Geoff Penton comes to the organisation with over 30 years' experience in natural resource management and Landcare. Geoff has previously worked in Landcare and catchment management within State Government and has worked in the community non for-profit sector for the last 18 years.

Geoff has a family farming and tourism business background. Geoff has also worked for non-for- profit natural resource management groups like Southern Gulf NRM, as Chief Executive Officer for 10 years.

The Southern Gulf NRM Board welcomes Geoff to the region and they are all very much looking forward to working with Geoff as the new CEO.

The Southern Gulf NRM Board have also recently gathered in person for their first face to face board meeting this year due to the impacts of COVID-19. The board have been held their regular scheduled meetings during 2020 via video conferencing.

As the membership voted against the merger between Southern Gulf NRM and NQ Dry Tropics in 2019, the Board has taken a fresh look at the organisation during 2020, and has developed a new Strategic Plan in order to refocus the organisation, look for additional efficiencies in the internal operations and find ways to improve service delivery to the community.

During this most recent meeting the Southern Gulf NRM board signed off on the new strategic plan. Moving into the future, Southern Gulf NRM has a new strategic plan, a new CEO, and the recruitment of two new community extension staff is also underway.

\We recently have accessed significant funding for the region so overall the organisation is in good shape to continue to focus on sustainable agriculture and natural asset conservation across the Southern Gulf region.

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