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Luciano Mesiti, Chief Executive Officer
Luciano Mesiti has over 30 years experience as an agriculture educator in various University and high school settings. His work in NSW with agriculture high school teachers as past president of the NSW Agriculture Teachers Association and within his high school roles highlights the high level of passion and knowledge he has about the agricultural education curriculum in Australia. He grew up on a farm and has worked in research locally and internationally in agriculture and rural sociology. He has a strong focus to contribute primary industries resources that meet the needs of teachers across Australia. |
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Dianne Murray, Communications and Business Administration Officer
Dianne is an experienced content producer, with a background in business administration. Dianne has worked for a range of agencies, non-profits and corporate organisations to help build brands with engaging content and effective communications. Having grown up in rural Victoria and now residing in the lower mountains outside of Sydney, Dianne has a strong appreciation for Australia’s agricultural and rural industries and is passionate about supporting food and fibre education for young Australians. |
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Maddie Worledge, Part-Time Media and Communications Officer
Maddie Worledge is a University of Tasmania graduate with a Bachelor of Arts (Hons). She majored in English with a thesis centred around biopolitical representations while participating in the UTAS Students in Schools Project, which placed University students in low socio-economic schools to encourage higher learning. She has been a professional writer since the ripe old age of fifteen and has worked for multiple online publications, including several youth health and education sites. Maddie has previously worked within the Tasmanian Department of Education and has a keen interest in facilitating learning opportunities. |
Sophie Vella, Part-Time Communications and Social Media Officer
Sophie is a Western Sydney University graduate with a Bachelor degree in Natural Science (Sustainable Agriculture and Food Security). She is a social media professional and an experienced communicator, with a background in content creation and customer service. Having grown up around farms in Greater Western Sydney and a childhood spent camping in rural NSW, Sophie is passionate about Australia’s rural industries and the future of food and fibre production.
Sophie is a Western Sydney University graduate with a Bachelor degree in Natural Science (Sustainable Agriculture and Food Security). She is a social media professional and an experienced communicator, with a background in content creation and customer service. Having grown up around farms in Greater Western Sydney and a childhood spent camping in rural NSW, Sophie is passionate about Australia’s rural industries and the future of food and fibre production.
Allison Arnott, Senior Education Officer
Allison is a University of New South Wales graduate with a Bachelor of Science (Biological Science) and Bachelor of Education. She has over 18 years experience in the education field both in Australia and the United Kingdom. Allison is an experienced teacher from K-12 and has worked as an Agriculture Head of Department in a school for many years, focusing on improving the academic outcomes and learning opportunities for students. Allison grew up on a large mixed farming property in North West NSW and has a passion for promoting Agriculture and developing hands-on resources that engage students. She is now located on the Mornington Peninsula and has recently worked as a curriculum writer to produce both Science and food and fibre resources for the Australian Curriculum.
Allison is a University of New South Wales graduate with a Bachelor of Science (Biological Science) and Bachelor of Education. She has over 18 years experience in the education field both in Australia and the United Kingdom. Allison is an experienced teacher from K-12 and has worked as an Agriculture Head of Department in a school for many years, focusing on improving the academic outcomes and learning opportunities for students. Allison grew up on a large mixed farming property in North West NSW and has a passion for promoting Agriculture and developing hands-on resources that engage students. She is now located on the Mornington Peninsula and has recently worked as a curriculum writer to produce both Science and food and fibre resources for the Australian Curriculum.
