About RIRDC

Board of Directors

Professor Daniela Stehlik - Chair
Professor Daniela Stehlik is inaugural Director of The Northern Institute and Professor of Sociology at Charles Darwin University, Northern Territory. Professor Stehlik's involvement in community development activities, and the impact of change on communities has led to a number of publications focusing on issues associated with social sustainability, community capacity building and evidence based policy. She is particularly interested in the generative capacity of women's energy and enthusiasm as an important component of community flourishing.

In 2008 Professor Stehlik was a member of the Expert Social Panel involved in the Federal Government's Review of Drought Policy. She has previously worked in Queensland and Western Australia.
Appointed 21 April 2010 until 20 April 2013. BA (ANU), M. Soc Sci (ECU), A. Dip Bus Admin (SAIT), Uni SA, PhD (UWA)

Mr Norm McAllister - Deputy-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, , strategic planning, marketing, corporate social responsibility, and socio economic impact assessment.  Ms Healy is currently Chairperson of the Royal College of Pathologists of Australasia's Lay Advisory Committee, Riverland Winegrape Growers Association, Riverland Wine Industry Development Council and Greyhound Racing SA Ltd. Ms Healy is current a director of Cheviot Kirribilly Vineyard Property Group ASX CKP, Racing SA Ltd, Greyhounds Australasia, 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, an alternate director of Marmota Energy Ltd ASX MUE and a councillor for the Wine Grape Council of SA. 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 and extensive experience in company management and governance in the biotechnology industry and in the public sector. She is currently a non-executive director of ASX-listed companies Tyrian Diagnostics Ltd and Clover Corporation Ltd, and advises CSIRO and the Garvan Institute for Medical Research on research commercialisation. She also chairs the Advisory Committee for the Australian Biological Resources Study.  Dr Sleigh has served on a wide range of government committees, Boards and Councils including serving with the Australian Research Council, the Cooperative Research Centres Committee, and the Boards of the Australian Institute of Marine Science and of Food Science Australia. 
Appointed 30 September 2008 until 30 June 2011. BSc(Hons), PhD, Dip Corp Man, FAICD.

Mr Craig Burns - Acting Managing Director
Mr Burns joined RIRDC in July 2010 from the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, where he was Executive Manager, Trade and Market Access Division.  In that role, his responsibilities included coordination of the Department's engagement on a range of multilateral, regional and bilateral activities.  Mr Burns previously had the role of Executive Manager, Free Trade Agreements which included participation in Free Trade Agreement negotiations.  

From 2002 to 2005 Mr Burns was the General Manager, Trade Policy within the Department's International Division.  In this role Mr Burns coordinated a range of multilateral and bilateral activities within the Department.  Mr Burns was Chair of the OECD Joint Working Party on Agriculture and Trade from 2004 to 2006.

From August 1999 to August 2002 Mr Burns held the position of Minister-Counsellor (Agriculture) at the Australian Delegation to the OECD in Paris where he represented Australia's agricultural trade interests in the OECD and in a range of international agencies in Paris and London.  He was Chairman of the International Grains Council from 2001 to 2002 and Vice Chair of the OECD Committee for Agriculture from 2002 to 2004.
Appointed 12 July 2010. Master of Economics, Bachelor of Arts and Diploma of Education.