New North Central Catchment Management Authority (CMA) Chair Julie Miller Markoff has thanked the organisation’s outgoing board members, and welcomed new ones.

New board members were appointed by the State Government earlier this month; Efim Tkatchew, Susan Jackson, Sally Mitchell and Patricia Kevin, replacing former Chair David Clark, Di Bowles, Prue Milgate and Melanie McCarthy, whose terms expired.

Ms Miller Markoff is from Castlemaine and has been on the North Central CMA board since 2013. She said the outgoing board members had left a strong legacy.

“We all agreed it was one of the best boards we had all worked on,” she said.

“It was a positive experience for everyone, and it really was a productive board. We guided the organisation to a position of strength, a position the new board can now build from.

“I am excited with what our new board offers, and I am expecting a smooth transition as we work to create natural resource management partnerships and programs that deliver long-lasting change with our communities.”

New board profiles:

Trish Kevin

Blampied

Trish has a background as a community engagement manager and has extensive experience in catchment and land protection.
She has worked for almost 30 years in various roles including hydrogeological research, biodiversity enhancement, revegetation and private forestry extension, nursery and seed bank management.

She also has had roles in Landcare education, waste mitigation and energy efficiency across central and western Victoria.

Trish is passionate about sound catchment management and ensuring that rural communities have opportunities to participate in catchment protection issues and programs. She has a Bachelor of Forest Science, Graduate Certificate of Farm Forestry, Certificate IV Workplace Training and Assessment and was a Churchill Fellow in 2006.

Susan Jackson

St Arnaud

Susan and her husband operate a broad acre grain and hay enterprise in the west of the catchment. 

She has a background in teaching, with more than 20 years’ experience in education, training and leadership.

Susan has written and published a series of children's farm books, promoting agriculture through education. She also has experience in community capacity building, community consultation and project work. She is focussed on actively encouraging community voice and the participation of youth.

Susan holds a Bachelor of Education (Primary) and a Masters of Education.

Sally Mitchell

Torrumbarry

Sally lives and works on her family dairy farm, and has worked in education and the dairy industry for most of her adult life.

To her, local catchments are diverse and things of natural beauty, and their health should be at the forefront of those who live in them.

Sally holds a Bachelor of Social Science, a Graduate Diploma of Education, a Graduate Certificate in Australian Rural Leadership and has completed the Australian Rural Leadership Program. 

Efim Tkatchew

Ashbourne

Efim is a finance executive for a company that invests and manages infrastructure, including water assets, globally and has extensive experience in the finance and banking sector.

He and his wife are involved in small scale mixed agriculture, and they are committed to balancing environmental, social and economic benefit for rural communities.

Efim holds a Bachelor Degree in Commerce, a Masters of Business Administration, is a Member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants and a Graduate Member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.