INTRODUCING MARLIESE HEFFERNAN, OUR NEW CEO!
It is with great excitement that I can now announce our new CEO, Marliese Heffernan to fill my maternity leave position advertised a few months ago!
With baby Stevens due in mid-January 2020, bringing our family to 6 (3*children under 2.5 years, plus one black labrador) its almost time for me to step away for a little while. It wasn’t an easy decision to take 12 months off, however we as a family felt it is the right thing to do for our family and for Active Farmers.
We had an overwhelming 29 applications for the maternity position from an amazing bunch of people and I wish we had multiple jobs to fill! Thank you so much to everyone who applied and demonstrated so much passion for our organisation!
Marliese is a farmers wife, Mum of 3 boys, an existing Active Farmers trainer @Illabo & @Eurongilly and has recently finished up a long career as a social worker. Marliese brings a huge amount of passion and enthusiasm for her community and Active Farmers and is looking forward to the job!. So that you can get to know Marliese please enjoy reading up on our recent Q&A!
Tell us a bit about where you grew up? I was born in Sydney. Our family then moved to the Southern Highlands before settling in Cootamundra on our hobby farm where we had horses.
What did you want to be when you were a child? As a child, when I grew up I wanted to play music in a Chamber Music Orchestra.
When you left school, what did you do before settling down on the farm at Junee? I moved back to Cootamundra after finishing high school at a music school in Sydney and taught music to primary school and high school aged children. This is also when I got right into fitness and started teaching group fitness. In this time I completed a Bachelor of Social Science (Social Welfare) and worked in the Human Services for the next 15 years.
Tell us a bit about your life today? Life today is spent with my husband John and our three boys Arthur, Leo and Reuben on our families mixed farming property just outside Junee.
What do you love the most about farm life? I love the open spaces and the lifestyle farm life provides our children. I also love the work ethic our boys are learning from their Dad and Grandparents who we live with on our farm.
When and why did you join the Active Farmers team? I joined Active Farmers as a trainer in August 2018. I decided to become a trainer because I strongly support the link between physical activity and mental wellbeing. I also love our community and wanted to give back to them in some way. They have done so much for our family over the years and we are so thankful.
What is your favourite thing about Active Farmers? What I love most about Active Farmers is the social side and seeing people have fun. I also love witnessing people achieve things they didn't previously think they could.
Why did you decide to apply for the CEO job? I applied because I'm dedicated to who Active Farmers is and everything we stand for. I believe in our ability to build stronger, more resilient farming communities and want to be a part of and help drive our goals, successes and accomplishments. I also love to challenge myself and continually grow and learn.
What are you most looking forward to when starting the job? What I'm looking forward to most is meeting new people, visiting new communities and helping Active Farmers bring their future plans and goals to fruition.
Your favourite motto? When life gets busy and overwhelming my motto is 'this too shall pass'. The other motto I am reminded of that helps me push myself to achieve is 'If it doesn't challenge you, it won't change you'!
Marliese will be commencing a 4 week hand over period mid-November and I will keep everyone updated about this process. Huge welcome to Marliese on behalf of the Active Farmers Team - we think you will do a great job!!!