Our Project Managers
Dr Mel Fraser
Soil Function Consulting
Dr Melissa Fraser from Soil Function Consulting is the Limestone Coast’s resident soil scientist, working across research and development, extension and education and on-farm diagnosis of constraints. She fell in love with the region when she started her PhD in 2005 and has spent more than 20 years working across SA, Qld and the NT exploring solutions to the challenges that our farmers face. Dr Fraser is passionate about soil health and the role it plays in growing healthy plants, crops, animals and humans. Mel's superpower is to make complicated simple - particularly in understanding soil carbon, on-farm emissions and the farmers' role in this emerging area.
T: 0407 773 369
Nathaniel Modra
Project Manager
Through his role with Pinion Advisory, Nathaniel leads the MFMG Ag Producer Tech Group amongst other current initiatives. Nathaniel has a strong interest and understanding of livestock production and farm benchmarking and his skills include business management, financial analysis and a practical knowledge of primary production business drivers. Nathaniel’s passion is to develop and maintain sustainable and profitable farming systems for current and future generations.
T: 0438 640 768
Adam Hancock
Agronomist, Elders
Adam Hancock is an agronomist based in the Limestone Coast with over 15 years of experience supporting growers. He is passionate about applied research and development, with a focus on crop nutrition, soil constraints and farming systems. At Elders, Adam provides agronomic advice, including precision agriculture services. He has managed numerous industry-funded projects and is a long-time collaborator with grower groups and research bodies. Adam holds roles with the Mackillop Farm Management Group, the South Australian Durum Growers Association and the Grassland Society, and previously served on the GRDC Regional Cropping Solutions Panel. He is committed to ensuring research delivers practical benefits to growers.
T: 0427 475 254
Felicity Turner
Turner AgriBusiness
Felicity farms with her husband Mark on their farm at Field.
She has over 20 years experience in Sustainable Agriculture across the Limestone Coast working predominantly in the field of crop and pasture agronomy and managing projects in mixed farming systems. Through this work she has been exposed to a lot of decision making tools that they have been utilising in their farming business to identify trigger points and allow the business to manage dry times.
T: 0400 299 087
Michael Wilkes, Director and Principal Advisor
Michael Wilkes Livestock Co
Michael is the principal of Michael Wilkes Livestock Co, and is passionate about working with Livestock producers to optimise their production systems, tailor nutritional programs and meet greenhouse gas emissions reporting requirements.
E: michael.wilkes@mwlivestockco.com.au
T: 0407 712 180
Meg Bell
Coleraine Livestock Consulting
Meg grew up on a beef and cropping property at Millicent, before moving further afield to study and work. She returned to the region in 2014 and now lives with her husband Owen and son Rupert on their beef and sheep property at Konongwootong in western Victoria. Meg has over 10 years’ experience in southern Australian agricultural production systems, and specialises in livestock nutrition and health with skills in facilitation, coordination, project and people management. Meg was CEO of the MacKillop Farm Management Group for six years, and is Principal Consultant at Coleraine Livestock Consulting, established in 2017.
E: meg@colerainelivestockconsulting.com.au
T: 0433 499 630
Amanda Pearce
Senior Research Officer, SARDI
Amanda Pearce has gained over 15 years expertise in crop and pasture agronomy through her role at the South Australian Research and Development Institute (SARDI). Her research expertise focus has been in the diverse, high value and high production farming systems of the South East of South Australia. Amanda’s involvement in crop agronomy has covered research into crop nutrition, weed and disease management, soil amelioration, variety evaluation and bean breeding. Amanda’s skills in pastures and cropping have led to an expertise in farming systems. Her research includes investigations into alternative crops such as poppy, quinoa, industrial hemp, and linseed.
T: 0407 400 939
Jo Ward
Livestock Vet Services
Jo Ward is a large animal veterinarian practicing in the Western District of Victoria. Jo grew up in Maleny, QLD before completing veterinary science in Wagga Wagga NSW. Jo has worked in the Western District of Victoria and Limestone Coast of SA since graduating in 2014, and lives with her husband Tim and daughter Abbie on their beef and sheep property at Coojar.
E: joward@livestockvetservices.com.au
Ashlee Wachtel, Principal Consultant
Tailored Livestock Consulting
Ashlee is the principal consultant at Tailored Livestock Consulting, based at Robe in the Limestone Coast. She has 11 years’ experience in the livestock industry, after graduating from a Bachelor of Agricultural Sciences at the University of Adelaide. Ash predominantly focusses on intensive and pasture-based sheep and beef production systems, to improve feed efficiency, health of the animal and the amount of saleable product produced.
E: ash@tailoredlivestockconsulting.com
T: 0474 255 137