Rob Youl OAM, a forester, worked from 1981-2009 in farm forestry, revegetation, urban ecology and community action with Victorian government departments, Greening Australia Limited and Conservation Volunteers Australia.

For 13 years, Rob was also Victorian projects officer for Landcare Australia Limited, helping develop networks and projects and source corporate and philanthropic funds, at home and interstate. He introduced several new ideas for projects that have since become part of the Landcare fabric and over the years he has written, edited or published numerous articles, pamphlets and books on Landcare and revegetation.

Whilst living in Melbourne, Rob has three properties in the St Arnaud district that he and his family manage for conservation and environmental rehabilitation gains and wildlife habitat, along with opportunities for community and cultural education.

Rob was founding chair of Australian Landcare International and is currently on the Board of Global Landcare. He has been a wonderful mentor to students across the globe and introduced many to farm forestry and Landcare, working alongside groups overseas with ventures in Africa, the Caribbean and more recently Japan.

With keen commitment, Rob has attended all of the 25 plus planting weekends associated with the Hindmarsh Biolinks program and organises monthly bird surveys around his home municipality of Port Phillip, in the city of Melbourne.

Rob was awarded the Order of Australia Medal in 2012 for service to Landcare and the environment.