ABOUT US

Jenny is the Policy and Communication Manager with Coleambally Irrigation Co-operative Limited a member owned gravity irrigation supply scheme in the Murrumbidgee Valley. Jenny also owns and operates with her family an irrigated cropping farm in the NSW Murray.

Jenny has extensive experience in water policy and government relations. Jenny has a tertiary qualification in Agricultural Science and Communications and is a Graduate of the Institute of Company Directors. Jenny is also a director of Finley Regional Care (a not for profit based supply medical and aged care services in the southern Riverina).

Rosalie is the Chief Executive Officer of the Renmark Irrigation Trust in South Australia. She was elected to the NIC Board in October 2021 and brings with her a range of valuable business management experience in the areas of finance, negotiation and systems thinking. Rosalie also serves on the Murraylands and Riverland Landscape Board’s Water Advisory Committee, SA River Murray Strategic Water Issues Consultation Steering Committee and the Katarapko Community Advisory Panel.

Michael Murray is the National Water Manager and Queensland Policy Manager for Cotton Australia and was formerly Chief Executive Officer of the Gwydir Valley Irrigators’ Association, based in Moree in northern NSW. He was elected to the NIC board in 2009.

Michael is the Executive Officer for Macquarie River Food and Fibre, managing water policy and water user issues within the Macquarie Valley in Central West New South Wales.   

Bernie George was elected to the NIC board in 2012. He is responsible for the water assets of Australian Food and Fibre. The company grows, processes and markets cotton and food crops.

Bernie has extensive experience in large scale irrigated agriculture, land and water asset development and natural resource management. He is a past Chairman of Cotton Australia and a graduate of the Australian Rural Leadership Program.

Caren, along with her husband Drew own and manage an Almond Orchard at Murtho in South Australia and are currently raising a young family. Having previously worked for the state government in the groundwater and wetland areas, Caren took on the leadership role as the chairperson of the South Australian Murray Irrigators group in 2009. She is also a current serving councillor and chairperson of the Natural Heritage Committee for the National Trust of South Australia (NTSA), a role she has held for the past four years.

John is the Executive Officer for Border Rivers Food and Fibre, managing water policy issues for Queensland and NSW entitlement holders along the Macintyre River and surrounding catchments.

John was previously the CEO of Vegetables WA for 7-years. Vegetables WA is the peak advocacy group for vegetable growers in Western Australia.

Phil, along with his wife Lynda have been operating a mixed irrigated and dryland farm near Tocumwal since 1990. Phil was elected to the NIC Board in October 2021, and he brings a wealth of knowledge to NIC from his time serving on the boards of Murray Irrigation and Southern Growers. Phil has been recognised by the Berrigan Shire for both on-farm environmental works in 2006 and the Business Person/Entrepreneur of the Year in 2009. He also received the National Farmers Federation Innovation in Agriculture Award for New Technology in 2010.

Ben Fessey was elected to the board in 2024. Ben is the General Manager of Trading & Key Accounts for Olam International, one of the world's largest growers of almonds, and actively manages their water portfolio across several river systems. Ben has extensive experience in agricultural supply chains, commodity trading, water markets, risk management and logistics.

Ben holds an MBA from the University of New South Wales (AGSM) and a Bachelor of Agricultural Economics from the University of Sydney.

Jenna owns an irrigation property with her husband and three children near Leeton, NSW, where they grow cotton, popcorn and winter cereals. She holds a Bachelor of Nursing and has completed the FAICD Directors Course.
Jenna is currently the Chief Executive Officer for Murrumbidgee Private Irrigators and Murrumbidgee Groundwater.

Jenna is also the co-owner of Bidgee Automation Pty Ltd. She has expertise in agricultural data, technology, farm budgeting, and policy development, with a strong commitment to sustainable agriculture and economic profitability.