Livestock SA Staff
Andrew Curtis
Chief Executive Officer
Andrew was appointed CEO of Livestock SA in May 2016. Andrew’s career includes 21 years with Primary Industries and Regions SA in a range of industry development roles including the fibre, meat, agricultural workforce and natural resource management sectors.
His most recent role was as Senior Industry Adviser, where he worked to initiate and support agribusiness development in SA. This included being the link between different stakeholders and government on initiating, designing or assessing complex industry development projects.
He spent six years as program manager of PIRSA’s workforce and infrastructure development, identifying the workforce needs in the agrifood and wine industry to identify practical strategies for addressing gaps and shortages. He also spent seven years as PIRSA’s principal officer for the fibre and meat industries.
Prior to PIRSA, he worked as a dairy extension officer for Agriculture Victoria, providing management and technical advice and facilitation support to farm production groups in south west Victoria. He also worked as a jackaroo at Dunkeld, Victoria, on a 3200ha Merino sheep and cattle property.
Andrew grew up visiting a family farm at Kerang, Victoria, which was the impetus for him to study agricultural science at university, where he also gained formal qualifications as a woolclasser.
Andrew is also CEO of the South Australian Dairyfarmers’ Association. His role is a joint position, recognising the similar issues facing livestock and dairy farmers and the synergies that can be obtained in advocating on behalf of both industries.
Contact Andrew on 08 8297 2299 and email
Deane Crabb
Policy Officer
Deane was appointed as Livestock SA executive officer in 2013, after six years as policy manager for SAFF. Deane originally started as an agricultural economist cadet with the former South Australian Department of Agriculture. He spent nearly 40 years in the SA Government in a number of roles including as an agricultural economist, rural counselling liaison officer, executive officer for the Advisory Board of Agriculture and Agricultural Bureau of SA and as a ministerial liaison officer.
Contact Deane 08 8297 2299 and email
Alison Amber
Administration Officer
Alison was appointed Administration Officer for the office of Livestock SA, SA Dairyfarmers Association and Primary Producers SA in July 2018. Alison’s career includes 10 years with the Community Bank arm of Bendigo Bank in a range of community marketing projects and Board of Director administrative support developing good governance structures across many community bank boards. She has completed the AICD (Australian Institute of Company Directors) course, along with many GIA (Governance Institute Australia) courses for Company Secretary and Treasurer roles.
Contact Alison 08 8297 2299 and email
Kelly Lill
Administration/Project Officer
Kelly Lill joined the team as an Administration/Project Officer at Livestock SA in 2014. She previously worked for 8 years as an Office Co-ordinator and Receptionist for Business School at The Adelaide University. She is currently working on a few projects which include the Back to Business Program and is helping to coordinate workshops across the state for drought affected producers.
Contact Kelly 08 8297 2299 and email
Penelope Keynes
Biosecurity Extension Officer
Pene was appointed as a Biosecurity Extension Officer in 2020 to deliver the Biosecurity Extension Project funded by PIRSA Red Meat and Wool Growth program. She grew up on a sheep and cattle property in Keyneton, and currently resides in Naracoorte. She has extensive industry experience in sheep, cattle and dairy enterprises, with a background in agricultural science and agribusiness. She recognizes that one of the key priority areas is to enhance market access, using PIRSA’s One Biosecurity program as a critical tool.
Contact Pene 08 8297 2299 and email
Shannon Logan
Project Officer
Shannon was appointed Project Officer in 2019, focusing on the SA Sheep and Beef Industry Blueprint. Shannon graduated her Bachelor of Science (Animal Science) at the University of Adelaide and has a strong background in the animal industry, working as a vet nurse for 2 years which specialized in livestock production systems. Her studies gave her a keen interest in Livestock Production, Animal Health & Welfare and Genetics which sparked her interest in the red meat and wool sector.
Contact Shannon 08 8297 2299 and email
Tom Cosentino
Executive Officer - Industry Fund Boards
Tom was appointed Executive Officer to the Sheep and Cattle Industry Fund Boards in 2020. Tom holds degrees in both Law and Commerce and was admitted to the Supreme Court of South Australia as a barrister and solicitor in 2016. Prior to this he worked as a business advisory, tax and insolvency accountant at PKF Australia. He is also engaged as a consultant by the Southern rock lobster, strawberry and dairy industries in research fund management and advisory roles. He also tutors in small business management at the University of Adelaide and owns and operates a 120-acre beef cattle operation on the Fleurieu Peninsula.
Contact Tom 08 8297 2299 and email
Greg Cock
Project Officer
Greg joined Livestock SA in January 2018 after a career in Primary Industries and Regions SA, principally in natural resources management roles, but also key roles in drought responses and executive support to the Agricultural Bureau. He grew up on a mallee farm, has an Ag Science degree from Adelaide, worked on soil and water research projects out of Loxton and Murray Bridge, was at the forefront of the Landcare Program through the Mt Lofty Ranges in the 90’s prior to many years back at the Waite in policy and legislation development.
Contact Greg 08 8297 2299 and email
Aleesha Lesiuk
Heritage Agreement Outreach Officer
Aleesha was appointed as the Heritage Agreement Outreach Officer in Oct 2020, through the Revitalising Private Conservation in South Australia program. Aleesha has completed a Degree of Environmental Science and Management through Charles Sturt University after growing up in coastal NSW. She has also lived and worked on remote National Parks in the Northern Territory as a Park Ranger for the past 5 years.
Contact Aleesha 08 8297 2299 and email
