PEN supports station staff to lead and deliver on-ground projects—backed by the PIP team and research partners. It’s designed to build capability, create space to try something new, and make sure learning happens in both directions: from research to stations, and from stations back to the industry.
Pilbara Extension Network
What is the Pilbara Extension Network?
The Pilbara Extension Network is a 12-month pilot working with seven stations across the region. It’s a chance to try a different approach—one that puts producers in the driver’s seat to shape and trial ideas that matter to their business, staff, and landscape.
PEN builds on what’s already happening in the region—good ideas, strong local knowledge, and a willingness to try new things. It’s a way to create space for that work to grow, connect, and lead to something bigger over time.
Our Role
PIP’s role in PEN is to support producers to take the lead on research and innovation that’s grounded in real station work. We’re not here to run the projects—we’re here to help shape them, connect the right people, and make sure the support is there to get things off the ground. That includes helping producers design their projects, bring in researchers or technical experts where needed, and create the kind of momentum that can lead to further investment or wider adoption. We’re focused on making the process practical—not overwhelming—and ensuring the work reflects the priorities of those involved.
We’re also keeping an eye on the bigger picture: what’s working, what’s scalable, and how this way of working can continue to grow across the region.
Our current focus
Each station has nominated a staff member to lead their project—someone who understands the business, the land, and the team. Their role is to design and deliver a project that responds to a real need or opportunity on their station. That might mean trialling a new grazing strategy, collecting data on cattle performance, improving communication and planning, or finding better ways to manage time and people.
They’re supported by the PIP team and external partners, but the project is theirs—from start to finish. They decide the focus, who to involve, how to measure success, and what they want to learn. It’s about building leadership, testing ideas, and sharing what works (and what doesn’t) in a way that’s useful to others in the region. While every project is different, they all reflect a shared goal: to make change from the inside out—practical, grounded, and led by the people who live and work in the Pilbara.
Our key community engagement activities
PEN is about more than delivering projects—it’s about building capability, connection, and momentum across the region. We’ve designed the program to give station staff space to learn, lead, and contribute to bigger conversations in the industry.
Key activities include:
- Workshops and catch-ups – Regular in-person and online sessions where participants share progress, troubleshoot challenges, and learn from each other.
- Training and coaching – Practical support with planning, communication, and leadership—tailored to each participant and project.
- On-station visits – One-on-one support to refine project direction, connect with researchers or specialists, and track progress on the ground.
- Demonstration and learning – Projects are shared with others through workshops, field days, and storytelling to help build knowledge across the region.
This is about growing the people who grow the industry. The projects matter—but so does who’s behind them, and how we stay connected.
Meet The PEN Leads
Summer Wilis
Sylvania Station
Mandy Gould
Warrawagine Station
Tahree Kammann
Hillside Station
Shanon Thompson
Wyloo Station
Kristie de Pledge
Koodarrie Station
Cam Brooks
Limestone Station
Charlotte Riseborough
Yarrie Station
Our impact (so far)
Our learnings
Our ambition for the future
Our impact (so far)
Seven stations are leading their own projects—trialling new ideas, building skills, and shaping change from the ground up. It’s early days, but the energy is strong, and the conversations are shifting.
Our learnings
Start small. Keep it practical. Make space for people to lead.
Support matters, but trust matters more.
Our ambition for the future
To grow this way of working—slowly, sustainably, and with the right people involved. We’re not building a program. We’re building momentum.
Project Delivery Partners
