REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT'S AGRICULTURE - Key Persons
Adrian is completing a Master of Agricultural Science, specialising in soil science and plant nutrition at the University of Western Australia. Alongside his Masters, Adrian is working with the Department's vegetable...
Alana has been working with the department since 2020, providing adminsitrative support to the Horticulture and Irrigated Agriculture directorate. Alana's role includes paying invoices, raising purchase orders, assisting...
Job Titles:
- Policy and Industry Development - Lead
Alex is currently the Principal Policy Officer for the Grains Directorate and leads a team with two roles within it. Her team provides high level policy analysis, advice, and implementation, strategic planning,...
Alexandra leads a National research project, Locally Important Weeds, with co-funding from GRDC. This project focuses on four weeds of local importance to specific areas of the WA grainbelt. The weeds of concern are...
Alison is an entomologist focusing on the area of sustainable pest management in horticultural crops across the south-west of Western Australia. Her main areas of work are temperate horticulture pests, integrated pest...
Job Titles:
- Technical Officer
- Technical Officer for the Soil Re - Engineering
Alistair is a Technical Officer for the Soil Re-engineering project in Northam; sampling, processing and analysing the chemical and physical properties of soil during amelioration.
Job Titles:
- Entomology Technical Officer
- Technical Officer in Entomology
Amber Balfour-Cunningham is a Technical Officer in Entomology working on surveillance and control of crop pests including...
As a Research Scientist working across cereal, pulse and oilseed crop pathology, Andrea runs a regional trial program that addresses State and regional...
Andrew is a Research Scientist based in Geraldton. As part of the Farming Systems Innovation team he is working on a GRDC-DPIRD research project investigating agronomic issues associated with ameliorating sandy soils....
Andrew has over 18 years of experience as a regionally-based horticultural plant pathologist across several horticulture commodities, including both perennial and annual crops. He has been involved in numerous projects...
Job Titles:
- Senior Research Scientist
Angelo conducts research in pasture agronomy, developing new pasture legume cultivars and species. He works with growers to increase the sustainability of the medium and low rainfall mixed farming zone of southern...
Anna is a bieconomic modeller working in DPIRD's Crop Protection portfolio, developing decision support tools for foliar disease management in broadacre crops. Existing tools that Anna has contributed to are YellowSpotWM...
Job Titles:
- Carnarvon Research Station Manager
Annie manages the team and trials at the Carnarvon Research Station, overseeing the facility's technical service delivery teams. The research station hosts several projects designed to boost industry transformation and...
Babita is working on analysing requirements for the eConnect+ Project's - Extrata Data Sharing Platform, focusing on how the end user utilses the system. She was also involved in the implementation, testing and...
Job Titles:
- Research Scientist
- Research Scientist for Two Grains Research and Development Corporation
Bindi is a Research Scientist for two Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC) funded projects. Her role is to assist growers to adopt soil management practises, providing the latest technical information and...
Job Titles:
- Senior Research Scientist
Blakely Paynter is a Senior Research Scientist. He currently leads and participates in barley and oat agronomy research projects in Western Australia. His research is focused around helping growers select suitable barley...
Job Titles:
- Manager Crop Science and Grain Production
Bob has been Manager of the Grains Crop Science and Grain Production portfolio since 2019. This includes wheat, barley, oat, pulse, and oilseed agronomy research and industry development activities. During his various...
Job Titles:
- Research Scientist - Weed Science
Bowen joined DPIRD Northam's weed science team as a Research Scientist in February 2022 to investigate the impact of soil amelioration on weed ecology and control. He is achieving this by researching the impact of...
Job Titles:
- Research Officer
- Research Scientist
Brenda is a wheat agronomy Research Officer based at the Katanning district office. She currently works on the DPIRD/GRDC project Tactical wheat agronomy for the west. The project brings together members of the wheat...
Job Titles:
- Research Officer
- Research Scientist in DPIRD 's Genetic Improvement
Brenton is a Research Scientist in DPIRD's Genetic Improvement team, with expertise in developing solutions for growers to manage frost risk in their grain growing businesses. He leads two DPIRD and GRDC co-funded...
Job Titles:
- Director, Sheep Industry Development. Grains and Livestock Industries Directorate
I am Director of Sheep Industry Development as well as Project Manager for the Sheep Industry Business Innovation project - a $10 million project made...
