Institute of Agriculture

Straight out of university, I joined the WA Department of Agriculture as a trial technician in Jerramungup and six months later became a research officer on the Mallee Road Sump project working on salinity and soil conservation issues.

I lived in Jerramungup for nearly four years when the opportunity to take on the role of coordinator for the Conservation Council of WA came up.

I jumped at the chance to take on a role that I was passionate about but I'm not sure I really knew what I was getting myself into which was 16 years as the voice of conservation in WA.

I was elected to the Senate on my second try, taking up my seat in July 2005. I hold the portfolios of industrial relations, community services, disabilities, aboriginal affairs, water, agriculture and natural resource management.

Now is a critical time for agriculture and water management in Australia and the lack of a clear national approach to these issues makes it an important time to be a Green senator. I continue to work hard in the Senate to raise awareness of the need for a national strategy for the future of agriculture and our rural communities in a hotter, drier climate and push for research funding.