Project Platypus Updates: Introducing our new Manager

May 2023

The Board of Project Platypus is thrilled to welcome a recently appointed Manager, Mark McLean! 

Mark grew up on a family farm east of Stawell and is now farming the property part-time, where the main produce is wool, lamb and cereals. The McLean family have been involved in Landcare since the 1990’s and have revegetated a significant portion of the property to improve habitat for fauna and provide shelter for stock. During the early 2000’s, Mark completed a Degree in Environmental Management at Federation University, where he learned about natural resource management. He has since worked with Agriculture Victoria for 20 years conducting research into the management of diseases of cereal crops. This included completing a PhD on a major foliar disease of barley called spot form of net blotch. More recently, Mark was managing and leading a small team on multiple industry funded research projects that provided new information to grain growers. Mark is very excited to combine his skills and knowledge of natural resource management and project management as the new manager at Project Platypus. He has jumped right in and the team has already been finding his input and management background very helpful.

Here is what Mark has to say about joining the team: “I am very excited for this opportunity to combine my skills and knowledge in project and team management with my passion for agriculture and natural resource management. After more than a decade volunteering my skills in Landcare, it is great to have the opportunity to work with Project Platypus. Project Platypus has a very exciting future ahead thanks to a lot of hard work and dedication from the staff, board and generous donors who I am looking forward to working with.”