Michelle Young
Chief Executive Officer, National Landcare Network
Michelle brings with her a wealth of experience in environmental leadership, interdisciplinary research, and community engagement. With a career spanning over two decades, she has consistently demonstrated a deep commitment to sustainable land management, rural and regional development, and collaborative innovation.
Michelle served as Project Director of Sustainable Farms at the Australian National University, where she led a nationally acclaimed initiative supporting farmers with science-based tools to enhance biodiversity and landscape function. Under her leadership, Sustainable Farms built strong partnerships with over 60 regional organisations and reached more than 13,000 landholders through field days and webinars. Her work has directly contributed to improving profitability, well-being, and conservation outcomes across eastern Australia.
Michelle’s career also includes senior roles at the Murray-Darling Basin Authority, The National Institute of Rural and Regional Australia, NSW Health and the Bureau of Rural Sciences, where she led strategic planning, evaluation, and policy development projects. Her academic background includes a Master of Philosophy in Sociology from ANU, and she has co-authored several influential publications on rural futures, biodiversity, and food security.
Michelle is known for her strategic thinking, creativity, and collaborative leadership style. She is passionate about translating research into practical solutions and empowering communities to care for their land.