The Foundation is a Member-based Company with 32 Members from all parts of the biosecurity community. We welcome interest from potential new Members. It is a company limited by Guarantee, ACNC registered with the structure in place to apply for Deductible Gift Recipient status in the future. It is governed by a Board of Directors who are elected by the members of the company. The Directors cover a range of skills, backgrounds and diversity.
Become a member
The Foundation will foster and grow the collaborative network between communities, governments, research and industry in Australia and overseas developed by the Plant Biosecurity CRC.
Members benefit from:
- Supporting plant biosecurity research, development, extension and delivery activities, including improved science through projects, research scholarships, internships, masterclasses and fellowships;
- Participation which may include co-investment in APBSF managed programs, joint ventures, partnerships and investments with others in Australia and overseas around member identified gaps in plant biosecurity collaborative research, for example environmental biosecurity, post-harvest grains, science capacity building, international linkages (such as developing country biosecurity capacity building masterclasses);
- Investment in plant biosecurity science using commercial returns generated from APBSF ownership of Plant Biosecurity CRC Intellectual Property assets if and when they eventuate;
- APBSF attracting, developing and managing grants and funds which advance plant biosecurity science;
- Being part of a plant biosecurity science and knowledge sharing ‘hub’ of plant biosecurity stakeholders and plant biosecurity scientists;
- Advocating the importance of investing in plant biosecurity science globally, regionally and nationally for agriculture, the environment, regional communities, biodiversity and food security;
- Voting through each membership class to appoint APBSF Directors at General Meetings.
Membership is outlined in the Company Constitution Clause 4. Each application for membership is approved by the Board in accordance with the Company Constitution.
Membership classes have been established which recognise and facilitate participation in the Foundation by the diverse stakeholder group which exists in plant biosecurity science. Stakeholders include large and small commercial and public organisations, community and industry groups and individuals. The classes enable all stakeholders who wish to be members to participate in the APBSF, pay an appropriate membership fee and have their voices heard through a voting structure which is outlined in the Company Constitution.
Membership classes:
- Research, development extension and capacity building provider;
- Regulatory Member – the entity has an interest in the Plant Biosecurity Sector as a biosecurity regulator;
- Industry Member – the entity is an Industry end user or is an entity which is part of the Plant Biosecurity Sector; and
- General Member – the Applicant is a part of, or is interested in, the Plant Biosecurity Sector. In the case of an individual, they cannot represent an entity.
To find out more about joining the Foundation please email info@apbsf.org.au for a membership information pack.
Current members
Research, Development, Extension and Capacity Building provider
- Box Hill Institute TAFE
- CABI
- Cesar Australia
- CSIRO
- La Trobe University
- Murdoch University
- Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries (QDAF)
- Queensland University of Technology (QUT)
- The University of Queensland (UQ)
- University of Western Australia (UWA)
- Western Sydney University (WSU)
General
- Dr Martin Barlass (Individual)
- Prof John Lovett (Individual)
- Dr Michael Robinson (Individual)
- Adrian Dinsdale (Individual)
- Dr Alistair McTaggart (Individual)
- Prof Andre Drenth (Individual)
- Dr Benedict White (Individual)
- Burnett Mary Regional Group Ltd
- The Crawford Fund Ltd
- Davren Global Pty Ltd
- Indonesian Biosecurity Foundation
- Dr Jordan Bailey (Individual)
- Dr Kouame Yao (Individual)
- Sheila Charlesworth (Individual)
Directors
Jane Frances – Chair
NSW DPI
Jane Frances is a biologist with significant experience in biosecurity management, especially aquatic animals, plants and invasive species, in both the public sector and with a not-for-profit enterprise.
Jane was elected Chair in December 2021.
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Jane has extensive experience in biosecurity emergency responses and has represented the NSW government on consultative committees and national policy forums. Jane has significant expertise with the application of risk assessment to prioritise activities and investment, and seeks to optimise outcomes for industry, public good and the environment.
Jane has worked for NSW Department of Primary Industries for more than 30 years, for the first 11 years in research and since then in a wide variety of management-focused positions.
Dr Mariana Campos
CSIRO
Mariana is a researcher and lecturer in the field of biosecurity, whose interests range from species to ecosystem levels.
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For the past eight years, Mariana has worked with both flora and fauna subjects, hinged on her academic background that started with an Honours in Science Communication and evolved into a Master’s Degree in Plant Ecology, and a further PhD in Plant Physiological Ecology.
Mariana worked in consultancies in Western Australia doing baseline studies, targeted searches and vegetation monitoring for a few years – and this led her to the biosecurity realm with mapping and planning the control of non-indigenous species.
