DairySA Team

Melissa has extensive experience in natural resource management, project management and team leadership.

Melissa relishes the opportunity to work in  agriculture with a focus on team leadership. She is passionate about delivering practical and relevant opportunities for dairy farmers that can assist in running a sustainable business.

In her spare time, Melissa enjoys reading, cooking, spending time with her family and the occasional trip to the beach.

Melissa's dairy favourties: Golden North Honey Ice Cream, as it reminds her of her childhood growing up in the Flinders Ranges.

Based in Mt Gambier

Kylie has a background in agronomy and project management.

Kylie loves working and talking with people involved in the dairy industry. She also enjoys contributing to a wide range of projects and being able to promote the dairy industry, especially when she gets to experience the enthusiasm of school children learning about dairy.

Kylie has coached local junior tennis teams to premierships and relishes caravan holidays with a good spy novel.

Kylie's dairy favourites: Soft cheese with biscuits and iced coffee. 

Based in the South East/Limestone Coast region

With an extensive background in the agri finance sector, including three years specialising in agri-IT, Beck is passionate about the Australian agriculture industry and its people.

Beck enjoys connecting with farmers, understanding their drive and passion and providing support to assist them in reaching their business potential. With two small children, Beck values spending time at home with family.

Beck's dairy favourites: A selection of SA cheeses enjoyed with the odd glass of a delicious Langhorne Creek red. 

Based in the Central region, Langhorne Creek

Cathy has years of experience in natural resources management-related projects and programs within the South East.

Having grown up on a farm, Cathy enjoys working with farmers on ‘on-ground’ projects and trials to explore new ideas. Cathy is passionate about working in extension and supporting people to make positive change to their farms and livelihoods.

In her spare time, Cathy enjoys getting outside and photographing ‘critters’ and the natural environment. She also loves cars, cats, sport and gardening.

Cathy’s dream diet consists of cheese and coffee. 

Based in the South East/Mt Gambier

Focus area: Dairy Discussion Groups
Region: Fleurieu

Life in dairy started for Trish on her family farm on the Fleurieu Peninsula, and she's most recently worked in veterinary science teaching and researching dairy workforce wellbeing.

Trish's research and special interest areas are animal and human health and wellbeing, animal husbandry, reproduction, genetics and nutrition.

Trish hopes to share some meaningful learning experiences within our DairySA community, translating science into practice, connecting industry to developing and current research. Trish is grateful for the opportunity to work in dairy extension services.

Trish has one adult son, lives on the Fleurieu, and enjoys time in nature and writing as hobbies. Dairy favourite breakfast: sharp cheddar with homemade chutney on toast.

Focus area: People and Workforce Development

With a Bachelor degree in Agriculture and a Masters in Global Food and Agricultural Business, Alberta has over ten years experience as a Senior Extension Officer with Cocoa Research Institute of Ghana, now finding her place in Australian agriculture and the dairy industry.

Alberta is inspired by farmers and their passion to continually improve their business operations and is keen to build meaningful connections with dairy farmers and stakeholders along the value chain to assist them in achieving their goals. Together with her husband and two children Alberta enjoys spending time discovering her new hometown in SA's Limestone Coast.

Alberta's dairy favourites: Summer: Yoghurt or ice cream with fruit Winter: butter on toast with a latte milo or coffee.

Based in the South East/Mt Gambier

Shannon grew up in the suburbs of Adelaide, and quickly fell in love with the livestock industry after work experience in high school. This led her to completing a Bachelor of Science (Animal Science) at the University of Adelaide. 

During her time at university, Shannon worked part-time as a veterinary nurse and simultaneously was a milker on a dairy farm, before being promoted to calf manager. After graduating, Shannon gained employment in the red meat and wool industry, focusing on projects, advocacy, and some policy work. She is currently studying her Masters in Global Food and Agricultural Business and is excited that her career has led her back to the dairy industry. 

Shannon will be facilitating workshops in the central region along with Dairy Discussion Groups and coordinating the Young Dairy Network. 

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After growing up in Adelaide and relocating to Melbourne where she gained her Bachelor of Communications, Abbie Taylor is now based regionally with her husband on their Beachport cattle station. For the last five years, Abbie has enjoyed working within the local community, helping to run the family business, and learning more about the agricultural industry. Her communications experience has included creative agency, local media, and agricultural education work, with a strong focus on copywriting and social media management. In addition, Abbie has worked for three years in an accounts and administrative role for two local agricultural enterprises. Abbie is passionate about working with regional, farming, and creative communities to help tell their stories through her work along with achieving greater mental health support for regional communities. For this reason, she is excited to start her next chapter at Dairy Australia.