THE Victoria Drought Resilience Adoption and Innovation Hub (Vic Hub) is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr Sara Hely as its new Director.

Dr Hely brings a wealth of experience in research and farming, along with a deep understanding of the challenges posed by drought to rural Victorian communities.

Fiona Best, Regional Director of the Vic Hub, which is funded by the Australian Government’s Future Drought Fund (FDF), expressed her enthusiasm for the new leadership.

Ms Best, who is also CEO of the Vic Hub’s North-West Node, Birchip Cropping Group, said, “I am thrilled to welcome Sara as the new director.

"Her strong commitment to fostering positive change and building greater drought resilience across farms, communities, and landscapes makes her an exceptional choice for this important role.

"I look forward to working closely with her to deliver outstanding outcomes for the region.”

Dr Hely said she is committed to building on the solid foundation laid by the previous leadership team, expressing gratitude for their contributions.

“I want to take the time to understand how the Vic Hub arrived at where it is today, the achievements to date, and what we aim to accomplish in the next three, six and 12 months.

"This will involve striking a balance between listening and acting, with the goal of creating a long-term sustainable and impactful Hub.”

Reflecting on the broader context, Dr Hely said, “In its Budget statement earlier this year, the Australian Government committed $561.3 million over eight years to build on the Future Drought Fund’s success.

"This renewed commitment will allow refining of existing programs and developing new initiatives.

“Similarly at the Vic Hub, we will build on past successes, developing new projects through consultation and continuing the work that began four years ago.

"We aim to help farmers plan, manage diversification and set goals to adapt to a changing climate.

"Additionally, we’ll continue to help regional communities in managing drought and other climate risks.”

Under Dr Hely’s leadership, the Vic Hub will remain focused on empowering regional stakeholders to address the challenges of drought and climate variability with locally tailored solutions.

“As the Government has emphasised, helping regional and rural communities prepare for drought is a key focus of the FDF, and through careful listening and strategic action, the Vic Hub can drive impactful outcomes, helping farmers and regional communities prepare for and become resilient through drought.”

The Vic Hub is also pleased to welcome a further two excellent appointments to the headquarters team: Rhiannan McPhee as Adoption Co-ordinator and Priscilla Pomeroy as Finance Administrator.

Dr Hely said their expertise will further strengthen the Hub’s capacity to deliver on its mission.