Barossa’s Nicki Robins becomes newest Board member in Northern and Yorke region
Barossa Australia’s Nicki Robins has joined the Northern and Yorke Landscape Board as a Board member, bringing extensive connections within the viticulture industry and a passion for sustainable land management.
Nicki fills a position left by Leonie Kerley, who withdrew prior to beginning her term due to unforeseen increased demands as Mayor of Barunga West Council.
“I respect Leonie’s decision to prioritise her council’s team and community at this time,” said Tony Fox, General Manager Northern and Yorke Landscape Board. “She’s an important environmental advocate in our region and we’ll continue to work closely with Leonie through her leadership role in Barunga West.”
Nicki joins Holly Cowan and Leo Redden as Northern and Yorke’s newly minted Board members, who attended their first meeting in Gawler last week.
She has worked as Barossa Australia’s viticultural development manager for the past 13 years and through this role works closely with the Board on environmental and wine industry sustainability programs.
“My job is to engage our 500 plus grape grower members to participate in programs that increase their capability to apply science-led, best practice viticultural management techniques,” said Nicki. “This includes programs such as Wildlife for Wine, Creating Resilient Landscapes, and Environmental Champions of Barossa.
“I hope to use my communication skills to help the Board engage landholders to keep building resilience in their properties – to try and mitigate the challenging effects of the changing climate we’re currently facing.”
Nicki was raised on a mixed cropping farm in Hawke’s Bay, New Zealand, where her childhood playground was feeding out sheep, picking grapes, kiwifruit and apples, and riding to Wattie’s cannery in the Bedford with tomatoes and asparagus on board. She started her professional career as a journalist and in corporate public relations, before joining the wine industry in the Barossa in 2002. She has lived in Angaston for more than 20 years.
“We’re excited to welcome Nicki to our Board,” said Tony. “She brings many years of experience working with landholders in the Barossa and plenty of energy and enthusiasm to help build environmental and productive resilience in our region.”
