The Tocal College Advisory Council is appointed to provide advice and assistance to the operation of the College. In particular, it provides recommendations on the education policy and direction of the College, the scope and relevance of its programs, and the training needs of industry and the community. The Advisory Council was renewed in 2024 with the appointment of new terms and new members.
David Anthony AM
Chair
David Anthony is the former Chair of Auscott Limited, the Australian Farm Institute, and Career Harvest Inc. David was also a Director of the Plant Biosecurity Cooperative Research Centre and a Councillor on the NSW Primary Industries Ministerial Advisory Council. He has also held Director positions with the Cotton Research and Development Corporation, Australian Cotton Growers Research Association and Cotton Seed Distributors (CSD). In 2023 David was made a Member of the Division (AM) in the Order or Australia for his outstanding service to the agricultural sector, and to the community of Narrabri.
Duncan Fraser AM
Member
Duncan is a passionate advocate and a dedicated member of the agricultural community, with over 20 years experience with various state, federal and commodity agri-political organisations.
A former National Farmers' Federation president, in 2015 Duncan was made a Member of the Division (AM) in the Order or Australia for his significant service to primary industry, to professional associations, and to education and training. Duncan holds a Bachelor of Agricultural Economics from UNE and is a Fellow of the Australian Rural Leadership Program which he completed in 1999.
Duncan is the Deputy Chair of the Board of the Skills Service Organisation, Skills Impact. He is also the previous Chair of the Sheep Industry CRC and the Implementation Steering Committee of the National Wild Dog Action Plan.
Duncan owns and manages "Narringa", a 9750-hectare pastoral and irrigation property near Hay, NSW, producing wool, sheep meat, rice and wheat.
Reg Kidd
Member
Reg Kidd is the NSW Farmers nominee on the Tocal Advisory Council. Reg has broad interests in agriculture, horticulture, natural resource management and education. He has a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture from the University of Sydney and a Graduate Diploma in Education.
Reg has held numerous board and committee memberships including Regional Development Australia - Central West region, Local Land Services, Landcare, Orange Community and Education Committee (OCTEC) and the State Noxious Weeds Advisory Council. Reg is also well known for his long-term ABC radio gardening program.
Lucinda Carroll
Member
Lucinda is the Country Women’s Association of NSW (CWA) nominee on the Tocal College Advisory Council.
Lucinda was born and raised on her family's beef cattle property at Walcha, studied in Sydney and now lives with her husband and three young boys at Orange where they run their own family beef cattle operation.
With 20 years of experience in financial services both domestically and internationally, she is passionate about the Agricultural industry and has a keen interest in the economic and social development of our regional communities.
Lucinda is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, a participant in the inaugural National Farmer's Federation Diversity in Ag Leadership Program and a contributor to AgriFutures via their Ignite Advisory Panel.
Lucinda loves spending her time on the family farm mustering stock with her boys. She is an avid gardener, curious traveller and lover of all things outdoors.
Jamie Andrews
Member
Jamie Andrews is the owner and manager of a self-replacing Angus enterprise at Gloucester that runs across several properties. Jamie is a founding member of the Gloucester Beef Network which promotes the beef industry in the Manning area. He is passionate about sustainable farming practices and provides opportunities for young people to experience the farm environment, and has hosted a number of field days in conjunction with Local Land Services. Jamie is a high school teacher and has taught PD/H/PE and Agriculture for 15 years in Tamworth, Jervis Bay, Canada and Gloucester. He represents NSW LLS on the Advisory Council.
Joshua Gilbert
Member
Joshua Gilbert is a Worimi man who lives and works on country. Josh is a Senior Researcher at the UTS Jumbunna Institute and is completing his PhD at Charles Sturt University, supported by the Food Agility CRC, focusing on the post-colonial involvement of Indigenous peoples in Western agricultural systems. He was recently recognised internationally for his work, announced in the inaugural 50 Next: People Shaping the Future of Gastronomy cohort. Josh sits on numerous boards and community groups, including the Department of Agriculture's Future Drought Fund Consultative Committee, Indigenous Business of Australia, Wingham Beef Week and CSIRO's Agriculture and Food Advisory Group. Josh is passionate about the future of agriculture in this country.
Glen Walker
Member
Glens’ career in Agriculture has allowed him the opportunity to "learn through doing". Glen and his wife Deb have owned and managed several rural properties since they were married and have been fully involving in Livestock Production and Land Management at the ground level whilst Glen continued to work off-farm at a professional advisory level.
Glen holds an Advanced Diploma in Conservation and Land Management and a Diploma in Agriculture and is a former student of Tocal College.
He jackerooed on several properties through NSW and southern Qld after tertiary study and before marriage. Amongst several others, Glen has worked in the areas of Beef Genetics Research and Vertebrate Pest Research as well as in Animal Health and Biosecurity advisory roles.
Glen is currently employed by the NSW Biodiversity Conservation Trust in a team that acquires properties with intrinsic landscape values, applies a conservation agreement to part of the property and returns it to the market to increase the private land conservation footprint within NSW.
Polly Bennett
Member
Polly has extensive governance and leadership experience across commercial, government and not for profit organisations in the agribusiness, food safety, education, health, transport, ports and infrastructure sectors.
With sound management and Board experience drawn from working with diverse business models, stakeholders, customers and supply chains, Polly is accustomed to working in complex environments.
Polly has a Bachelor of Economics degree an Executive Fellow of the Australian New Zealand School of Government, CEDA Trustee and is an AICD graduate.
Polly is the Chair of the SkillsIQ Australia Board. SkillsIQ is an independent not for profit organisation, enthusiastic about the role that skills and training play in addressing industry training needs. Their capability includes workforce planning including policy and strategy, workforce development informed by industry skills forecasts and demand.
Polly was CEO of NSW Food Authority, Acting Deputy Director General Agriculture NSW, Director of Agribusiness Development Department Primary Industries, and CEO Australian Lot Feeders Association, she brings extensive state-wide experience with the agricultural sector in NSW.
Polly’s family background is firmly grounded in rural NSW, she grew up in Coonamble, and her family have a mixed farming enterprise in Gulargambone and Narromine. Polly is a passionate advocate for education and agricultural industries across the State.
Regina Buchanan
Member
Regina is the WHS and Training Manager for Warakirri Cropping, an Agribusiness that farms 150,000 hectares across four states (NSW, Qld, WA and Vic) and 11 properties. Regina has been employed in corporate agriculture for over 25 years, has board and committee experience through a range of industry and rural community groups, and is a manager in a company that employs over 160 staff.
Regina holds a Diploma of Agribusiness Management through Tocal College and is currently completing a Certificate IV in WHS. She has been a strong advocate for industry-based training and investing in the future agricultural workforce.
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