Newsletter for the Rotary Club of Greater Geraldton - Issue No.: 781 Issue Date: 22 Apr, 2024

Guest Speaker Katherine Allen (who a former Tasmanian Rotary Exchange student) introduced by Tom Maina: Katherine is the CEO at NACC NRM, a role she took up in August 2018, though she has been with NACC NRM since 2007 in roles with gradually increasing levels of responsibility, but has been part of the organisation’s senior management team since 2010.

Katherine is also an experienced board Director, serving on a number of Not for Profit boards over the last 11 years and completed the AICD Company Directors course in 2018. Through her involvement as a Director with the Geraldton Regional Community Education Centre, and now as a Director of Ngala, Katherine has also had the opportunity to participate in a number of local community programs. In 2014, Katherine and Emma McInerney – some of you might know her as Emma Howell, brought together a number of partners to deliver Future Leaders. This local leadership program is modelled on a number of leadership programs which Katherine has participated in over the years, and now boasts 3 graduating cohorts from 2014 to 2019 and is thankfully funded to be delivered again in 2020.

Katherine has a long held passion for the environment and community engagement, driven largely in recent years by the growth of her young family. Katherine is passionate about creating opportunities for everyone in the community to experience and learn about the natural environment around them; and encouraging everyone to value and protect our natural assets.

Katherine's presentation was wide ranging and inclusive. NACC covers 7.5million hectares from Kalbarri to Guilderton and Gingin to Kalannie. It is 95% funded by the Federal Government. She left us with three challenges.

• I will remember my keep cup ( you had to be there coffee drinkers!)

• I will support local farmers by buying their produce

• I will plant two native trees in my garden.

  Questions from Ian Taylor on recycling; Grant Woodhams on the size of NACC and Raj Mavath on funding.

  Further details are available from the Northern Agricultural Catchment Council – Natural Resource Management website.