Victorian cattle seedstock producer appointed to Chair national soils organisation

Victorian cattle seedstock producer Olivia Lawson has been appointed as Chair of Soils for Life, Australia’s leading non-profit organisation supporting farmers to regenerate soils and landscapes.

She steps into the role held for more than six years by food and agriculture philanthropist and impact investor Alasdair MacLeod.

Soils for Life CEO Eli Court said: “As Chair, Alasdair has created a highly collaborative Board culture and contributed big picture strategic thinking that has helped Soils for Life to grow and mature. We are deeply appreciative of his dedicated service, which has greatly advanced the mission of our organisation.”

“I am also thrilled to be welcoming Olivia as our new Board Chair. It’s an exciting time for the organisation, with major new initiatives kicking off to support dairy farmers and orchardists to build soil health and climate resilience, on the back of a major program of work over the past two years with broadacre croppers. Olivia will bring a wealth of governance capabilities, in addition to her experience as a soil health focused grazier and as a leader in the agricultural sector.”

Mr MacLeod said that “Soils for Life was the brainchild of the late Governor General, Michael Jeffrey, who did so much to advocate for the importance of soil as a vital national asset. I am delighted to have spent the last few years advancing his work at Soils for Life and, under the current CEO, Eli Court, the organisation has never been in better shape. I am very pleased to be handing over the role of Chair to Olivia who, along with the rest of the Board, will be continuing the important work of supporting farmers to focus on healthy soil.”

Olivia brings board-level experience in agriculture, water, and sustainability, and has served on the Soils for Life Board for 2.5 years. She is a dedicated advocate for the role of agriculture in supporting healthy ecosystems, drawing on direct involvement in her family’s cattle breeding business, which focuses on the importance of soil health, holistic grazing systems, and biodiversity while producing efficient, fertile, and highly productive beef genetics. Her family’s efforts have been recognized with the ‘Landcare Sustainable Farmer of the Year’ award in 2013 and ‘Coles Weekly Times Beef Farmer of the Year’ award in 2020. Olivia completed a degree in Agricultural Science and is a graduate of the AICD Company Directors Course.

Olivia stated, “I am honoured to accept the role of Chair of the Soils for Life Board and look forward to continuing my collaboration with fellow Directors and the team. I would like to recognize the exemplary leadership and legacy of retiring Chair Alasdair MacLeod. Through his guidance, our organization has broadened its reach, provided increased support to farmers, and advanced soil regeneration initiatives throughout Australia. As we move forward, I am optimistic about the strategic direction of Soils for Life and the collective impact that can be achieved, as healthy soils are essential for sustainable agriculture and enhancing resilience in regional Australia.”

About Soils for Life
Soils for Life is an independent, non-profit organisation that works to support Australian farmers to regenerate soils, for resilient people, communities, businesses and landscapes. Founded by former Governor General Major General Michael Jeffrey AC, CVO, MC, Soils for Life has worked for more than a decade to raise awareness of the critical importance of soil, and the key role of farmers as the stewards of more than half of the nation’s land. Soils for Life’s case studies have inspired thousands, showing how soil stewardship can help solve our greatest challenges – food and water security, climate change abatement, biodiversity protection and human health.

Now, Soils for Life is working to ensure that farmers have the support they need to move from curiosity to confidence in adopting new practices that build soil and landscape health.

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Media contact:
Eli Court
CEO
[email protected]
0412 169 488