Jenni Birch was born in Victoria in 1945 and graduated BA, Dip Ed From Melbourne University, majoring in politics. She taught for the Victorian Department of Education for two years. After she moved to New South Wales she worked as a Community Liaison officer for the New South Wales Department of Education, and more recently, has been a part-time teacher of literacy and numeracy at the Moree College of TAFE.

She is married to Peter Birch and they have two children. In 1983 the Birches settled out of Moree in northwestern New South Wales and in partnership with Will and Margi Kirkby, established Gwydir Grove Olive Oil. Peter held a Churchill Fellowship in 2002. And Jenni accompanied him on his study of olive growing and processing. By 2005 they had established the largest table olive processing plant in Australia.

Gwydir Grove Olives has participated in the Anuga International Food Fair in Cologne, Germany and been part of the NSW Exhibition at the Fancy Food Show in San Francisco in January 2005, and is expected to exhibit in Seoul, South Korea in October-November 2005.

Sources used to compile this entry: Jenni Birch, 6 October 2005; Sydney Morning Herald, Good Living. 15-21 February 2000.