Alan Blackburn

Primary Qualifications

B.Agr.Sc. (Melbourne University)

Dip Farm Eco (University of New England)

MA Business Analysis (Lancaster University, UK)

Professional Association Membership

Member Australian Institute of Agricultural Science and Technology

Member Australian Association of Agricultural Consultants

Member Institute of Arbitrators and Mediators

Minor Qualifications

More Beef from Pastures Train the Trainer (MLA)

Certificate in Teacher Training (Hawthorn Institute)

Practitioners Certificate in Mediation (IAMA)

Experience

• Farm Management and Agribusiness Consultant since 1992 focussing on:

                            Farm business management
                            Farm finance
                            Succession planning
                            Farm dispute resolution
                            Natural resource management
                            Sustainability and profitability  

• Twenty years as senior lecturer in Farm Business Management and vice principal at Marcus Oldham Farm Management College (Geelong, Victoria).  Senior consultant with MOFAC Consultants

• One year senior lecturer in Farm Business Management at Harper Adams College UK

• Three years experience as a sheep advisor, Department of Agriculture (now DPI) Vic including running and evaluating stocking rate trials

• Co author of the book Financing Your Farm (4th edition) published by the Australian Bankers’ Association and the Grain Growers Association 2006

• Run farmer training projects including

• In association with the Australian Institute of Management ran a statewide series of three day courses in farm finance.  Courses were attended by leading farmers and provided in-depth training on farm finance, risk management and options for improving profitability

• In association with the VFF ran a statewide series of one and two day training on computerised farm accounting.  Also provided a help line support service and on farm implementation help.  8000 farmers participated in this program

• One and two day training in Natural Resource Management.  Statewide series of courses in the use of the FARM Software System, demonstrating its use in natural resource management and monitoring, OH&S planning and monitoring and QA record keeping

• Prepared and run projects relating to farm business and natural resource management for Government agencies and business corporations.  Refer to Corporate and Government services on home page                      home page

Clients

Alan Blackburn and Associates Consulting has over 3000 Victorian farmer clients we have consulted to or trained.

Will Winter

Primary Qualifications

M. Agr. & Rural Dev. (University of Western Sydney)

Dip. Farm Management (Marcus Oldham Farm Management College, Geelong)

Professional Association Membership

Member Australian Institute of Agricultural Science and Technology

Minor Qualifications

Australian Rural Leadership (QDPI & University of Central Queensland)

Cert IV in Assessment and Workplace Training (Wodonga TAFE)

Family Business Meeting Facilitation (Lyn Sykes)

Edge Network Facilitation (MLA)

Participatory Project Management (TorqAid)

Experience

• Rural Financial Counsellor and business consultant since 1989, focussing on:

  • Business planning and options analysis
  • Finance solutions and rural debt between farmers and bankers
  • Family business meetings and mediation between conflicting parties
  • Business succession planning
  • Benchmarking for sustainable rural business
  • Business mentoring and training
  • The creation and maintenance of vibrant rural communities                    

• Lecturer in Farm Business and Communications at Marcus Oldham Farm Management College, Geelong, 2006-2008.

• Seven years Rural Finance Counselling in Central Western Queensland, NE Victoria and East Gippsland, including:

  • Farm Business and cash flow planning

• Assessment of financial proposals and finance restructuring
• Mediation between clients and bankers for win-win outcomes
• Family meetings and succession planning
• Assisting clients to improve farm productivity and profitability

 

• Eight years Rural Business Consulting and training delivery to more than 3,000 rural businesses, including:

  • Delivery of Dairy Adjustment Reviews for the Dairy Structural Adjustment Program (Vic)
  • Contracted business mentoring for small start-up enterprises under the New Enterprise Incentive Scheme (NEIS - Vic & NSW)
  • Delivery of Centrelink Farm Planning and Advice Program
  • Delivery of the VFF Computerised Farm Management Program (Vic & southern NSW)
  • Contracted delivery of the Farm$mart business extension program (Vic).

• Will has also worked in a range of cross cultural settings, including two years in outback Australia working with remote indigenous community organisations (NT).

More information

For information on specific services offered refer to Links on the left side of our home page.