Susan Findlay-Tickner

Who are you?

I am Director/Partner in a 5,000 hectare dryland croppingenterprise in Western Victoria.We produce and market cereals, pulses and oil seeds and participate in the supply chain beyond the farm gate to maximise profits. I am also Communications Manager for the Future Farming Systems Research Division of the Victorian Department of Primary Industries. My job focuses on: responding to climate change; accountable agriculture; increasing farming systems productivity; and value-added food systems across the grains,dairy, horticulture and fisheries sectors.

What do you remember most about the ARLP?

Sitting on the rocks at Bondi at midnight with the kids from Oasishaving my eyes opened wide by their stories of life on the streets.

How has the ARLP helped you evolve and perform as a leader?

I have a greater understanding of the power of an engaged community. I have also learnt that I have a voice and the skills,experience and knowledge to benefi t my community and industry. I have been galvanised by the ARLP to employ this voice on the Leadership Wimmera Board of Directors and as Vice President of the industry-based ‘Technology Parks Australia and New Zealand’ Board of Management. The ARLP gave me the opportunity to step outside the known, take stock of my skill-set and experience and develop areas that would otherwise have remained unexplored. It has been an amazing experience, and I thank the Grains Research and Development Corporation for supporting me in this endeavour.