Carla works as a Development Officer in the pastoral irrigation industry across the West Kimberley and Pilbara. She conducts trials and demonstrations looking at perennial grass varieties, pasture growth rates,...
I am a Research Officer in DPIRD's crop protection group specialising in plant parasitic nematode issues under the guidance of Dr Sarah Collins. I am a project leader of a COGGO funded project investigating the...
Job Titles:
- Research Scientist - Weed Science
Catherine leads a weed science team that aims to develop effective control programs to target current and emerging weed...
Chad works in the soil projects such as non-wetting soils and soil acidity. This involves carrying out field work to...
Job Titles:
- Manager Soil Science & Crop Nutrition
Chris leads the Soil Science & Crop Nutrition portfolio in developing ways to overcome soil constraints to plant growth and maximising the efficiency of water and nutrient use by crops. His team conducts research in...
Job Titles:
- Research Scientist
- Research Scientist, Genetic Improvement, Perth
Dr Amanuel Bekuma is a Research Scientist working with the frost protection team.
Job Titles:
- Chief Scientist, Primary Industries and Development
- Primary Industries Chief Scientist
Dr Ben Biddulph is the Primary Industries Chief Scientist. His work involves working internally and externally with DPIRD's grains, farming systems, livestock, horticulture and aquacultures strategic partners in the WA...
Dr Mirza Dowla specializes in plant breeding and joined DPIRD as a research scientist to support a pre-breeding program on wheat's genetic improvement under sodic, magnesic and dispersive soils.
Dr Raj Malik is working as Research Scientist on increasing the profit from nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium fertiliser inputs into the evolving cropping sequences in the Western Region. Decision gaps exist in N, P and...
Jeremy is a Research Scientist based in Esperance, working across multiple projects focusing on best practice...
John commenced at the department in 2021 and is mainly engaged on a fertiliser and irrigation benchmarking project across several horticultural industries.
John is a Software Developer in the eConnect+ Project.
His speciality is database aspects of software production, and together with the team, has developed a weather database system that aids forecast of crop ...
Job Titles:
- Research Officer, New on - Farm Technology
I am working in the field of new on-farm technology to support the sustainable productivity and profitability of the sheep industry in Western Australia. This is part of the Department of Agriculture and Food's $10...
Job Titles:
- Regional Lab Operations Officer
As the Regional Lab Operations Officer, Julie is responsible for directing the activities of the team and implementing financial and administrative strategies to achieve the agreed outcomes aligned with ongoing...
Kanch joined DPIRD in 2017 and has worked on a wide range of trials including entomology, plant pathology and soil borne diseases before joining the soils team in 2020. Her soils role involves providing technical...
I work with a team of soil, water, and data scientists, supplying advice and information products to increase agricultural production and efficiency, and decrease environmental risks. My goal is to make soil information...
Dr Reeves' role as a biometrician at DPIRD involves collaborating with and supporting researchers through all stages of the research process, from the development of trial designs and protocols, the analysis of data, the...
I am a Research Officer in the Livestock Industries directorate, primarily working in the sheep and cattle industries. My core duties include industry analysis, forecasting and modelling of Western Australian livestock...
Job Titles:
- Project Manager, Grains R & D Entity Business Operations
I am responsible for the Grains R&D Business Development portfolio and also lead the $20M Royalties for Regions funded 'Boosting Grains R&D' project. This focusses on the development of new infrastructure, new...
Dr Salam works in the crop disease modelling and forecasting group. Her primary responsibility is to develop and validate risk models highlighting the seasonal impacts of diseases in grain crops. This information is used...
Kaylie is responsible for managing the Frank Wise Institute for Agriculture, where she oversees farm management and upgrades to farm technology.
Kaylie is passionate about cover cropping and sustainable farming...
Job Titles:
- Manager, Regional Intelligence and Adoption, Great Southern
Kelly works in the Farming Systems Innovation (FSI) Directorate, within the Primary Industries Development pillar. Part of a regionally based team, her focus is to enable innovative farming systems that create wealth and...
As Director of Grains Research and Industry Development for the past 7 years, Kerry leads the team undertaking grains research and industry development to...