After her experience with industry partners, Mariana returned to academia as a Research Fellow and Lecturer at the Harry Butler Institute, Murdoch University, where research and education can be paired with positive change in conservation areas, agricultural systems and with the supervision of graduate students and future researchers.
Phil Clamp – Deputy Chair
Consultant
Phil is a proven leader with many years experience in the management of stored grain protection including pest management and fumigation solutions, research, regulation, compliance, market access and supply chain quality; and the design, developing, implementing, monitoring and improving management systems in the areas of pest control, quality, safety, food safety, environment and laboratories.
Phil was elected Deputy Chair in December 2021.
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He previously worked as the Quality Assurance Manager, GrainCorp Operations Ltd 1994 to 2018, where his major responsibilities included providing management systems to cover organisational, customer and regulatory requirements, primarily via:
- Quality Management and related systems/programs.
- Occupational Health and Safety system/program.
- Policy development and policy/program management for OHS, Safety, Pest Control and Hygiene, Food Safety and Environmental programs.
- Ensuring relevant statutory/regulatory or other compliance measures are met, for example; AQIS, APVMA, EPA, WorkCover, Agriculture Dept’s etc
He also chaired the Plant Biosecurity CRC’s Grains Advisory Panel for many years, overseeing the strategic directions, approval and review of the post-harvest grains portfolio.
Dr Kylie Ireland
Curtin University
Kylie is a passionate plant pathologist, with a bent for ecological modelling and invasive species science.
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Hailing from the sunshine state, Kylie has undergraduate qualifications in Political Science, Ecology and Botany from the University of Queensland, and a PBCRC PhD in Plant Biosecurity on Sudden Oak Death (Phytophthora ramorum) from Murdoch University in Perth.
Kylie has worked on forest pest and disease climatic niche modelling in Tasmania, myrtle rust in Queensland, and even volunteered in southern Laos as a plant pathology advisor.
Now based at the CSIRO in Canberra, Kylie has enjoyed working on both pre and post border invasion biology – pre-border as a modeler with the PBCRC Pathways and Risk Assessment for High Impact Species project and post-border as a plant pathologist within the weed biological control team.
Dr Olivia Reynolds
AgriFutures Australia
Dr Olivia Reynolds 18 year career in agriculture has spanned universities, government and private (for-profit) business.
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Olivia obtained a PhD Rural Science in Insect Pest Management from the University of New England, Armidale in 2003, funded by a Cotton Cooperative Research Centre scholarship. After two years working at Marks & Spencer Head Office as a Food and Merchandise General Manager in London, UK, Olivia commenced a stimulating and rewarding three year postdoctorate in South African sugarcane with the University of Witswatersrand and the South African Sugarcane Research Institute. Upon returning to Australia in late 2006, Olivia’s career at NSW Department of Primary Industries as a Principal Research Scientist expanded to include a strong biosecurity focus and she has led, or collaborated on, numerous projects and programs of research across horticulture, grains, cotton, cocoa and sugarcane and has extensive project leadership and management experience. This has continued in her role as a Team Lead with Cesar Australia. In 2017, Olivia completed a Women in Leadership Australia, Advanced Leadership Program providing executive level leadership education. Olivia has published >60 peer-reviewed journals, proceedings and book chapters, numerous industry articles, and media interviews and is passionate about working with relevant stakeholders ensuring impact is realised for agricultural industries.
Dr Michael Robinson
Chief Executive Officer
Michael’s passion has always been to facilitate good practice being informed by good science, particularly for environmentally sustainable and productive landscapes.
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In addition to being contracted as Managing Director of the Foundation, he has been privileged to lead and manage several research organisations including:
- CEO, Plant Biosecurity Cooperative Research Centre
- Director and Acting Executive Director, Davren Global Pty Ltd
- Non-Executive Director, Cooperative Research Centre Association
- Non-Executive Director, Cotton Research and Development Corporation
- Chief Executive Officer, Frogtech Pty Ltd, Frogtech New Zealand (GeoSphere Ltd)
- Director and Centre Director, Primary Industries Climate Challenges Centre
- Executive Director, Land & Water Australia
- Chief Executive Officer and Executive Director, Cooperative Research Centre for Greenhouse Accounting
He recently finished his role as the CEO of the Plant Biosecurity CRC, leading the national science effort that contributes to the safegaurding of plant industries from biosecurity threats; especially the challenge of taking our good quality science and having it implemented through our many partners. As CEO he led the redevelopment of the strategic plan and a six-year investment plan with the PBCRC partners, resulting in a highly successful CRC which will deliver an estimated net benefit equivalent to an estimated 11% increase in plant biosecurity funding annually for 30 years and a cost:benefit ratio more than double predicted.