This webinar explores different ways of approaching succession – from developing family inclusion to opening up the family farm to other collaborators and ventures.

Learn how retiring farmers who want to step back from active farming but don’t want to sell the family farm can collaborate with emerging farmers who want to get started but can’t afford land.

Speakers

KATIE AND HUGH FINLAY, HARCOURT ORGANIC FARMING COOP

Hugh and Katie Finlay, organic orchardists and educators established the Harcourt Organic Farming Co-op (HOFC) through the Farming Together Program.

HOFC is a collaboration of diverse organic farmers who lease land on Katie and Hugh’s farm in Harcourt.

This new generation of farmers is passionate about learning their craft, feeding their community, and making direct and meaningful connections with their customers, for example through Community Supported Agriculture.

The aim of HOFC is to make the farm as productive and profitable as possible, within a collaborative framework and using regenerative and organic principles.

LORRAINE GORDON, FARMING TOGETHER DIRECTOR AND GRAZIER

Lorraine Gordon is a beef producer from Ebor in NSW. She has had an extensive career in agricultural leadership. She is a former NSW Rural Woman of the Year and CEO of Regional Development Australia (RDA) Mid North Coast.

The co-initiator of the successful Ebor Beef Co-operative, she has presided on the Small Business Review Panel of the Reserve Bank of Australia, the Board of Studies at the University of New England, Charles Sturt University’s Consultative Committee and three regional tourism boards (New England North West, South Coast, Mid North Coast).

Previous positions have included Business Finance Manager and Regional Agribusiness Manager with Westpac Bank, Director of the Graduate Network of the Australian Rural Leadership Foundation, and Executive Director of Economic Security for Women. She is also a graduate of the Australian Rural Leadership Program and was an award winner in the 2002 Telstra Business Women’s Award.

Her qualifications include advanced diplomas in corporate governance, tourism and agriculture, and an MBA from UNE majoring in project management. Lorraine is currently completing her PhD in ecological economics (grazing systems in northern NSW) through UNE.

Lorraine was awarded the 2018 Rural Community Leader of the Year for Australia and was a 2019 finalist for Australian of the Year for her work with farmers.