A Heartfelt Thank You to Naomi Lacey and a Warm Welcome to Brian Halse
The CGA Board of Directors extends its heartfelt thanks to Naomi Lacey as she steps down from the position of Board Chair.
Naomi has been an integral part of the CGA leadership team since 2015, initially serving as the NT representative and then as President from 2019, when CGA was an Incorporated Association. More recently she has served as Board Chair following CGA’s transition to a Company and registered charity.
During her tenure as Chair, Naomi oversaw a period of growth and professionalisation for the organisation. Under her leadership, CGA’s finances were stabilised, its mission defined, and its governance and organisational capacity significantly strengthened. Many members will have met Naomi in person as she travelled across the country to host CGA’s Annual State Gatherings, benefiting from her warmth, insight, and dedication. Her leadership has been instrumental in guiding CGA through a time of substantial development and progress.
We are pleased that Naomi will remain on the CGA Board as a Director, continuing to work collaboratively with her colleagues to guide the organisation’s ongoing evolution. She will also maintain her involvement in the operational side of CGA, where her experience and commitment continue to make a valuable impact.
CGA is also delighted to announce the appointment of Brian Halse as Board Chair from November. Brian brings over 25 years of experience across the agriculture, horticulture, education, and not-for-profit sectors. A seasoned CEO and non-executive director, he is currently Chief Executive Officer at Estia Foundation of Australia and has previously served as Chair of the NSW Deaf Society and Deputy Chair of Deaf Connect, where he helped steer a national merger and governance uplift across the sector. He is also Co-Founder of beHub Health, a SaaS platform connecting clinicians, hospitals and suppliers to streamline education and compliance.
Brian brings more than two decades of board and executive leadership across not-for-profit, health, education and agribusiness, with a track record in strategy, stakeholder engagement and operational turnarounds. He has served on and chaired a range of boards, bringing expertise in governance, strategic leadership, and partnership building. The Board looks forward to working with Brian as CGA continues to grow and flourish, supporting Australia’s community gardens and the people who make them thrive.
CGA Board
CGA is overseen by a Board of Non-Executive Directors who bring a range of experience and expertise to the organisation. They receive no remuneration for this work.
