Jenny’s bio - Gippsland Food Adventures

Jenny O’Sullivan, B.Agri.Sci,  GradDip.Edu.

Jenny is well known for her role in promoting sustainable agriculture, particularly in Gippsland where she and her husband run a 680ha beef and sheep property.

Over the past 20 years, Jenny has helped develop and deliver many initiatives to encourage individuals and organisations to adopt sustainable management practices.
These include:

• Meat and Livestock Association’s (MLA) scoping study looking at sustainable agriculture (2012);
  

• Facilitator for Gippsland Community Leadership Program 2010-2012
  

• Dairy Australia’s DairySage mentoring program (2006-12 );
  

• the Westernport GipRip Project (2007-9);
  

• the National Landcare Project Improving Environmental and Enterprise Management on Gippsland Dairy Farms (2006-9);
  

• GippsDairy’s GipRip Project (2003-2007).
  

Jenny’s interest in developing sustainable food systems began in 1998 when she initiated the development of Gippsland Natural beef. In 2002 she managed the Gippsland Beef and Lamb Environmental Management Systems (EMS) Pilot Project. This three year project resulted in the development of a world class Environmental Management System, the Gippsland beef and lamb EMS which has changed the way many Gippsland farmers view their environmental management. Meat sold from properties with the Gippsland EMS is marketed under the brand Enviromeat.

In 2007, Jenny was the driving force behind the The Future Food and Fibre Project. This one year project explored the concept of sustainability across a range of Gippsland agricultural businesses, and paved the way for the Healthy Soils, Sustainable Farms – tackling soil acidification in West Gippsland project.

More recently, Jenny and her husband Paul have created an exciting agri-tourism business, Gippsland Food Adventures that is promoting Gippsland as a premium food region. Food and wine lovers are taken onto the farms, vineyards and into the restaurants where good quality Gippsland produce is made or served.

Recognition for Jenny’s achievements includes the West Gippsland Catchment Management Authorities’ Lyrebird Award (2008), the Hugh Mackay Future Farming Award (2007) and a Beef Improvement Association’s Service Award (2002). In 2008, Jenny was placed on the Gippsland Women’s Honour Roll for her work to advance agriculture and protect and enhance Gippsland’s natural resources.

Jenny lives in Tarwin Lower with her husband Paul and three children: Clive (21), James (20) and Alexandra (16). Her passions – apart from sustainable agriculture – include horses, travelling, delicious food, reading, family and friends.