Meet our Team
We specialise in Education and Training Services for the Agricultural Sector!
For 30 years, the Rural Industries Skill Training team has been dedicated to delivering quality training across accredited and non-accredited programs.
Discover more about all our current team members listed below.
Bill Hamill
Chief Executive Officer
Bill is passionate ambassador for rural Australia and delivering affordable access to quality and industry aligned education to the agricultural sector and young people interested in agriculture. Bill has held a number of board and senior management positions in national companies focusing on rural and regional Australia. He has successfully overseen significant growth and diversification for RIST over the past twenty years. Bill was appointed to the newly established Victorian Skills Authority Advisory Board in 2021. Bill also holds positions on the Victorian committee of the Independent Tertiary Education Council of Australia (ITECA) and is a member of ITECA’s national VET committee.
Helen Read
Operations Manager
Helen has been with RIST since 2015 and oversees the student management and compliance systems for the organisation. Helen manages administration support for the Vocational Training program, quality management systems, statistical reports and works closely with the Chief Executive Officer in operations, marketing and promotion of RIST programs.
Raelene Laidlaw
Program Coordinator - Wool & Shearing
Raelene joined the organisation in 2012 to assist with the Wool Classing program. Raelene has had extensive experience in the wool industry both as a wool classer and trainer. She completed a Master Classer in 2009. Raelene coordinates the Certificate IV in Wool Classing, the Certificate III in Clip Preparation and administers RIST Shearing and Wool Overview Programs. Raelene is a National Wool Handler judge.
Bec Malseed
National Program Manager
Bec joined the RIST team in February 2017 as our Certificate IV and Diploma Coordinator in the Grazing and Dairy sectors. Prior to this she worked as administration support in the livestock veterinarian industry. In 2019 Bec accepted a new challenge to manage the Lifetime Ewe Management Program. Bec has further grown her position at RIST becoming the National Program Manager and releasing additional training courses Heifers for Profit and Weaners for Profit. Bec is passionate about assisting farmers to achieve best practice skills through our training programs at RIST and building networking opportunities that bring industry wide benefits to producers.
Tamara Hardy
Program Coordinator - Certificate II & III in Agriculture
Tamara joined the organisation in 2017 and is a Program Coordinator in the traineeship Team, where she coordinates Certificate II and III in Agriculture students. Tamara has an Advanced Diploma in Farm Management as well as extensive industry experience. This includes working for many years in red meat and pasture research with the DPI in Hamilton as well as operating the family farm. Tamara is passionate about the Agricultural Industry and is keen to share her knowledge and enthusiasm with the students. Tamara and her family have a small acerage in Macarthur as well as a cropping property in the Wimmera.
John Byron
Program Coordinator - Certificate II & III in Agriculture
John joined RIST as a Program Coordinator in April 2022 prior to this he worked in agricultural research for 20 years as a Technical Officer for Agriculture Victoria at the Hamilton research centre working across a wide range of research projects which included pasture, wool, lamb, beef, and cropping. John also operated a dairy farm at Hawkesdale for 15 years before moving to Hamilton he’s been involved in agriculture since leaving school he has knowledge in pasture management from working in the dairy industry and years of experience working with livestock and a wide range of farm machinery.
Elle Bryant
Certificate IV & Diploma Trainer
Elle joined the RIST team in July 2024, as the Certificate IV and Diploma in Agriculture program coordinator. Elle grew up on a sheep and beef farm in New Zealand. She went on to gain a Diploma for Rural Veterinary Technicians in 2016 before moving to South West Vic in 2019 to work as a Large Animal Technician in Timboon. In Elle’s spare time she enjoy’s hanging out with friends, exploring new places and playing netball for the Timboon Demons.
Andrea Speirs
Administration Officer
Andrea joined the RIST team in March 2024. Andrea Speirs is an experienced administrator skilled in business management, reporting, and stakeholder relations. With a strong background in administration, policy writing, and budgeting, she has most recently held key roles with the Country Fire Authority. Andrea holds a Master of Arts in Writing and Literature and is pursuing a WHS certification. In addition, Andrea has strong ties to agriculture and has resided on a farm in the local area for the past 26 years.
Samantha Dridan
Compliance Officer
Samantha joined RIST in September 2018 to provide administration assistance in the curriculum and compliance functions within the operations. Samantha has an advanced Diploma of Agriculture and has been working in the wool and sheep industry for a number of years.
Tara Rich
Marketing Lead
Tara joined the RIST team in March 2024. A fourth generation farmer, she lives on her family owned cropping and sheep enterprise in the West Wimmera with her husband and three children. With a background in Policing before completing a Bachelor of Business (Management), Tara has worked in Communications roles with Local Government and State Government organisation’s and most recently, in digital marketing as an Agricultural marketing specialist. With a passion to authentically showcase the people of Australian Agriculture, she is excited to share more stories of past and present RIST students, staff and trainers, and to continue to promote Agriculture and Wool as incredible career pathways for people of all stages and ages to enter. If you would like to connect with Tara to promote a story, event or idea, please send an email to trich@rist.edu.au