THE FACILITATORS
| Chris Alenson |
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| Chris possesses than 25 years of active involvement in the organic/sustainable agricultural industry. He has delivered numerous lectures at TAFE colleges, universities, conferences, soil seminars for the Department of Primary Industries, Soil Biodiversity for the Department of Conservation and Sustainability, Land Care workshops and field days in Victoria and interstate, and written over 100 articles for magazines, journals and newspapers. A member of various industry committees, Chris has been a member of the Rural Industries and Research Development Corporation (RIRDC) R & D committee for the organic industry which is responsible for allocating research grants from 1997-2003. Chris consults in sustainable/ecological agriculture specialising in assessment of on farm sustainability. He has consulted to a wide range of agricultural including wheat, dairy,viticulture and horticulture enterprises. He ran a small certified organic farm with his family at Macclesfield Victoria. Chris has an ongoing commitment to the development of a safer, more environmentally friendly and more socially just food supply system. He has a Graduate Diploma in Sustainable Agriculture, Orange Agricultural College, University of Sydney and has completed a Masters in Sustainable Agriculture in 2001. |
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Richard Lester |
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| Richard has worked in education in the public and
private sectors for 15 years in both Australia and Japan. He completed
his undergraduate degree majoring in Chemistry, and has taught
general science, chemistry and Japanese, at both primary and secondary
levels. Richard joined the NCS in the middle of 2008 to deliver
the Carbon Accounting course and is now widely recognised as an
expert in this emerging field. |
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| Jose Raul Chavez |
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| Jose R. Chavez is an Australian citizen, born in El Salvador, Central America. He completed his BSc Biol at the National University of El Salvador and he has dedicated a significant part of his life to research and development of natural and constructed environments. Jose’s industry involvement includes the innovative development of integrated and intensive aquatic production systems into sustainable systems. He is at the present time focused on sustainable energy and water management. Jose’s dedication and academic qualities enabled him to hold the privilege of becoming a United Nations/FAO Scholarship holder in 1986.He complete relevant research and development studies at the Regional Latin American Research and Training Centre for Aquaculture, Sao Paulo Brazil. Jose has produced many papers on the management of aquatic environments for local publications and international journals. He also holds a PhD in Ecology and Environment gained from the Faculty of Science and Technology at Deakin University. His dedication to traditional and integrated sustainability, together with his passion for the environment and the people in it, has led him to a realistic and holistic approach to sustainable vocational education. Jose is currently teaching at Swinburne University NCS and has completed TAA and WPAT qualifications as well as an ICT course for Teachers. Jose presently holds the responsibility of being the E-learning Leader for the Department of Public Safety and Sciences at Swinburne. |
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