Australia
October 23, 2014

Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC) Chair Richard Clark has welcomed the GRDC Board newly appointed by Minister for Agriculture The Hon. Barnaby Joyce MP.

The GRDC Board has a critical role in providing leadership and for ensuring the GRDC is strategically positioned to deliver maximum value to its key stakeholders — grain growers, the Australian Government and the community.

“The grains industry is important to the Australian economy, with over 21,000 grain farms producing over $12 billion in gross value of production,” Mr Clark said.

“Access to world leading research, development and extension (RD&E) is a vital ingredient in their success.

“It is crucial that the GRDC’s RD&E investment portfolio provides the outcomes necessary to underpin the profitability of grain growers and the competitiveness of the industry.

“To deliver the best possible RD&E outcomes for levy payers, the GRDC relies on a close connection to growers and an understanding of their needs. We need a governance structure that can rapidly seek out solutions and seamlessly manoeuvre resources into investments that will meet those needs in the short and long term.

“The GRDC has been fortunate to have a succession of highly-effective Boards. I welcome the new Directors who are also highly skilled and have a diverse range of experience that will continue to drive GRDC’s performance to ensure Australian grain producers are profitable and can succeed in the highly competitive global grain market.

Mr Clark welcomed new Directors Dr Andrew Barr (SA), Dr Helen Garnett (NT), Ms Roseanne Healy (SA) and Mr David Shannon (SA) who will start on 4 November 2014 for a three year term and congratulated Directors Dr Jeremy Burdon (ACT), Mr Kim Halbert (WA) and Mr John Woods (NSW), re-appointed for a two year term.

Board positions are also held by Mr Clark and GRDC Managing Director John Harvey.

Mr Clark paid tribute to outgoing directors Mr Richard Brimblecombe, Ms Jennifer Goddard, Professor Robert Lewis and Mrs Sharon Starick for their hard work and commitment to the GRDC.

“The GRDC board has strongly influenced the grains RD&E landscape over the past three years. I thank each of the outgoing Directors for their outstanding leadership and contribution they have made to the Australian grains industry,” Mr Clark concluded.

Website: http://www.grdc.com.au

Published: October 23, 2014