Meet the team behind the Victorian Serrated Tussock Working Party.
As committee members we represent stakeholder interests including landowners, researchers, and local government. Our role encompasses governance and oversight for VSTWP projects, working collaboratively with a diverse range of stakeholders to guide the implementation of the VSTWP Strategy. We are committed to reducing the impact of serrated tussock on Victoria’s economy, environment, and communities. Together, we can make a difference.
Lance Jennison is a resident of Gembrook and joined the VSTWP in 2016 after 11 years as a volunteer and Deputy Chair of the Grow West implementation committee.
These responsibilities included creating major bio links, establishing healthy soils and waterways in the Upper Werribee catchment. Lance is a current member of Friends of the Gembrook Park, where he contributes to the management of invasive species including improving biodiversity.
He is also a current member of the Victorian Invasive Pest Advisory Board. Lance has held Director positions on Port Phillip and Westernport Catchment
Management Authority Board, Victorian National Parks and the Reference Areas Advisory Councils.
Lance is a past member of the Werribee Gorge and Long Forest Friends group and was responsible for managing the native plant nursery and supporting weed removal programs. He is also a former volunteer with the Friends of Werribee River through
Bacchus Marsh and inaugural Chair of Friends of Lerderderg Gorge.
He is also a former Director on the Board for Bacchus Marsh/Bendigo Community Bank. His past employment was in emergency and operational management and included supporting Local Councils across Victoria in meeting their emergency legislative
responsibilities, additionally he audited Councils risk and flood plans.
He has supported rural farming communities in recovery during his roles with Blaze Aid. Lance has represented the VSTWP at the Australian Bio Security awards with other Community Pest Management Groups that he continues to support. He continues to manage a property business and has previously supported a family farm in East Gippsland.
He holds military, state and local Governments service recognition awards. Lance brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the VSTWP and continues to advocate for the management of serrated tussock.
Peter has been a member of the Victorian Serrated Tussock Working Party since 1998 and was Chair of the group from 2005 to 2008 and again in 2015.
He has lived in the Barrabool Hills for 24 years, currently residing on a 70 acre property which has been set up for breeding horses.
Peter is a rural property consultant for RT Edgar and was the manager of the Roxby Merino Stud and South Roxby property of 3500 acres at Gnarwarre from 1989 to 1998 which ran 10,000 fine wool sheep.
He is an inaugural member of Barrabool Hills Landcare, Chair of Barwon Recreational Motorcycling, and Life Member of the Geelong Agricultural and Pastoral Society.
Marianne has a background in Agriculture, graduating with a Bachelor of Agricultural Science from Lincoln University in New Zealand in 1984.
She worked for a few years as an Extension Officer with the Ministry of Agriculture. She grew up on a farm in an area of the South Island where Serrated Tussock (Nasella) is a significant problem.
She met Lance Jennison through Bushwalking and expressed an interest in getting involved in the VSTWP. Marianne lives in inner city Melbourne and love getting out in the rural districts of Victoria. Her trips overseas usually involve walks in countries such as Spain and Turkey. Argentina might be next.
Lachlan recently joined the VSTWP to represent the Wimmera region and educate the community around the Ararat catchment. He currently works for Project Platypus on a number of project.
Project Platypus was established in 1994 when it became obvious that the huge land and water degradation problems in the area were too extensive to be managed by individual landholders and Landcare groups. Project Platypus acts as an umbrella organisation for the eleven Landcare groups of the Upper Wimmera Catchment to deliver large scale projects.
Lachlan manages a small farm at the base of the Grampians National Park and enjoys restoring the landscape he is managing.
Dr Ali Bajwa is a Senior Academic at La Trobe University in Melbourne where he is engaged in weed science and agronomy teaching, research, outreach and service. His research focus is on weed ecology, climate change interactions and integrated weed management. He has published over 60 highly cited scientific papers, presented at several national and international conferences and received many awards and distinctions. In 2023, Ali joined the Victorian Serrated Tussock Working Party to engage with the community in delivering positive outcomes for fight against one of our worst weeds. He brings a wealth of knowledge through his leadership of two major projects on 'Cooperative Management and Best Practice Adoption of Invasive Grasses in NSW'. He is keen to inform policy and help weed management by filling the R&D gaps. He can be contacted at a.bajwa@latrobe.edu.au
Joe is a resident near Bacchus Marsh and has lived there for two decades.
Over that time he has seen the devastating effect that Serrated Tussock has on native grasses and pastures and the result of its infestation if left unchecked.
Joe is keen to lend his experience in dealing with serrated tussock over the past two decades and help the VSTWP on events and strategic direction.
Vanessa is passionate about protecting the natural environment and supporting farmers to control noxious weeds. In her role at Wyndham City Council, she assists landowners in the core infestation to mitigate the impact and spread of Serrated Tussock, recognizing the significant challenges involved.
With a decade of experience in managing native grasslands and five years spent helping private landholders control invasive species, Vanessa has developed a comprehensive understanding of the issue.
A passionate advocate for native grasses, Vanessa promotes their use and adaptability as a powerful tool in the battle against Serrated Tussock.