Tessa Chartres is the 2024 Zanda McDonald Award winner for Australia, in this episode she sits down with host Oli Le Lievre to chat about her background, her role as the General Manager of Business Development at Murray Irrigation Limited (MIL). She highlights the impact of the drought on regional communities and the importance of long-term thinking in preserving agricultural assets for future generations. Tess also shares her involvement with as the Chair of the Southwest Music Regional Conservatorium and her vision for the town of Deniliquin in Southern NSW, emphasising the need for collaboration and positive thinking. Other topics discussed: Long-term thinking is crucial for preserving agricultural assets and ensuring the viability of regional communities for future generations.Collaboration and positive thinking are essential for solving the challenges faced by regional communities and the agricultural industry.The arts, such as music and culture, play a vital role in making regional communities attractive places to live and work.The Zanda McDonald Award provides valuable networking opportunities and a platform for sharing knowledge and experiences.Chapters 00:00 Introduction and Background 01:09 The Big Battle of Easter - The Deni Rams vs Finley Cats 03:27 Transition to Deniliquin and MIL 05:12 Impact of Drought on Deniliquin  06:24 Initial Takeaways from MIL 08:04 Overview of Murray Irrigation Limited 09:48 Importance of Long-Term Thinking 11:00 The Future of Regional Communities 12:38 The Role of Southwest Music Regional Conservatorium 13:49 Vision for Deniliquin as a Town 16:18 The Zanda Mentoring Trip and Areas of Interest 21:04 The Importance of Collaboration and Positive Thinking