Robyn's Career Summary
In July 2014, Robyn commenced as Principal Consultant and Director of Livestock Environmental and Planning. From 1994 to July 2014, she was a Principal Consultant and Director of Feedlot Services Australia Pty Ltd trading as FSA Consulting. In both these roles Robyn has specialised in environmental management for intensive livestock facilities
Robyn has prepared numerous EIS, environmental management plans and effluent and manure reuse plans for individual enterprises. She has also undertaken a range of industry-funded environmental research and development. Robyn was Project Leader or co-developer for:
For several years she was the National Coordinator for the APL environmental training program and the Victoria / Tasmania State Coordinator for the APL Environmentally Sustainable Piggeries EMS program. She is an APL EnviroCheck Assessor. She is a member of the APL Specialist Group 5 – Environmental Management which oversees the direction of piggery environmental research.
From 1990 to 1993 Robyn was Beef Husbandry Officer with Queensland Department of Primary Industries Feedlot Services group. She worked on two Meat Research Corporation-funded Feedlot Waste Management programs. These major research projects studied the environmental impact of cattle feedlots; implemented changes to improve environmental performance; and provided data to develop feedlot guidelines.
QUALIFICATIONS
FIELDS OF SPECIAL COMPETENCE
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
July 2014 to Date
Principal Consultant and Director of Livestock Environmental and Planning.
February 1994 to June 2014
Principal Consultant and Director of FSA Consulting. Her experience includes:
- beef feedlots (up to 80,000 head capacity)
- dairy feedlots (up to 4000 head capacity)
- piggeries (up to 142,000 standard pig units capacity)
- lamb feedlots (up to 10,000 lambs capacity)
- abattoirs and other industries.
- investigating efficacy of piggery solids separators
- trials comparing different composting regimes for spent bedding from deep litter piggeries
- developing indicators of environmental sustainability for beef cattle feedlots and piggeries
- developing NRM indicators for red meat supply chain LCAs
- investigating the potential to treat feedlot effluent for reuse as stock drinking water
- examining the relationship between feedlot manure management and pathogen transfer.
- reviewing on-farm food safety best practice for the beef industry
- nutrient extraction from piggery spent bedding and pond sludge
- estimating the quantities of nutrients in various organic waste streams nationally and mapping the location of these nutrients as part of a wastes to fertilisers project.
January 1990 - January 1994
Robyn was employed as the Beef Feedlot Husbandry Officer for the Department of Primary Industries. She participated in a multi-disciplinary team undertaking two Meat Research Corporation funded "Feedlot Waste Management" research projects.
Robyn investigated the:
Robyn participated in three major feedlot committees:
Robyn co-ordinated training and presented information for:
Overseas Experience
Robyn has prepared numerous EIS, environmental management plans and effluent and manure reuse plans for individual enterprises. She has also undertaken a range of industry-funded environmental research and development. Robyn was Project Leader or co-developer for:
- National Environmental Guidelines for Piggeries
- National Environmental Guidelines for Rotational Outdoor Piggeries
- Environmental Principles for Piggeries training package
- Environmental Management Plans for Piggeries training package
- Environmental Management Plan electronic templates for indoor and rotational outdoor piggeries
- Australian Pork Ltd (APL) APIQü Free Range Standards
- EMS standards for the pig and meat chicken industries
- Piggery Manure and Effluent Guidelines
- Beef Cattle Feedlots: Waste Management and Utilisation Manual
- Environmental Guidelines for the Australian Egg Industry
- Guidelines for Victorian Dairy Feedpads and Freestalls
For several years she was the National Coordinator for the APL environmental training program and the Victoria / Tasmania State Coordinator for the APL Environmentally Sustainable Piggeries EMS program. She is an APL EnviroCheck Assessor. She is a member of the APL Specialist Group 5 – Environmental Management which oversees the direction of piggery environmental research.
From 1990 to 1993 Robyn was Beef Husbandry Officer with Queensland Department of Primary Industries Feedlot Services group. She worked on two Meat Research Corporation-funded Feedlot Waste Management programs. These major research projects studied the environmental impact of cattle feedlots; implemented changes to improve environmental performance; and provided data to develop feedlot guidelines.
QUALIFICATIONS
- Bachelor of Applied Science (Rural Technology) Uni of Qld (Gatton College)
- Master of Business Administration (Environmental Management) Uni Sthn Qld
- Certified Practicing Agriculturalist (CPAg)
- Certified Professional Soil Scientist (CPSS)
- Environmental Auditor (Associate Auditor)
FIELDS OF SPECIAL COMPETENCE
- developing environmental guidelines, codes of practice and standards for intensive livestock industries.
