Why I nominated: Current landscape board members share why they stepped up
Behind every landscape board are local leaders working towards a future where healthy environments, resilient communities and productive landscapes thrive together.
With nominations now open for board member positions starting in January 2027, we spoke with current landscape board members about what motivated them to nominate, what they have found most rewarding about the role, and their advice to others considering putting their hand up.
Their stories highlight the many different pathways to board membership and the valuable contribution people from a wide range of backgrounds make.
Read on to get inspired to become a landscape board member.
What motivated you to join your local landscape board?
People join landscape boards for a variety of reasons, whether it's giving back to their community, contributing local knowledge or helping shape the future of their region.
For many members it's a combination of all three. But sometimes, a significant life event can inspire action, like it did for current Kangaroo Island board member Barbara Cooper.
“The bushfires were a turning point for me. They showed how important it is for us to come together as a community, support one another and look after the island we share,” she said.
“I have always been deeply interested in agriculture, plants, animals and the sea. I wanted to contribute to protecting Kangaroo Island’s natural environment, supporting primary production and remaining vigilant and proactive about threats such as pest animals and other biosecurity risks.”
Leaving a positive legacy for future generations is a common thread among many of the current cohort of landscape board members.
“I’m passionate about our environment and, as a mum, I want to help protect and shape a future where my children, and generations to come, can experience the same incredible landscapes and natural places that have meant so much to me,” said Northern and Yorke board member Holly Cowan.
“Serving on the board is a small way to give back to the environment that has supported me my whole life. Nature is my happy place. It’s where I go to recharge, reconnect and wash away stress and anxiety.”
It’s also behind Jason Size’s impetus to join the Murraylands and Riverland Landscape Board. Previous involvement in local action planning and small landscape environmental projects spurred him to do more. “I wanted to continue a legacy of supporting and leaving an environment for my children and theirs after I am gone,” he said.
Dr. Chris West of the Hills and Fleurieu Landscape Board believes everyone can choose to take responsibility and make a positive difference.
“As a lifelong conservationist, vet and retired Zoo Director, I wanted to support the vital role of the new Landscape Act in working to balance the needs of humans and nature across the beautiful and precious Hills and Fleurieu region,” he said.
“We humans are doing a great job of mucking up our ‘nest’, globally and locally and I felt that I had a combination of knowledge, strategic experience and commitment to help.
“Having worked internationally, including with Dr Jane Goodall, I am motivated by her philosophy of care and hope. A belief that if we take responsibility we can all make choices and choose to make a difference.”
What has been the most rewarding part of serving on a landscape board?
Serving on a landscape board provides a unique opportunity to influence positive outcomes for your region and to work alongside passionate people.
With seven years on the SA Arid Lands Landscape Board under her belt, Ellen Litchfield enjoys witnessing the outcomes that hard work invested over a long time can bring.
“I’m now seeing large projects finishing up and the long-term positive impacts of those,” she said.
“For example, the water allocation plan and water accounting trials we have been working on during the past 6 years. We are really starting to see how we have created something that works for our remote region and accounts for the nuances and uniqueness that makes our area special.”
It's a similar story for Sonya Coleman, an Eyre Peninsula board member, who says seeing first-hand the impact of the Grassroots Grants program and on-ground projects the most rewarding part of her involvement.
“Wherever possible I have taken an active part in some of these activities and have seen what an amazing team of people who work within the Landscape Board offices are,” she said. “I have gained a sense that the ladies and men who perform these roles are not just ‘going to work’ - they are invested in their roles. It’s such a fulfilling observation.”
What would you say to someone who isn't sure they're the 'right fit'?
A common misconception is that board members need a specific professional background or extensive governance experience to qualify for a landscape board position. Current members say that diverse perspectives and a willingness to contribute are often just as valuable.
“Landscape boards benefit from having members with a wide range of experiences, skills and viewpoints, not just those with formal environmental or agricultural backgrounds,” said Tom Linnell of the Limestone Coast Landscape Board.
“Some of the most valuable contributions come from people who are connected to their local communities, ask thoughtful questions and are willing to learn. I learn dozens of things every time I prepare for and attend our board meetings, but I bring a practical perspective, a commitment to listening and a genuine desire to contribute to positive outcomes for the region.
“If you care about your community, the future of the landscape and are prepared to engage constructively, you have something valuable to offer. Diverse voices make for better decisions and stronger outcomes.”
Could you be our next board member?
If you're passionate about your region and want to help shape the future of South Australia’s landscapes, we encourage you to consider nominating before 5pm on Sunday, 16 August 2026.
Learn more about becoming a landscape board member and how to nominate.
