About RIRDC

Board of Directors

Mr Norman McAllister - Acting Chair
Mr McAllister has extensive experience in agricultural production, marketing and processing. He is Chairman of Rice Research Australia Pty Ltd and is a Director of Rice Growers Ltd (SunRice), Riviana Foods Pty Ltd and is Mayor of the Conargo Shire Council. He is also a past Chair of RIRDC’s Rice Research Program.
Re-appointed 14 July 2008 until 30 June 2011. Dip.Ap. Sc, G.ARLP, FAICD

Mr John Lawrenson - Non-Executive Director, Chair, Audit Committee
Mr Lawrenson has a background in agribusiness, finance, governance, international trade and marketing. He is Chairperson of Pink Lady Australia Ltd, a Director with Apple and Pear Australia Ltd and Bonlac Supply Company Ltd and former managing director of the Australian Wheat Board.
Re-appointed 14 July 2008 until 30 June 2011. Associate CPA, FCA (UK)

Dr Andrew Johnson - Non-Executive Director
Dr Johnson has extensive experience in science, economics, conservation, natural resource management, technology transfer and administering R&D. He is Group Executive – Environment with CSIRO and is also a Director of Reef and Rainforest Research Ltd. He was formerly Chief of CSIRO Sustainable Ecosystems and a Director of the CRC for Tropical Savannas Management, the Australian National Wildlife Collection Foundation and the Centre of Rural and Regional Innovation.
Re-appointed 14 July 2008 until 30 June 2011. BAgrSc (Hons), PhD, MPA (Harvard) GAICD

Dr Diana Day - Non-Executive Director
Dr Day, a physical and social scientist, is currently Adjunct Professor at the Southern Cross University, and a Director of the Murray Darling Basin Authority and the CRC for Irrigation Futures. Dr Day is formerly Associate Professor at the University of Sydney and her former Directorships include the Grape and Wine Research & Development Corporation, Meat and Livestock Australia Ltd and the Fisheries R&D Corporation. Dr Day has expertise in the water and earth sciences and government, community and industry collaborations in Australian land and water planning through senior academic and government appointments in regional environmental management. She is experienced in: strategy planning for research and development to address agri-business-challenges, freshwater and soil protection, sustainable irrigation options, national biosecurity protection, and Indigenous education and resources issues.  
Appointed 14 July 2008 until 30 June 2011. B.A.(Hons), Dip Ed, PhD, Company Directors Diploma, FAICD.

Dr Alexander Campbell -Non-Executive Director
Dr Campbell has extensive experience in agricultural production for sheep, cattle, farm forestry and viniculture. Mr Campbell is Chairperson of the South Coast NRM Inc and Chairperson of the Albany Foundation Campus of the University of Western Australia. He is the past Chair of the CRC Salinity, Land and Water Australia and the WA State Salinity Council. He is also deeply involved with Regional NRM delivery and management. Mr Campbell has an Honorary Doctorate of Science in Agriculture from the University of Western Australia.
Appointed 14 July 2008 until 30 June 2011.

Ms Roseanne Healy - Non-Executive Director
Ms Healy is an experienced Company Director and current advisor to a wide range of listed and unlisted companies across many industries in the areas of governance, public and private partnerships, major infrastructure projects, strategic planning, marketing, corporate social responsibility, re-structuring and socio economic impact assessments. Ms Healy is currently Chairperson of the Royal College of Pathologists of Australasia’s Advisory Committee, Riverland Winegrape Growers Association, and Riverland Wine Industry Development Council. Ms Healy is currently a director of Cheviot Kirribilly Vineyard Property Group, Greyhound Racing SA Ltd, GP Partners Centennial Park Cemetery Authority, and Tidewater Funds Management Ltd. Ms Healy is also an independent member of the Port Adelaide and Enfield Council’s Audit Committee and an alternate director of Maximus Resources and Marmota Energy Ltd. Previously, Ms Healy has held both Chief Executive and Project Director, roles.
Appointed 30 September 2008 until 30 June 2011. BA, MBA.

Dr Merilyn Sleigh - Non-Executive Director
Dr Sleigh has a background in biological research with CSIRO. She now works as a company director and adviser in the biotechnology and life sciences sectors through her consulting company InAvanti. She is currently a director of Tyrian Diagnostics, Australian Biotechnology and Health Care Fund No. 3, Clover Corporation Ltd and Mimetica Pty Ltd. She is also a member of the Federal Government’s Task Force developing a ten year strategy for the pharmaceutical industry in Australia, and advises CSIRO and the Garvan Institute for Medical Research on research commercialisation. Previously, for six years she was the Managing Director of antibody therapeutics company EvoGenix Ltd, successfully building the company from its start up stage, through listing on the Australian Stock Exchange to its merger with Peptech Ltd to form Arana Therapeutics.
Appointed 30 September 2008 until 30 June 2011. BSc(Hons), PhD, Dip Corp Man.

Dr Peter O'Brien - Managing Director
Dr O’Brien is a scientist with extensive experience as a chief executive and in providing scientific advice for policy. His career includes Executive Director of the Bureau of Rural Sciences and membership of the Executive Leadership Team of the Australian Government Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry. He is a director of the Australian Rural Leadership Foundation, a member of the Expert Advisory Board of the Agriculture Institute of the University of Western Australia, and the advisory board of the Institute of Applied Ecology at the University of Canberra. He is a former Director of the Australian Fisheries Management Authority and the Greenhouse Cooperative Research Centre.
Appointed 21 February 2005. BSc (Hons1), PhD, FAICD.