Our Team
Common ground, purpose and values.
Our Team
Smart, driven & passionate.
In Crookwell we’re fortunate enough to be surrounded by incredibly smart and passionate people, who’ve put their heart and soul into building this place. Working together, we found common ground in our purpose and values, and everyone is dedicated to the guardianship of this land and agricultural training for the future.
We Believe In
Community
The sense that it’s simply just right, to share knowledge and friendship, and help each other out. We’ve been a recipient of that generosity of spirit, and we’re building community too.
Competency
If you’re going to do a job, do it right. We carry that drive and try to embed it in others. This is at the core of our mission, and it literally keeps you alive on a farm.
Balance
Balance is how we look after the land, ourselves and the future. It’s a constant struggle to maintain, but a value to keep front of mind as we grow.
Optimism
Believe you can make a real difference, and you can. With education and inspiration, we’re crafting the future we all need to see.
Who we are
Core Team
Jo Marshall
Jo is a highly experienced project manager, farmer and ex-local councillor with decades of experience in ‘getting things done’. She’s created an Economic Development Task Force, started a charity and raised over $2,450,000 for a variety of community projects over the years. As the driving force of the Australian Agricultural Centre there’s not much she hasn’t rolled up her sleeves and gotten stuck into. Her main focus now is on strategy and growth, and finding a way to do that sustainably.
Dr. Robyn Alders
Robyn is one of the most respected Veterinary Scientists in Australia, and has spent over 30 years working with small holder farmers in Africa, Asia and Oceania.
The Australian Veterinary Association recognised her distinguished contribution to international veterinary science by awarding her the Kesteven Medal, while the Governor General of Australia invested her as an Officer of the Order of Australia for services to veterinary science as a researcher and educator.
She’s currently an Honorary Professor at the Australian National University, working on sustainable food systems in the development policy centre, as well as a Senior Consulting Fellow at the Centre for Universal Health in London, involved with livestock and aquaculture policy, global food and nutrition security research.
We’re incredibly lucky to have her on our team, where she continues to focus on sustainable food systems, food and nutrition security, infectious disease prevention, gender equity and science communication.
Dr. John Troughton
Dr John Troughton is a scientist and a business man who’s dedicated his entire career to facilitating a better understanding between nature, farming and commerce.
To that end he’s worked with the Australian Institute of Company Directors to improve Director and Board Performance, and with the NZ Department of Agriculture, building systems to connect farmers, product groups and numerous parties along the value chain.
He’s also worked in research groups with the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research, the CSIRO, and the private sector, specialising in a wide range of disciplines from electron microscopy, botany, plant physiology and physics.
His involvement with the Australian Agriculture Centre aligns with his desire to bring experiential learning to children who don’t have the chance to experience agriculture first hand.
