LCF Board Of Directors
Philippa Walsh joined the LCF Board in December 2007. Philippa combines a rural background with science and management skills. Philippa currently works for Greening Australia and is charged with developing effective approaches to landscape conservation nationally as well as managing NSW based initiatives. Philippa has a lead role developing Greening Australia’s approach to leveraging biodiversity outcomes using the emerging carbon and biodiversity markets.
David Blaxland is the Reclamation and Closure Manager for Barrick's Australia and Pacific region. Prior to that David was the Environmental Manager for the Cowal Gold Project for over three years.
David has over 18 years experience in environmental management in the mining, oil, gas and
civil construction industries. He has industry experience in all states and territories of Australia with offshore experience in South East Asia, Africa and the Americas.
Andrew Buttenshaw (chairperson) is a third generation farmer whose family settled in the Lake Cowal area in 1898. His property consists of 2/3 high red country and 1/3 lake bed. Andrew has been farming since finishing at Orange Ag. College in 1975. Property enterprises include Winter Cereal and Oilseed Cropping, Merino sheep and a Braford cattle stud. Notill and Minimum tillage practices have been used since the late 80s. Stubble retention used for last 20 years
Andrew's interests include most local sports as a referee, coach or supporter. He is also interested in sustainable energy systems (e.g. biofuels). Past Organisations Andrew has been involved include many local committees, i.e. Past President West Wyalong Show Society and Past chairman of Condobolin RLPB.
Andrew is married to Sue and has 4 children, Tristan(19), Mark(16), Joshua(13), Lachlan(11)
As part of the Lake Cowal Foundation, Andrew's Objective is to bring balance to the environmental debate
David Mitchell was invited to be a member of the Board of the Foundation as an “independent scientist” when the Board was established in 2000. He has a background in environmental management with particular reference to aquatic systems and invasive aquatic weeds, which formed the basis of the PhD he obtained from London University. He has held positions in Universities in Africa (Lecturer, Reader) and Australia (Adjunct Professor) and as a research scientist in CSIRO, Australia (Principal Research Scientist, Officer in Charge of the Centre for Irrigation Research, Chief of the Centre for Irrigation and Freshwater Research, Foundation Director of the Murray Darling Freshwater Research Centre).
David has extensive experience of Committee and Board membership, some as nominated independent scientist, some as Chairman and some as sitting member. He has been an invited or Keynote Speaker at scientific conferences, including 16 international conferences and is the author or co-author of over 220 publications, including one book, the editing of another and of the proceedings of an international conference, a patent and 90 papers in refereed international journals or as book chapters. He has also authored or been a co-author of 14 international and 43 national consultancy reports.
David retired from CSIRO in 1995 and was invited to become an honorary member of the staff of Charles Sturt University as an Adjunct Professor, enabling him to continue to pursue his academic interests. David represents the Foundation on the Lake Cowal Community Environmental Monitoring and Consultative Committee and is, so far, the only member of the Board who has made close personal contact with the lake by falling in on the last occasion there was enough water to make this possible.
