Meet the DPIRD Dairy team
Our team believe in building strong, collaborative, long-term partnerships with farmers, researchers, the private sector and industry organisations to set the foundations of a successful, productive and profitable future for the NSW dairy industry.
We invite you to connect with anyone in the team if we can assist.
Ken Garner, Leader Dairy (Bega, NSW)
Responsible for leading NSW DPI’s dairy research, development and adoption program, providing strategic guidance, operational support and supervision to the team, as well as coordinating dairy industry policy advice and industry engagement.
Interests and expertise: Industry leadership roles, dairy manufacturing plus project management experience predominately in the agriculture, biosecurity and natural resource management fields.
Contact information: ken.garner@dpi.nsw.gov.au
Sheena Carter, Development Officer Dairy Farm Business Management (Scone, NSW)
Interests and expertise: Dairy farm business management, farm business performance and monitoring, workshop delivery and facilitation.
Projects: Dairy Business Advisory Unit; NSW Dairy Farm Monitor Project (DFMP); The Business of Dairy Podcast; DairyUP – P3 Economics of Intensification
Contact information: sheena.carter@dpi.nsw.gov.au
Juan Gargiulo, Development Officer Dairy (Camden, NSW)
Interests and expertise: Farm business management, automation, data management, decision support tools, remote sensing.
Projects: DairyUP P1 - Unlocking the Potential of Kikuyu-based Systems; DairyUP P3 - The Economics of Intensification; DairyUP P9 - Designer Milk
Contact information: juan.gargiulo@dpi.nsw.gov.au
Blake Cheer, Development Officer Dairy (Port Macquarie, NSW)
Interests and expertise: Climate Risk Management, Farm System Developments, Environmental Management, Supporting Dairy Industry Sustainability.
Projects: Storm and Flood Industry Recovery Program Project 2a: Climate Vulnerability Assessment, Dairy Development and Environmental Guidelines, On Farm Carbon Advice & Navigating Farm Development
Contact information: blake.cheer@dpi.nsw.gov.au
Zita Ritchie, Program Manager Dairy (Wollongbar, NSW)
Interests and expertise: Industry leadership and sustainability, climate risk management and emergency response and recovery, as well as group facilitation and training.
Projects: Storm and Flood Industry Recovery Program, Program 1: Better Response and short-term Recovery in Dairy; Review of environmental guidelines for the dairy industry and; Dairy Business for Future Climate and On farm Carbon Advice projects.
Contact information: zita.ritchie@dpi.nsw.gov.au