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Jayne Johns, Education Officer
Jayne Johns is an experienced primary educator with a passion for food and fibre, stemming from her experiences growing up on a sheep, cattle and crop farm in the Western District of Victoria. Jayne completed a Bachelor of Education at Deakin University. Since then, she has had the opportunity to work in a diverse range of teaching environments, in both rural and urban school settings. In her role as a primary school teacher over the last five years, Jayne has relished the opportunity to share her knowledge and appreciation of food and fibre production with her students. |
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Sarah Barton, Education Officer
Sarah is a Macquarie University graduate with a Bachelor of Science (Hons.) and a Diploma of Education. She worked as a research scientist in the fields of genetics and immunology before discovering her passion for science education. She has many years of experience teaching both Primary and Secondary students in schools in NSW and the United Kingdom across a broad range of Sciences. She has a great interest in Agriculture and teaching the next generation about food and fibre using hands-on STEM based activities. |
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Ingrid Gow, Student Engagement Officer | AgCAREERSTART
Ingrid is a University of New South Wales graduate with a PhD in Entomology and Bachelor of Education. She has over 20 years of experience in both agricultural research and education working in Australia and South Africa. Ingrid’s research focused on cotton agricultural landscapes enhancing opportunities for integrated pest management. Using her experience in agriculture, Ingrid promoted agriculture and agricultural research in the classroom. She is passionate about helping young people find careers and opportunities within agriculture. Ingrid is based in Toowoomba and is currently promoting the AgCAREERSTART Gap Year program. |
Heidi Tempra, Education Officer | Farm Safety
Heidi is a graduate of both Notre Dame University and Edith Cowan University, holding two Bachelors degrees and two Masters qualifications in the area of Education (both primary and secondary). She has over 25 years teaching experience in rural and regional Australia. Heidi grew up in the mid-west of Western Australia, with a family steeped in the crayfishing industry. She now resides in the South West of Western Australia with her own family, now established in the potato and beef industry. She has an unwavering passion for agriculture and regional Australia and its value to the nation.
Heidi is a graduate of both Notre Dame University and Edith Cowan University, holding two Bachelors degrees and two Masters qualifications in the area of Education (both primary and secondary). She has over 25 years teaching experience in rural and regional Australia. Heidi grew up in the mid-west of Western Australia, with a family steeped in the crayfishing industry. She now resides in the South West of Western Australia with her own family, now established in the potato and beef industry. She has an unwavering passion for agriculture and regional Australia and its value to the nation.
Ben Holmes, Project Manager | Storm Flood and Industry Recovery Program
Ben is a Southern Cross University graduate with a Bachelor of Applied Science (Resource Management) and a Graduate Diploma in Education (Science, Biology, Chemistry and Earth and Environmental Science). With a strong background in horticultural and silviculture across South Australia, Victoria, NSW and Queensland, Ben has also worked as a high school teacher of VET Primary Industries, Agriculture, Science and Biology for 16 years. More recently, Ben has worked as an Education Officer at the Department of Primary Industries where he supervised an SBAT program and developed resources. Ben believes that engagement with industry will inspire students to investigate careers in agriculture and build stronger, more resilient regional communities.
Ben is a Southern Cross University graduate with a Bachelor of Applied Science (Resource Management) and a Graduate Diploma in Education (Science, Biology, Chemistry and Earth and Environmental Science). With a strong background in horticultural and silviculture across South Australia, Victoria, NSW and Queensland, Ben has also worked as a high school teacher of VET Primary Industries, Agriculture, Science and Biology for 16 years. More recently, Ben has worked as an Education Officer at the Department of Primary Industries where he supervised an SBAT program and developed resources. Ben believes that engagement with industry will inspire students to investigate careers in agriculture and build stronger, more resilient regional communities.
Service Providers
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Bob Cox, PIEFA Accountant
Bob is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountant as well as the Institute of Company Directors. He brings to PIEFA considerable experience in financial management and reporting, payroll and corporate management; and a passion for seafood and aquaculture education and training. |
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Polly McDougall, Newsletter Editor
Polly is a freelance copywriter and communications strategist who edits the PIEFA monthly email newsletter. Polly has more than 12 years’ experience in marketing and communication and is passionate about agriculture, rural industries and regional business. Polly lives on a farm in Ardlethan, in the Riverina region of NSW. |
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Megan Hele, Graphic Designer
Megan (Meg) Hele manages and operates her own graphic design business, Megan Hele Design. She has more than 30 years dedicated to graphic design predominantly focusing on the agricultural, environmental, research and educational sectors. |
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Brad Hauck, Online Curriculum Consultant
Brad Hauck M.Ed is many things… Experience Teacher, Volunteer Firefighter, Speaker, Digital Business Consultant, Dad, Husband and Star Wars fan. He divides his time between Family, Firefighting & Business. Brad writes online courses, developed & manages the websites and helps PIEFA build better resources for teachers. |
