About RIRDC

Advisory Committees

RIRDC is committed to working with industry to deliver the research and development outcomes that rural Australia needs.  We work hand in hand with our advisory committees (listed below) to decide on research priorities and to make investment decisions each year.

Aboriginal and Torres Islanders
Mr Joe Ross (Chairperson), Mr Ken Moore (Senior Research Manager), Mr Joseph Elu, Ms Leann Wilson, Mr Rowan Foley, Ms Kerrynne Liddle, Mr Roderick Burke, Mr Alister Trier, Cr Ken Saunders

Bioenergy, Bioproducts and Energy
Mr Brendan George (Chairperson), Prof Peter Gresshoff, Mr Griff Rose, Mr Colin Stucley, Dr Stephen Schuck, Ms Julie Bird (Senior Research Manager, Ms Catherine Poyner (Program Coordinator)

Buffalo
Mr Douglas Robertson (Chairperson), Mr Mitch Humphries, Mr Michael Swart, Julie Bird (Senior Research Manager), Ms June Murphy (Program Coordinator)

Chicken Meat
Mr Gary Sansom (Chairperson), Dr Pat Blackall, Mr Rod Jenner, Dr Tom Grimes, Dr Ron MacAlpine, Dr Margaret MacKenzie, Mr Tim Walker, Dr Peter Groves, Dr Vivien Kite (RIRDC, Research Manager), Dr Elisa Heylin (RIRDC, Program Development and Communications Coordinator), Helen Moffett (RIRDC, Project Manager)

Collaborative Partnership for Farming and Fishing Health and Safety
Mr Gordon Gregory (Chairperson), Mr Ken Moore (Senior Research Manager),  Mr Tom McCue, Ms Lynnette Hill, Ms Bianca Cairns, Ms Helen Dugdale, Ms Jo-Anne Ruscoe

Deer Industry
Ms Nola Anderson (Chairperson), Julie Bird (Senior Research Manager), June Murphy (Program Coordinator)

Essential Oils and Plant Extracts
Mr Richard Davis (Chairperson),Dr Erich Lassack, Dr Chris Read, Dr Reg Lehmann, Mr John Fergeus, Ms Alison Saunders (Senior Research Manager), Ms June Murphy (Program Coordinator)

Fodder Crops
Dr Andrew Walter (Chairperson), Mr Charlie Williams, Ms Fiona Mackie, Mr Nick Smyth, Mr Peter Phillipsen, Mr Steve Woods, Dr John de Majnik (Senior Research Manager), Ms Alison Robb (Program Coordinator)

Honeybee

Mr Des Cannon (Chairperson), Prof Ben Oldroyd, Mr Bruce White, Dr Boris Baer, Dr Michael Hornitzky, Dr Dave Alden (RIRDC, Senior Research Manager), Helen Moffett (RIRDC, Project Manager)

Horses

Dr John McCaffrey (Chairperson), Prof Keith Hughes, Ass/Prof Guy Lester, Dr Craig Suann, Mr Leslie Young, Ms Elizabeth Owens, Mr Andrew Baddock, Dr Nigel Perkins (External Research Manager), Dr Dave Alden (RIRDC, Senior Research Manager), Helen Moffett (RIRDC, Project Manager)

Kangaroo
Mr Brian Topper (Chairperson), Mr Peter Absalom, Mr Greg Bates, Mr Ray Borda, Mr Lindsay Packer, Ms Julie Bird (Senior Research Manager), Ms June Murphy (Program Coordinator)

New Animal Products
Dr Ian McCausland (Chairperson), Dr Doug Black, Mrs Julie Cameron, Mr Peter Gowland, Mrs Lillian Lever, Dr Peter McInnes, Ms Julie Bird (Senior Research Manager), Ms June Murphy (Program Coordinator)

New Plant Products
Dr Tony Hamilton (Chairperson), Mr Alan Davey (Senior Research Manager), Mr John Roach, Dr Ian Chivers, Ms Sue Fairley, Ms Martha Shepherd, Ms Alison Saunders (Senior Research Manager)

Organics 
Ewan Colquhoun (Chairperson), Christine Hawkins; Andre Leu; Dave Alden, Helen Moffett (Program Coordinator)

Pasture Seeds
Mrs Penny Hendy (Chairperson), Mr Jock Kreitals, Mr Tim Schultz, Mr Raymond Christinat, Mr Raymond Marshall, Prof Alex Lazenby, Dr John de Majnik (Senior Research Manager), Ms Alison Robb (Program Coordinator)

Pollination
Mr Gerald Martin (Chairperson), Mr Lindsay Bourke, Mr Des Cannon, Mr Ben Brown, Mr Kim James, Mr Trevor Monson, Dr Saul Cunningham, Dr Dave Alden (RIRDC, Senior Research Manager), Helen Moffett (RIRDC, Project Manager)

Rice
Mr Ian Mason (Chairperson), Dr Alastair Grieve, Mr Peter Sheppard, Prof Don Marshall, Mr Mark Bonetti, Mr Alan Walsh, Mr Andrew Hicks, Mr Martin van der Sluys, Mr Paul Martin, Mrs Gillian Kirkup, Mr Ben Ovenden, Dr John de Majnik (Senior Research Manager), Ms Alison Robb (Program Coordinator)

Rare Natural Animal Fibres
Dr Carol Mathew (Chairperson), Dr Andrew James, Dr Doug Stapleton, Fiona Vanderbeek, Ms Julie Bird (Senior Research Manager), Ms June Murphy (Program Coordinator)

Tea Tree Oil
Ms Patricia Bolster (Chairperson), Mr Italo Pellizzer, Mr Richard Davis, Mr Reg Lehmann, Mr Steen Jorsal,  Alison Saunders (Senior Research Manager), Ms Catherine Poyner (Program Coordinator)

Weeds (National Weeds and Productivity Research Program) 

Hon. John Kerin, AM, (Chairperson), Dr Rohan Rainbow, John Thorp, Dr. John Virtue, Professor Roger Cousens, Virginia Robinson, Matthew Kennewell, Dr Jeanine Baker, Mr Phil Reader, Craig Burns (RIRDC Managing Director),  Ken Moore (Senior Research Manager), Ms Marianne Anderson (Program Coordinator)

Wildflowers 
Mr Mark Irwin (Chairperson), Mr Greg Lamont, Mr Lodi Pameijer, Ms Audrey Gerber,  Ms Alison Saunders (Senior Research Manager), Ms June Murphy (Program Coordinator)