Emerging Industries

Emerging Industries Technical Advisory Group

Ms Bronwyn Venus

As the Head of Partnerships and Project Management for Sugar Research Australia (SRA), Bronwyn’s focus is on identifying partnerships to support the delivery of SRA’s innovation and commercialisation agenda, building long-term, strategic partnerships aligned with the delivery of transdisciplinary systems and solutions to address industry priorities. As a senior researcher for more than 30 years with organisations including CSIRO, Department of Agriculture and Fisheries and the University of Queensland, she is passionate about the agriculture and food industries.

Prof David Guest

David Guest, Professor of Plant Pathology and Chair of Horticulture at The University of Sydney, has published over 150 scientific articles, taught undergraduates at all levels and supervised over 50 postdocs, PhD and Masters students. Originally focussing his research on Phytophthora diseases in Australian forests and horticulture, he built transdisciplinary One Health research partnerships to improve productivity, sustainability and livelihoods of cocoa farming families around the Asia-Pacific region. He is Past-President and Fellow of the Australasian Plant Pathology Society and Past President of the Asian Association of Societies of Plant Pathology. He is a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) and was awarded a Career Medal for Agriculture and Rural Development by the Government of Vietnam.

Dr Vito Butardo Jr

Dr Vito Butardo Jr is a Senior Lecturer (Biotechnology) and Academic Director (Partnerships) at Swinburne University of Technology. His multidisciplinary expertise spans plant and microbial biochemistry, molecular biology, biotechnology, and food science, with specialisation in cereal grain quality, climate-resilient crops, and microbial biopolymers. As former Rice Advisory Panel Member for AgriFutures Australia (2018-2021), he contributed to the national rice industry strategy and establishment of Rice Breeding Australia. His international research collaborations spanning crop breeding, mariculture applications, and nutritional profiling demonstrate expertise crucial for evaluating emerging industries and their commercialisation potential across diverse sectors including aquaculture, functional foods, and sustainable agriculture.

Dr Scott Needham

Dr Scott Needham is an experienced leader in commercially-focused research and innovation across the food, agriculture, and university sectors. Scott founded a niche innovation company that was named the Design Institute of Australia’s 2021 Company of the Year. Scott has held executive roles in private equity in the US, Singapore, and Australia, advising agri-food ventures, RDCs, SMEs and multinational companies. He holds a PhD in battery technology, a Master of Management from MGSM, is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, and holds US patents in food science. He is passionate about advancing Australia’s agricultural competitiveness through applied innovation and strategic investment.

Dr Dini Ganesalingam

Dr Aanandini (Dini) Ganesalingam brings over a decade of experience in plant breeding and applied agricultural research, with a strong emphasis on data analytics and biometrics. As the Research & Business Development Manager at InterGrain, she has played a key role in leading and supporting numerous research, development, and extension (RD&E) initiatives that drive innovation and resilience across Australia’s rural industries. With a solid foundation in biometrics and plant breeding, Dini is passionate about bridging the gap between research and real-world agricultural outcomes. Her work focuses on delivering practical, data-driven solutions that benefit producers, communities, and the broader sector. In her role on the AgriFutures Emerging Industries Technical Advisory Group, she contributes strategic insight and technical expertise to guide investment in high-potential emerging industries, ensuring they are underpinned by robust science and aligned with industry needs.

Mr Michael Treeby

An agricultural scientist with more than three decades’ industry involvement and providing RD&E for the major irrigated perennial crops across the tri-state region of the Murray Valley. His research interests have included production efficiency, productivity, product quality and postharvest fruit performance. Specialist skills underpinning those interests include crop mineral nutrition/physiology, climate/crop phenology, irrigation management and experimental design and analysis. Has held positions with CSIRO, NSW DPI and AgVic. He has extensive experience developing funding submissions to address industry’s priorities, semi-retired and working part-time with the dried grape industry’s peak industry body to improve the uptake of superior production technologies.

Mr Derek Cropp

Derek is a private consultant on shellfish and seaweed aquaculture and licencing, principally in Western Australia (WA). He designed and operated Australia’s first successful commercial hatchery for silverlip pearl oysters (Pinctada maxima) in WA and reared in excess of 12 different shellfish species through hatcheries. He taught microalgae and shellfish culture at UTAS Aquaculture and trained staff at commercial hatcheries around Australia and overseas. Derek is a Churchill Fellow and studied scallop culture in China, Japan, Canada and New Zealand while a research officer with Tasmanian Fisheries. He was an external member of the Institutional Biosafety Committee for UTAS, 2019 – 2023, and is a well-connected and accomplished member of the Australian Aquaculture industry.