ARLF has substantially refreshed its board of directors, appointing four new members and elevating current director Melissa Fletcher to the role of Chair at its annual general meeting in November. A Kamilaroi woman with extensive governance experience, Melissa becomes ARLF’s first First Nations Chair, marking a significant milestone in the organisation’s 33-year history.
The transition comes as the board farewells Rick Sawers after nearly a decade of service, including three years as Chair, alongside retiring directors Margaux Beauchamp and The Hon Niall Blair.
Acknowledging a decade of contribution
Rick Sawers joined the ARLF board in early 2015 and served as Chair for the past three years. His tenure has been characterised by steady governance, strategic thinking and genuine curiosity about rural communities.
Reflecting on what the experience meant to him, Rick spoke candidly about how it changed his perspective. “I benefitted enormously by broadening my operating arena into rural, regional and remote Australia, having my eyes opened might be the better term, after what was a long absence pursuing a CBD only career. As always, it is the people that are the most interesting and give you the most benefit.”
His confidence in ARLF’s future direction was evident. “The new board is absolutely stacked with alumni talent. With this group of directors and Matt’s new team, I’m really excited by what they will do.”
CEO Matt Linnegar acknowledged Rick’s contribution whilst welcoming the new leadership. “Rick has provided invaluable direction during a period of substantial evolution for ARLF. His counsel and steadiness have positioned us well for the future. We’re deeply grateful for his tenure and the legacy of thoughtful governance he leaves behind. At the same time, we’re equally thrilled to welcome Melissa Fletcher as our first First Nations Chair. This is a milestone moment for ARLF and one that reflects our commitment to leadership that represents the full diversity of rural Australia. With a board now comprising almost entirely of alumni – spanning from ARLP 7 through to ARLP 29 – we have exceptional depth of experience and lived understanding of what our programs offer.”
Building capability through new appointments
The refreshed board brings substantial depth of experience. Four new directors joined what is now an almost entirely alumni-led board, demonstrating both the strength of ARLF’s leadership development approach and the capability within its growing network.
Ben Barlow (ARLP 7) chairs multiple organisations including RLF AgTech Limited, ProAgni Holdings and Bioborne. His sustained involvement in agribusiness leadership provides insight into both the challenges and opportunities facing rural industries.
Dr Melanie Bish (ARLP 29) works at the intersection of education and regional development as Pro Vice-Chancellor Regional at La Trobe University, where she leads partnerships and strategy that directly affect regional communities. She also contributes to the Telstra Rural Council and several advisory boards.
Tim Ferraro (ARLP 24) has spent decades navigating organisational transformation. As Director, Asia Pacific for Land Life, he brings governance expertise alongside practical experience in carbon and biodiversity markets, combining commercial capability with purpose-driven focus.
Dr Andrew Monk (ARLP 9) offers expertise spanning agribusiness, energy, horticulture and sustainability. As Chair of Enervest and director and investor with Kialla Holdings, he brings commercial acumen with particular focus on First Nations empowerment.
Over the coming weeks we look forward to introducing each of the new board members and sharing more about their journeys and what they bring to ARLF’s governance.
Collective action strengthens ARLF
In his final message to the alumni network, Rick offered a direct invitation to stay involved. Engaging with ARLF’s new networking app, attending regional events, hosting or facilitating programmes, or ensuring ARLF features in professional profiles and conversations all contribute to collective impact. Each action, however small it might seem, strengthens the organisation’s capacity to develop leaders across rural Australia.
ARLF’s 34-year history demonstrates consistent adaptation through economic cycles, changing rural landscapes and evolving understandings of what leadership means in regional contexts. This governance transition continues that pattern.
With Melissa Fletcher as Chair and a board comprising experienced alumni spanning from ARLP 7 through to ARLP 29, ARLF enters its next phase with both fresh perspective and deep institutional knowledge. The combination positions the organisation to navigate current challenges whilst maintaining its core mission of developing leadership capability across rural, regional and remote Australia.
