Board Members

Councillor Jan Clifford was re-elected in the 2020 Queensland local government elections as the representative for the Whitsunday Regional Council, making this her fourth successive term as a Councillor. Jan is well known for her energy and commitment to the well-being of the Whitsunday area and its citizens and is an active member of the community, serving on many boards and committees and volunteering at events.

Jan has called the Whitsundays home since early 1995 after a long career across Australia in various management, sales and marketing roles. Jan has always been a strong advocate for protecting and preserving the natural environment in the Whitsundays, both on the mainland and in the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park.

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Jacquelene Brotherton is the current Chair of Transport Women Australia Limited, Jacquelene has long advocated for women in non-traditional careers in transport and logistics, through various mediums including speaking, writing, implementing training forums, bringing together successful career women to provide mentors, and winning sponsorships for learning initiative breakfasts and scholarships for higher learning opportunities, through industry associations, and supporters.

Jacquelene initiated the Women Driving Transport Careers programme, a joint venture with Wodonga TAFE and Volvo Group Australia, for a Female Only Driver Licensing Course. She has promoted diversity and inclusion within the road transport industry through her Big Rigs column, through her membership with community associations, through podcasts and speaking appearances.

Wendy lives with her family on a remote cattle property at the bottom of the Gulf of Carpentaria near the Queensland-Northern Territory border town of Camooweal. A director in her family’s beef grazing enterprise Wendy has also been involved in local and wider community groups for over twenty-five years. Access to education and improved communication services in rural and remote Australia have been a focus for Wendy, and she is dedicated to ensuring communities and families in geographically isolated areas have a voice. Wendy is currently the Independent Chair of the Regional, Rural and Remote Communications Coalition and Chair of the Agforce Qld Telecommunications and Social Policy Working Group.

Originally growing up on a generational family farm at Ceduna the chance for Karen and her husband to participate in the experimental Blue Crab fishery in Gulf St Vincent in 1989 was the platform for life today as a Primary Producer in a Capital City. Over 3 decades on - 3 adult children, numerous boats and a dedication to Blue swimmer crabs means they operate a vertically integrated fishing business from their base in Largs North, South Australia. Karen is the immediate past President of Women in Seafood Australasia and a Board member since 2012. A graduate of NSILP (National Seafood Industry Leadership Program) Karen was active within the SA Peak Industry body Wildcatch Fisheries SA, spent a number of years organising the biannual SA Seafood awards and is Past President of SABCPFA ( SA Blue Crab Pot Fishers Association) Much of Karen’s   time is now spent within their business Two Gulfs Crab which produces premium crab meat for restaurants and customers.

Nicole is currently the Chair of the National Rural Health Alliance and has held other board positions over the past 15 years, including executive roles. She is a member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and has graduated from the Company Directors Course. Nicole O’Reilly has developed her management and leadership skills over the past 15 years and is currently is the Senior Lecturer Occupational Therapy at Charles Darwin University.

Dr. Skye Charry grew up in Central Western NSW. She is a recognised leader in sex discrimination and has dedicated more than 20 years to the advancement of gender equality through her advocacy, research, legal practice and consulting. She is an associate professor of law and has a strong background in strategic governance. Skye’s legal and cultural expertise and her academic leadership, combined with her research on sexual harassment (e.g. her book Whispers from the Bush - The Workplace Sexual Harassment of Australian Rural Women), have directly informed national policies and inspired cultural change. As Chief Consultant of S.A.C. Consulting Australia, she has led pivotal reviews and training programs in gender equity and sexual harassment across diverse sectors, from forestry, agriculture, law and education. Her governance roles, including Vice President of the YWCA Canberra and Chair of ACT Ministerial Advisory Council for Women, underscore her commitment to shaping equitable, and safe work environments.

Cressida is dedicated to challenging the status quo of Australian farming and fostering innovative approaches to agriculture. As an entrepreneur and innovator, she leverages technology and forward-thinking solutions to support Australian farmers.

In 2011, Cressida co-founded Pecora Dairy and was the first in Australia to obtain a license for producing raw milk cheese. Over her 15 years in the dairy industry, Cressida has been a staunch advocate for small dairy farmers. In 2021, she founded Dairy Cocoon, an online platform designed to help dairy farmers explore opportunities for moving up the value chain.

Cressida is the AgriFutures NSW/ACT State Chair of Alumni Committee, Vice President of Australian Women in Agriculture and sits on the Telstra Regional Council.