experience working for Government, private and not for profit organisations in finance and administrative roles. At Rural Development Services, Alice is responsible for managing the finance office and providing administrative support to the office and all internal and external projects. Alice is the most popular person at Rural Development Services every pay period!

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