John Holley

Appointed 2018.

John worked in the WA public service for over 30 years, with his initial years as an economist and financial manager with the Rural Adjustment and Finance Corporation, where he worked to assist and restructure numerous farm businesses in an effort to improve the viability and sustainability of the agricultural industry in WA. He then spent more than 20 years in landcare and natural resource management, including 12 years in the role of Director of the WA Government’s State Natural Resource Management Office. This was a cross-portfolio, multi-disciplinary unit reporting to the NRM Ministerial Council. His primary responsibilities were supporting whole of State NRM planning and policy development, establishing and maintaining partnerships with key stakeholders and managing whole of government projects and initiatives. These included programs that supported hundreds of NRM and landcare projects with grants totalling over $850 million.

In 1999, John led an AusAID team to work with the South African government to establish its landcare program. The South African landcare program was multifaceted incorporating not only environmental objectives but also job creation, business and community development objectives.

Since retiring in 2018, John has continued his involvement with local, state and national landcare efforts, including serving as Secretary of the WA Landcare Network and as a member of the Finance, Audit and Risk Committee and the Remuneration Committee of the National Landcare Network. He has also derived much pleasure and satisfaction mentoring an Aboriginal consultancy business and a business coordinating large scale plantings with school groups. John has a degree in agricultural science as well as qualifications in business and project management.