NSWIC

The NSW Irrigators’ Council (NSWIC) is the peak body representing irrigators and irrigation communities in NSW. NSWIC has member organisations in every Murray-Darling Basin valley of NSW and several coastal valleys, representing over 12,000 water access licence holders.

NSWIC is a leader in sustainable and productive water policy solutions, and advocates for and advises on best-practice water management.

Our vision is for the secure, sustainable and productive management of water resources in NSW.

NSWIC STAFF

CLAIRE MILLER

CEO

CLAIRE MILLER

CEO

Claire has almost 40 years of experience immersed in complex operating environments where policy, politics, community values, ecological sustainability and economic imperatives clash. She was with The Age for more than 20 years, covering the environment, politics and rural affairs, before joining the Victorian Government as a senior ministerial water policy adviser. Since 2011, she has worked in various roles agricultural industry groups and regional communities. Claire has a Masters Degree in Environmental Studies and is a director on the East Gippsland Catchment Management Authority board.

Qualifications:
Masters of Environmental Science
Graduate of Australian Institute of Company Directors

Email:claire@nswic.org.au

ANDREA MOLTENO

POLICY OFFICER

ANDREA MOLTENO

POLICY OFFICER

Andrea has a Graduate Certificate in Environmental Management and Sustainability focused on the management of natural resources such as water, and a Bachelor of Science focussed on biocomplexity and environmental sciences. Formerly working as a high school science teacher, Andrea is passionate about the clear and effective communication of complex scientific concepts, and advocacy for productive water policy solutions.

Qualifications:
Graduate Certificate in Environmental Management and Sustainability
Masters of Teaching (Secondary), Science
Bachelor of Science

Email:andrea@nswic.org.au

FELI MCHUGHES

PRINCIPLE FIRST- NATIONS ADVISOR

FELI MCHUGHES

PRINCIPLE FIRST- NATIONS ADVISOR

Feli was part of the Interim Committee to establish the Northern Basin Aboriginal Nations (NBAN) in 2009, on which he served as Chair and has had long-standing roles on the Board of Directors and as Nation-Delegate. Feli is also appointed to the Murray–Darling Basin Authority’s (MDBA) statutory Basin Community Committee (BCC), and to the First Nations advisory group on the Aboriginal Water Entitlements Program, a federal initiative to purchase water entitlements for Aboriginal ownership.

TOM O'MALLEY

POLICY OFFICER

TOM O'MALLEY

POLICY OFFICER

Tom has experience working with government and non-governmental organisations and an academic background in Political Science and Agriculture. After graduating with a Bachelors Degree in Political Science, he had a short stint in the Federal Government before spending several years working in East Timor on clean drinking water programs. Given his long-term interest in agriculture, Tom went back to study an MSc in Agricultural Science, from which he recently graduated. He hopes to contribute to the future of Australian agriculture and believes it has an critical role to play in leading the globe in food production and sustainability. Qualifications Bachelor of Arts (Major: Political Science) – Australian National University MSc Agricultural Science (Specialisation: Agroecology) – Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences

NICK CHAPMAN

COMMUNICATIONS MANAGER

NICK CHAPMAN

COMMUNICATIONS MANAGER

Nick is an experienced media and communications professional with a background in politics and journalism, including water and regional NSW. Nick has a sincere passion and genuine understanding of the unique issues impacting regional NSW and a desire to both advocate for these issues and share the good news stories from within them. He believes regional areas should be supported to flourish while retaining their unique character, off the back of employment, business and strong local economies. Nick believes in the necessity of onshore manufacturing and production, particularly in the agriculture sector, which is vital to the overall success of Australia as a nation.

Qualifications:
Bachelor of Communications (Journalism)

Email:nick@nswic.org.au

KHUSHBU SHAH

ADMIN OFFICER

KHUSHBU SHAH

ADMIN OFFICER

Email:nswic@nswic.org.au

NSWIC Board

JIM CUSH

CHAIRMAN

JIM CUSH

CHAIRMAN

Jim Cush has been full time farming for 40 years in a family farming company based in Moree. Jim is very proud to have his 3 grown children actively involved in the business. The business has grown with farms in 4 valleys including one in Queensland. This exposure to multiple valleys and 2 states has allowed Jim to see firsthand the differences between valleys in NSW as well as the difference in approach by another state.

Email:nswic@nswic.org.au

WILL RUSSELL

VICE CHAIR

WILL RUSSELL

VICE CHAIR

Will Russell farms on his family’s dairy property in Bega, where 350 cows are milked year-round in addition to growing pastures, maize, lucerne and sweet corn. Prior to farming, Will worked as a Mechanical Engineer at Bega Cheese food manufacturing sites on cheese packing production lines. Will has a Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from UNSW, Cert III in Agriculture (Dairy Production) from TAFE and was one of 10 dairy farms nationwide involved in the Smarter Irrigation for Profit (SIP2) program that researched the profitable use of water across the Dairy, Cotton, Grains, Rice and Sugar industries. Will was appointed to the NSWIC board in 2021 and has enjoyed learning about the inner and outer functions of the Council, whilst giving a coastal irrigator’s perspective on policy. Will looks forward to continuing to work with all NSWIC members on both coastal and inland challenges in his capacity as Vice Chair.

Email:nswic@nswic.org.au

OTHER BOARD MEMBERS

Andrew Watson – Treasurer
Namoi Water

Peter Sheppard
Coleambally Irrigation Co-operative Limited

Trevor Clark
Yanco Creek and Tributaries Advisory Council

Life & Honorary Delegates

Bernie George, Trent Gardiner, Iva Quarisa, Jenny McLeod, Mary Ewing, Chris Magner, Richard Stott, Col Thomson, Ted Morgan, Mike Bennett, Bruce Loder, Ian Douglas

NSWIC
Constitution

NSWIC
Guiding Principles

Water Blueprint
2021-22

Strategic Plan
2023 - 2028

NSWIC HISTORY

The NSW Irrigators’ Council was formed by irrigation farmers and irrigation representative bodies in 1983.

It was recognised that there was a need for a strong and united voice to respond to the wide-scale water reform processes in NSW and water pricing issues.

NSWIC

NSWIC STAFF

CLAIRE MILLER

ANDREA MOLTENO

FELI MCHUGHES

TOM O'MALLEY

NICK CHAPMAN

KHUSHBU SHAH

NSWIC Board

JIM CUSH

WILL RUSSELL

OTHER BOARD MEMBERS

Life & Honorary Delegates

NSWIC HISTORY

Company

Contact

© copyright 2023 New South Wales Irrigators’ Council All Right Reserved

Website designed by Web Design Sydney | Powered By Sozo Creations.

Website By Sozo Creations