- preparing EIS and environmental management plans (EMP) for intensive livestock industries and abattoirs including design of
- assessment of environmental performance of intensive livestock facilities.
- developing, organising and delivering agricultural and environmental training.
- undertaking intensive livestock environmental research.
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
July 2014 to Date
Principal Consultant and Director of Livestock Environmental and Planning.
February 1994 to June 2014
Principal Consultant and Director of FSA Consulting. Her experience includes:
- preparing planning applications, EIS and EMPs for:
- beef feedlots (up to 80,000 head capacity)
- dairy feedlots (up to 4000 head capacity)
- piggeries (up to 142,000 standard pig units capacity)
- lamb feedlots (up to 10,000 lambs capacity)
- abattoirs and other industries.
- designing effluent treatment and reuse plans for intensive livestock facilities, abattoirs and sewage treatment plants using
- initiating and undertaking industry funded environmental research e.g.
- investigating efficacy of piggery solids separators
- trials comparing different composting regimes for spent bedding from deep litter piggeries
- developing indicators of environmental sustainability for beef cattle feedlots and piggeries
- developing NRM indicators for red meat supply chain LCAs
- investigating the potential to treat feedlot effluent for reuse as stock drinking water
- examining the relationship between feedlot manure management and pathogen transfer.
- reviewing on-farm food safety best practice for the beef industry
- nutrient extraction from piggery spent bedding and pond sludge
- estimating the quantities of nutrients in various organic waste streams nationally and mapping the location of these nutrients as part of a wastes to fertilisers project.
- co-developing APL Environmental Principles for Piggeries and Environmental Management Plans for Piggeries training packages and National Coordinator for these (Jan 2000 to June 2005). She is an APL Technical Expert / Facilitator for APL environmental training and has conducted numerous workshops throughout Australia. She trained NSW DECC staff in the environmental initiatives of the pig industry.
- developing EMS standards for pig and meat chicken industries and APIQü FR standards for the pig industry. Training APL State Coordinators and Auditors in piggery ESP EMS and APIQü FR standards.
- Project Leader: APL National Environmental Guidelines for Piggeries.
- Project Leader: APL National Environmental Guidelines for Rotational Outdoor Piggeries
- Project Leader: revision of Victorian Code of Practice Piggeries.
- Project Leader: draft Australian Pork Industry National Environmental Sustainability Strategy 2010-2015
- Co-developer of APL’s EnviroCheck. EnviroCheck is used to assess the performance of existing piggeries against the National Environmental Guidelines for Piggeries.
- Project Leader: Intensive Animal Industries Regulatory Framework Review (DEPI Victoria)
- Project Leader: MLA Beef Cattle Feedlots: Waste Management and Utilisation manual
- Project Leader: APL Piggery Manure and Effluent Guidelines
January 1990 - January 1994
Robyn was employed as the Beef Feedlot Husbandry Officer for the Department of Primary Industries. She participated in a multi-disciplinary team undertaking two Meat Research Corporation funded "Feedlot Waste Management" research projects.
Robyn investigated the:
- size, distribution and environmental management of Australian feedlots
- effect of diet type on cattle performance and faeces characteristics. This data was developed into a feedlot nutrient minimisation strategy.
- factors influencing odour generation from feedlot pads. These trials showed the importance of time since wetting, diet, pad temperature and pad pH on odour.
- nutrient dynamics in feedlots. This led to the development of a phosphorus mass balance model and the Beefbal model that predicts feedlot nutrient output.
- water intake patterns of cattle in Queensland feedlots.
Robyn participated in three major feedlot committees:
- DPI Feedlot Liaison Committee - focussed on animal health and production.
- DPI Queensland Feedlot Management Program - aimed to improve the profitability and operation of feedlots
- Australian Lot Feeders' Association (ALFA) / DPI "Designing Better Feedlots" Workshop Committee
Robyn co-ordinated training and presented information for:
- DPI Queensland Feedlot Management Program Seminar Series. Nine venues.
- DPI Feedlot Services "Workshop on Agricultural Odours".
- DPI-CES Feedlot Hand Training Course.
- DPI Feedlot Services "Odour Update '92".
- ALFA/DPI "Designing Better Feedlots" (September 1993). ALFA AGM, two-day workshop (three overseas speakers), two-day feedlot tour. Committee secretary.
Overseas Experience
- 1994: South Africa and Botswana consultancy visiting feedlot and helping to develop a feedlot layout and costing.
- 2006: USA study tour meeting feedlot environmental researchers and visiting feedlots.
- 2010: NZ study tour on biogas collection from piggery ponds and GHG research.
