Emeritus Professor Julie Cotter is an experienced company director and innovation leader who works at the intersection of R&D and commercial value creation. She believes that science and technology are vital to achieving prosperity for Australia’s rural industries, and for addressing key challenges in ways that increase productivity, profitability, and sustainability.
Professor Cotter has held positions with large vertically integrated agribusinesses, including Chair of Stahmann Webster’s Farming Technology Group and as a member of Australian Agricultural Company’s (AACo) Scientific Advisory Board. These corporate agribusiness roles built on her substantial university career at UniSQ where she led a research centre focused on innovation in agribusiness and supply chains. In April 2018, she was awarded the honorary title of Professor Emeritus in acknowledgement of outstanding scholarly and industry contributions.
Professor Cotter has a finance background and over 10 years, experience as a Non-executive Director. A graduate of the AICD Company Directors Course and Mastering the Boardroom program, Professor Cotter is a member of the Darling Downs Hospital and Health Board and chairs its Audit and Risk Committee. Previous Board director roles include Exercise and Sports Science Australia, Toowoomba and Surat Basin Enterprise, and West Moreton Hospital and Health Service. Professor Cotter lives in Toowoomba, a major Queensland hub for agriculture, food processing and agtech innovation.
PhD (University of Qld), B Commerce (Hons) (University of Qld), GAICD, FCPA, CA.
Appointed on 1 October 2023.