“Ashley will be primarily responsible for the delivery of the Carbon Farming and Your Business project, but will also bring a strong agriculture focus, particularly livestock, which I believe will greatly strengthen Holbrook Landcare’s capacity in this area,” Holbrook Landcare Executive Officer Dale Stringer said.

“We will also be working towards a staff structure where Ashley will play a leading role to help shape our sustainable agricultural activities.”

Mr Paech said he has a strong passion for working with land managers to understand the capability of their land, the relationship between their farming enterprise and the landscape and interactions within the farming system. 

“I am really passionate about finding the right balance between sustainability, productivity, economic and social outcomes,” he said. 

His professional interests lie in areas such as business strategy; farming systems; risk management; grazing management and animal nutrition; change and adjustment in rural industries; value chain analysis and project development and management.

Having grown up in the Walla Walla area, he has a good grounding in mixed farming systems and the challenges for land managers in the region. 

As well as being employed with Holbrook Landcare four days a week, Mr Paech will help run his family’s mixed farming property near Walla Walla. 

Mr Paech was formerly employed as Program Manager Meat and Wool (Hume Region) with the Victorian Government’s Department of Economic Development, Jobs, Transport and Resources.

While there he was involved in farm business management and agricultural extension at the delivery and management level.

Holbrook Landcare Network was formed in 1989 as an inland rural landcare organisation servicing 15 geographical sub catchment landcare groups with a focus on environmental issues on agricultural land.