April 1, 2020
The Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC) is seeking applications from people interested in joining its Northern Region Panel, which covers Queensland and NSW.
The regional panel provides a link between growers, the research community and the GRDC and plays an important role guiding GRDC decisions about investing grower levies into industry research and development.
Applications close on April 15. The successful applicants will take up the part-time positions from September 1 and appointments will be for two years.
GRDC Managing Director Dr Steve Jefferies said the regional panel system helped ensure that GRDC’s RD&E investments delivered gains in profitability to grain growers by helping to prioritise local, regional and national grains industry issues.
“The GRDC’s primary focus is improving grower profitability and we all know there are many factors, both on and off farm, that influence growers’ returns,” Dr Jefferies said.
“The regional panels play an important role in sourcing feedback from growers and industry about regional production constraints, as well as opportunities, and bringing that information back to GRDC to help guide investment direction.
“Diversity within these panels is an integral part of the system’s success so each is comprised of primary producers, agribusiness practitioners, scientists and the GRDC’s executive managers with provision for other industry experts.”
GRDC Northern Region Panel Chair John Minogue said the panel roles required a time commitment and knowledge of the grains industry, but the experience gained was invaluable.
“I was a panel member before taking on the role of chair, and both experiences have been very rewarding from both a personal and professional perspective. But most importantly, it has been a chance to give back to the grains industry,” Mr Minogue said.
“Being on the panel has given me the opportunity to go beyond my farm gate and engage with some of Australia’s most respected researchers, along with some of the industry’s most progressive growers and agronomists.
“From an industry perspective it has given me a chance to play a role in working with my fellow panel members and GRDC staff to help ensure grower levies are directed into RD&E that has a meaningful and profitable impact on-farm.
Mr Minogue said the Northern Region Panel positions were ideally suited to people who understood the challenges and opportunities associated with farming systems in Queensland and NSW and were good communicators with a sound knowledge of the grains industry.
“The GRDC’s priority has always been to attract a diversity of expertise and knowledge to bring different perspectives and views.”
The Northern Regional Panel currently consists of chair John Minogue (Barmedman, NSW), Roy Hamilton (Rand, NSW), Graham Spackman (Emerald), Arthur Gearon (Chinchilla), Tony Hamilton (Forbes), Bruce Watson (Parkes), Roger Bolte (West Wyalong), Andrew McFadyen (Lake Cargelligo), Dr Jo White (Bundaberg), Peter McKenzie (Quirindi), Dr Steve Jefferies (Canberra).
Current members of the Panel are eligible to re-apply for a position.
- For more information, visit the GRDC website
