Diversity celebrated in the new Emerging Industries Consultative Committee

The new Emerging Industries Consultive Committee has been appointed to support the strategic direction of the AgriFutures Emerging Industries Program.

The inaugural Consultative Committee was established in September 2022 and aims to assist and provide recommendations to the AgriFutures Emerging Industries Program by providing overarching advice on items including investment prioritisation, strategic alignment, risk assessment, conflict of interest and compliance with procurement policy requirements.

The Consultative Committee will identify and advise on specific research, development and extension (RD&E) priorities and implementation of investment activities, including alignment with industry specific RD&E Plans; and identify, monitor and report on key programmatic or project risks.

AgriFutures Australia Senior Manager, Emerging Industries, Dr Olivia Reynolds is excited by the insights and advice that the Consultative Committee will provide.

“The committee will support the strategic direction of the AgriFutures Emerging Industries Program, specifically our priority of driving the growth and development of high-potential rural industries,” Dr Reynolds said.

“We welcome the new members and look forward to what the diverse mix of experience will bring to the program.”

The Emerging Industries Program will hold bi-annual meetings with the Consultative Committee to review and discuss the relevant functions required. These meetings will be in February and September of each year.

Welcome to the Emerging Industries Consultative Committee

Will Schmitt

Will is an Australian-American innovation expert and international business advisor specialising in open innovation and entrepreneurial ecosystems programming and policy. Will has 15 years of experience advising governments and private sector clients on designing innovation strategies and programs and encouraging a culture of innovation and change within their organisation. Will’s academic and professional background in global development means he brings deep expertise in the dynamics of rural entrepreneurship in emerging markets and in rural Australia.

Leigh Clement

Leigh is an independent consultant with over 30 years’ experience in leading organisational strategy, stakeholder and corporate affairs, governance and performance reporting.  She has worked at executive and senior management level across government, transport and agriculture sectors and was previously an Executive Manager at Sugar Research Australia (SRA).  Leigh brings extensive expertise in RD&E strategy and operational planning, RD&E investment prioritisation, risk management and performance monitoring.

Jane Lovell

Jane has qualifications in science, corporate governance and leadership, a master’s in international relations focusing on food security and was awarded the AgriFutures Australia Rural Women’s Award for Tasmania in 2009. She brings experience in the not-for-profit, food safety and quality assurance sector, including more than a decade as Managing Director of TQA Australia. She has worked across the food supply chain, including international retailers, pack houses, export businesses, freight and logistics and a broad range of farming enterprises. She is a member of the Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) board and is Independent Chair of Cherry Growers Australia.

Marion Healy

Marion is an independent expert providing strategic, technical and regulatory advice. She has held senior executive leadership positions in national government agencies responsible for managing public health and/or environmental risks associated with the food supply, industrial chemicals, and the biosecurity risks from the international movement of plants/plant products. She has a wealth of experience in regulatory systems, particularly at the science/policy interface and has represented Australia in developing international regulatory frameworks, regional guidance and capacity building with groups such as Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) and technical negotiations with overseas counterparts.

Lucinda (Lu) Hogan

Lu is currently Associate Director of Climate Resilience Initiatives at the University of New England and manages the Armidale Node of the Southern Qld and Northern NSW Innovation Hub. She has a wealth of experience in the agribusiness sector as a commercial producer of livestock and grains, a farm management consultant, manager of research, development and extension programs, deliverer of industry training and commercialising research outcomes.  She has a Bachelor of Agricultural Science, post graduate qualification in consulting and is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Lynne McIntyre

Lynne McIntyre is an independent and experienced science and people strategist with more than three decades of experience as a scientist and as senior research manager in Australia, at CSIRO, and internationally. Lynne brings with her extensive experience in research and research program and project management, including science innovation thinking, capability assessment and management, diverse collaborative networks, broad experience in commercialisation models for agricultural outputs, a broad understanding of whole-of-industry and regional interdependencies, and extensive experience in strategy development, implementation, and evaluation for maximum impact.

Learn more about the AgriFutures Emerging Industries Program and subscribe to the mailing list to receive project updates: Emerging Industries | AgriFutures Australia