Ms Gemma Purcell

DIRECTOR SINCE 2017, CHAIRperson NOVEMBER 2018 - PRESENT

Gemma is a partner in Meier Farms, a mixed grazing and dryland cropping enterprise in South Western NSW and a full-time parent, part-time freelance writer and consultant, community creative and placemaker with extensive experience in Business Development, Issues Management and Communications. She is actively involved in sustainability projects. She was Chair of Murrumbidgee Landcare for several years to end 2024 and is on the State Advisory Council for Landcare NSW, and the Advisory Committee of the Institute of Community Directors. Gemma is a Founding member of the Grong Grong Earth Park and initiated and co-facilitated community members to purchase and operate the Grong Grong Pub (GGROTEL Ptyd Ltd). Gemma was a Founding Director of the Haystacks Solar Garden and her property hosts the Grong Grong Solar Farm.

Professor Emerita Cynthia Mitchell AO

FTSE, FIEAust, FICDA – Chairperson 2013-2018, DIRECTOR 2013 - presenT
HON DTECH (CTH, SE), PHD (UNSW), BE (UQ), DipBus (CI)

Cynthia is Professor Emerita at the University of Technology, Sydney, 2021, and was Distinguished Professor of Sustainability at the Institute for Sustainable Futures (ISF), UTS, 2018-2020, where she was Research Director from 2001. She has pioneered trans-disciplinary research in water, sanitation, learning and community development and led numerous collaborative projects with on-ground impacts in urban and rural communities in Australia and the region. Cynthia has been recognised with national and international awards from industry, government and universities and in 2021 established ‘the good ancestor’, a business committed to making the transformations (we know we need) across our society both rapid and real. She is a Fellow of the Institute of Community Directors of Australia and current Chair of the Peter Cullen Water and Environment Trust. In 2024 Cynthia was honoured with the award of Officer of the Order Australia in the General Division for distinguished service to the environment.

Mr Christopher Thiesfield

Deputy Chairperson & Director, Convenor Indigenous
Advisory Group, 2013 - present
Dip. Business, Dip. Agriculture, Trade Cert III Horticulture, Cert IV Trainer & Assessor (QLD TAFE).

Chris is a Gooreng Gooreng man, Traditional Owner and Elder from Bundaberg in Queensland. Chris owns and operates a Registered Training Organisation and is deeply respected for his extensive skills and experience in community leadership, development and for the design and delivery of cultural awareness, vocational and other training in mental health first aid, Conservation and Land Management, rural industries, hospitality and the security sectors that he has delivered in and across remote Australia over many years. He is passionate about connecting youth to culture and country to improve their health and wellbeing and to creating pathways for all Australians to walk and work together to heal country, people and community. He has served extensively in health related roles, Advisory Boards and Steering Committee’s in Queensland and for the Bundaberg region; and as a Director of Gooreng Gooreng organisations and trusts. A qualified horticulturalist, he is a former member of the National AgriFood Skills Rural and Related Standing Committee.

Ms Anthea Fawcett

Managing Director, Public Officer, 2013 - present
BA (Hons) (USyd), MAA (COFA, UNSW). 

Anthea is the Founder of Foodswell as well as the Remote Indigenous Gardens Network. She grew upon on a farm near Narrabri in NSW and her training is in the humanities. She has worked in sustainable design, advocacy and the renewable energy arena in cross-cultural settings in Australia and overseas for over 25 years. From 2010-2014, she was Chairperson of the Management Committee of CuriousWorks, a not-for-profit arts Organisation. From 2015-2019, she was head of Corporate Affairs, Vast Solar Pty Ltd, an Australian renewable energy technology development company. She is an Adjunct Professor with the Institute for Sustainable Futures at the University of Technology Sydney and a Member of the Waverley Council Sustainability Expert Panel (SEAP). She is the host of Foodswell’s podcast Nourishing Matters and principal author of Foodswell publications and submissions to government Inquiries.

Ms Luci Rafferty 

Company Secretary, 2013 - present
BA Llb (Hons) ACSA. 

Luci is a lawyer with over twenty years of corporate and legal experience. From 2003 until December 2012, she was General Counsel and Company Secretary of Alesco Corporation Limited, an industrial company listed on the Australian Stock Exchange until 2012. Prior to this she was General Counsel at Namoi Cotton Co-operative Limited from 1999 to 2003, based in rural New South Wales. She has also worked for Sydney based law firms Anderson Legal and Gadens.

Dr Catherine Chicken

immediate PAST Director, 2020 - 2024, BVSc (Hons) - USyd, PhD - UniMelb, MANZCVS

Catherine is an equine veterinarian in the Upper Hunter Valley of NSW, where she has lived and worked for the past 29 years.  She has a PhD in veterinary epidemiology and holds membership of the Australian New Zealand College of Veterinary Scientists. Catherine has played an active role in her professional peak body, the Australian Veterinary Association (AVA), over many years and is currently a member of the education subcommittee of Equine Veterinarians Australia, a specialty sub-group of AVA. She is Deputy Chair of the Thoroughbred Horses Advisory Panel of Agrifutures Australia and the Agrifutures graduate (2021-2022) of the Australian Rural Leadership Program. Catherine is passionate about her community and local environment and is committed to playing a role in creating the change required to ensure prosperity and sustainability of rural, regional and remote Australia.

Foodswell extends warm thanks to Catherine for her friendship, professional advice and valued contributions to Foodswell 2020-2024.