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.

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

Buffalo
Mr Douglas Robertson (Chair), Mr Mitch Humphries, Mr Michael Swart, Dr Peter McInnes (Research Manager), Ms June Murphy (Program Coordinator)

Kangaroo
Mr Brian Topper (Chair), Mr Peter Absalom, Mr Greg Bates, Mr Ray Borda, Mr Lindsay Packer, Dr Peter McInnes (Research Manager), Ms June Murphy (Program Coordinator)

New Plant Products
Dr Roslyn Prinsley (Chair), Dr David Bennett, Prof Rob Clark, Prof Robert Henry, Dr Tony Hamilton, Dr Rob Fletcher, Mr John Roach, Mr Alan Davey (Senior Research Manager), Ms Alison Saunders (Research Manager)

Chicken Meat
Mr Gary Sansom (Chairperson), Mr Rod Jenner, Dr Tom Grimes, Dr Margaret MacKenzie, Dr Ron MacAlpine, Dr Pat Blackall, Mr Tim Walker, Dr Peter Groves, Ms Megan McGhie, Dr Vivien Kite (Research Manager), Dr Elisa Heylin (Program Development and Communications Coordinator), Ms Margie Thomson (General Manager - Established Industries), Ms Helen Moffett (Program Coordinator)

Collaborative Partnership for Farming and Fishing Health and Safety
Ms Margie Thomson (Chair and Senior Research Manager), Mr Tom McCue, Ms Cawley Hennings, Ms Alma Quick, Ms Bianca Bosely, Ms Helen Dugdale, Ms Jo-Anne Ruscoe, Ms Vikki Clingan, Mr Simon Norcott (Senior Program Coordinator)

Global Competitiveness
Mr Dennis Hussey (Chair), Ms Margie Thomson (General Manager - National Rural Issues), Mr David Shearer, Mr Bill Slattery, Mr Craig Burns, Mr Tim Yeend, Mr Charlie McElhone, Mr Simon Winter (Research Manager), Ms Helen Moffett (Program Coordinator)

Rural People & Learning Systems 
Margie Thomson (Chair, Senior Research Manager RIRDC), Mr Dean Hargreaves, Ms Elizabeth Bennett, Ms Sally Marsh, Ms Victoria Mack, Mr John McKenzie, Mr Simon Norcott (Senior Program Coordinator)

Honeybee
Mr Des Cannon (Chair), Mr Bruce White, Dr Denis Anderson, Mr Ben Oldroyd, Ms Margie Thomson (General Manager - Established Industries), Dr David Dall (Senior Research Manager), Ms Lea Edwards (Program Coordinator)

Bioenergy, Bioproducts and Energy
Dr Roslyn Prinsley (Chair and Research Manager), Mr Brendan George, Prof Peter Gresshoff, Mr Griff Rose, Mr Colin Stucley, Dr Stephen Schuck, Ms Catherine Poyner (Program Coordinator)

Organics
Mr Don Fraser (Chairperson), Mr Andre Leu, Mr Terry Hehir, Ms Viv Burnett, Mr Eric Love, Dr Els Wynen, Prof Lyn Abbott, Mr Ewan Colquhoun, Dr David Dall (Senior Research Manager), Ms Lea Edwards (Program Coordinator)

Deer Industry
Ms Nola Anderson (Chairperson), Dr David Dall (Senior Research Manager), Ms Lea Edwards (Program Coordinator)

Horses
Dr John McCaffrey, Prof Keith Hughes, Dr Craig Suann, Mr Leslie Young, A/Prof Guy Lester, Dr David Dall, Dr Nigel Perkins (Research Manager), Ms Lea Edwards (Program Coordinator)

Fodder Crops
Dr Jeff Hoffman (Chair), Mr Charlie Williams, Ms Fiona Mackie, Mr Ed Blanchard, Mr Nick Smyth, Dr Andrew Walter, Mr Peter Philipzen, Mr John de Majnik (Senior Research Manager), Ms Michelle McCue (Program Coordinator)

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

Rice
Mr Ian Mason (Chair), Mr Randall Williams, Dr Alastair Grieve, Mr Peter Sheppard, Prof Don Marshall, Mr Mark Bonetti, Mr Alan Walsh, Dr Ken Fischer, Mr Andrew Hicks, Mr Martin van der Sluys, Mr Paul Martin, Mrs Gillian Kirkup, Mr Ben Ovenden, Ms Margie Thomson (General Manager), Mr John de Majnik (Senior Research Manager), Ms Michelle McCue (Program Coordinator)

Rare Natural Animal Fibres
Dr Carol Mathew (Chair), Ms Carolyn Austin, Mrs Trish Esson, Dr Andrew James, Mrs Julienne Gelber, Mrs June Liddy, Dr Doug Stapleton, Dr Roslyn Prinsley, Dr Peter McInnes (Research Manager), Ms June Murphy (Program Coordinator)

Tea Tree Oil
Ms Patricia Bolster (Chairperson), Mr Craig Chapman, Mr Steen Jorsal, Mr Richard Davis, Dr Roslyn Prinsley (Research Manager), Ms Catherine Poyner (Program Coordinator)

Essential Oils and Plant Extracts
Dr Roslyn Prinsley (Chair), Dr Erich Lassack, Mr Richard Davis, Dr Chris Read, Dr Reg Lehmann, Ms Alison Saunders (Research Manager), Ms June Murphy (Program Coordinator)

Wildflowers and Native Plants
Mr Mark Irwin (Chair), Mr Greg Lamont, Mr Lodi Pameijer, Ms Audrey Gerber, Ms Lana Mitchell, Dr Roslyn Prinsley, Ms Alison Saunders (Research Manager), Ms June Murphy (Program Coordinator)