This year we will be hosting an end-of-year celebration, serving as a broader recognition of community leadership within our region, and including the graduation of our 2024 Annual Program cohort. We warmly welcome funders, supporters, and participants from all our programs, and we are looking forward to seeing both familiar and new faces.

The evening will include time for networking and a two-course sit-down meal. Guests will hear a keynote address from Professor Andrew Campbell, offering insights into policy development, and the role community engagement and advocacy can play in informing and enabling policy development and delivery. We will also celebrate the graduation of our 2024 Annual Program cohort, provide an update on this year’s activities, and foster a deeper appreciation for the efforts of individuals and communities taking meaningful strides toward the betterment of all.

About Our Keynote
Professor Andrew Campbell has over thirty years of experience in research management and sustainable agriculture. Known for blending practical experience with academic insight, Andrew has written and spoken extensively on landcare, sustainability, and the science-policy interface. He was Australia's first National Landcare Facilitator, served as CEO of Land & Water Australia for seven years starting in 2000, and recently completed a seven-year term as Chief Executive of the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR) in July 2023. Following this, he took on an interim role as Executive Managing Director of the global CGIAR network in Montpellier, France. Now semi-retired, Andrew remains engaged as a farmer in Western Victoria and is the Patron of Landcare Victoria.

We thank the Wangaratta Turf Club for their generosity in providing in-kind sponsorship for the event.