Our Board

Clive Blazey OAM 

Clive and Penny Blazey founded The Diggers Club in 1978 and subsequently established The Diggers Foundation in 2011. Clive is the author of eight gardening books and was instrumental in achieving five awards for The Diggers Club for the preservation of heirloom vegetable seeds.

Together Clive and Penny worked to ensure Heronswood was listed on the Historic Buildings Register and that family-owned properties Heronswood and the Garden of St Erth, along with The Diggers Club business, were gifted by the Blazey family to The Diggers Foundation. This legacy ensures the preservation of and permanent public access to these historic properties. Under Clive's guidance both gardens feature in books referencing the world’s finest gardens and are the only organically-certified gardens open to the public in Australia.

Clive is a self-taught passionate gardener and current Diggers Club magazine editor who campaigns against corporate control of our seeds via seed patents, monoculture agriculture and its impacts on our soils, our climate and health. Clive was made a Member of the Order of Australia in the 2019 Queen’s Birthday Honours list for his “significant service to horticulture, to conservation and to the community”.

Penny Blazey

Penny is a graduate of anthropology and history who has enriched her life by serving others. She was inducted onto the Victorian Honour Roll of Women in 2005, served on her local Mornington Peninsula Council, pushed for the Mornington Peninsula to become Australia's first UNESCO-recognised urban biosphere and was President of the local branch of the National Trust.

 Penny spent fifteen years as a Probation Officer as well as playing her part in the family business and raising her family. A passionate environmentalist, she enjoys retreating to the bush and continually crusades to preserve the wilderness and promote sustainability.

Talei Kenyon

Talei was part of The Diggers Club team for 18 years, promoting and growing garden knowledge as Manager Education and Media. Talei has been a passionate gardener for as long as she can remember, inspired as a child living in Asia and the Pacific with an early introduction to exotic landscapes and food plants.

Her tertiary studies reflect her keen interest in history and interpretation of the social world. Talei has been a guide with Botanica World Discoveries since 2006, sharing her knowledge about plants, garden history and the culinary world.

Lisa Remato (Chair)

Lisa combined her passion for gardening, marketing and leadership during her 25 years with The Diggers Club. Lisa worked in all areas of the business including many years in cultivating the heirloom seed resurgence and culminating in eight years as CEO.

She now helps other small businesses scale up through her private consulting business. She has a few passion projects with Sustainable Table, in food security and establishing local food systems.

When time permits, Lisa travels the world visiting gardens and when it doesn’t, spends time in her own garden growing food, fruit, drought tolerant perennials and colourful annuals for fun. Lisa is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and brings knowledge and experience to her current role as a Director of The Diggers Foundation to ensure the environmental, gardening and membership vision of Diggers comes to pass.

Jeff Steiner

Jeff leads Mutual Trust’s Family Office, to help Australian families navigate the ever-changing landscape of intergenerational wealth. He has over 20 years’ experience in public practice and family office management. Prior to joining Mutual Trust in 2006, Jeff worked at McInnes Graham & Gibbs. He also spent several years as an accountant in both the United Kingdom and Australia. 

Jeff holds a Bachelor of Commerce from La Trobe University and is a Certified Practicing Accountant. He holds PS 146, Financial Advice (DFS1) and Investment (DFS 4) is a registered tax agent and Graduate of Australian Institute of Company Directors.