Kevin has a long history with the department, having commenced in 1988 in Wokalup with the beef and dairy programs. Currently based in Manjimup, Kevin is responsible for irrigation, fertigation, general farm work...
Kevin commenced as a field assistant with the then Department of Agriculture's Stoneville Research Station in 1979. He has gained over 40 years' experience working with pome, stone, and citrus crops in the main...
Kim joined the department's Insect and Disease Management team in 2021. Her work has focused on insect pest management in the Ord River Irrigation Area. This has involved the trapping and monitoring of 6 lepidopteran...
King Yin joined the Department in 2018 and has a strong rapport with local organisations and individuals in agricultural research, universities, independent agronomists, consultants and grower groups.
King Yin is...
Dr Jayasena joined the Albany district office in 1999 as a cereal pathologist. His research, currently supported by the Grain Research and Development Cooperation (GRDC), is focused on understanding the causes of major...
Kristen is a research scientist with 23 years' experience working in perennial horticulture.
Kristen currently leads the Australian National Apple Breeding Program (ANABP). Her role requires the management of the...
Job Titles:
- Research Officer
- Research Scientist
Kylie is a Research Officer based in Northam with a focus on plant pathology. Her work currently focuses on disease epidemiology, farm testing of disease management...
My current role involves developing mobile applications (MyPestGuide™) to support the collection of e-surveillance data and provide evidence of pest absence. This evidence will be used to develop and maintain continued...
Job Titles:
- Rural Business Development Unit, Project Manager ( Acting )
I am the Project Manager of the Rural Business Development Unit (RBDU) at the Department of Agriculture and Food, Western Australia (DAFWA). The RBDU designs, develops, and administers schemes of assistance for farming...
Louis is a Technical Officer based at the Carnarvon Research Station. He is responsible for the monitoring and maintenance of field trials, which includes undertaking data collection.
Louis is looking forward to...
Job Titles:
- Senior Research Scientist
- Senior Plant Pathologist at DPIRD
Manisha is a Senior Plant Pathologist at DPIRD and an Adjunct Senior Lecturer at the University of Western Australia. Her program focuses on enhancing resistance to foliar diseases of wheat through the development of...
I manage the European wasp program, successful in keeping this pest from establishing in WA for 39 years. I am also involved in Community Surveillance and have extensive experience in public address and media liaison...
Job Titles:
- Field Research Facility Manager
Mark manages the operation and maintenance of the Merredin research facilities.
Job Titles:
- Senior Research Scientist
Mark currently leads the DPIRD/Grains Research and Development Corporation co-funded "High Value Pulses - raising awareness, optimising yield and expanding the area of lentil, chickpea and faba bean in Western Australia...
Martin is a research agronomist for the DPIRD/Grains Research and Development Corporation co-funded Tactical Break Crop Agronomy Project. He test's new agronomy for break crops in both small plot and farmer sown trials....
Mr Antulov is a developer within the Systems Modelling branch in DPIRD's Farming Systems Innovation Directorate.
Matthew works on a project to create a new whole-farm model that can ingest farm management records...
As a developer within the eConnect+ Project team, Matt plays a role in maintaining and supporting the existing eConnect+ Project's - Extrata Data Sharing Platform to provide primary producers and industry service...
Matthew works at the Managed Environment Facility in Merredin, which hosts trials looking at crop characterisation and improvement for water-limited environments in Australia. He also carries out general farm and trial...
McKenzie is a Technical Officer based in Esperance, who is part of the Farming Systems Innovation team working on the soil amelioration project. Her role in the project involves providing technical support for field and...
Megan is a Development Officer based in Geraldton. As part of the Farming Systems Innovation team, she supports regional client delivery through developing and maintaining relationships, providing and communicating...
Mel is a fruit researcher working on subtropical and tropical perennial crops in Carnarvon. In her role at DPIRD, she investigates new technologies and techniques for growing crops for the future. These include the use...
Dr Guthrie enables primary industry development through her research with DPIRD's Systems Modelling branch, focusing on climate and weather of the South West Land Division. She is responsible for producing the monthly...
My work is based at the Merredin Managed Environment Facility. MEF focuses on crop characterisation and improvement for water-limited environments in Australia. I manage overall operations and liaise with researchers...
Milan is based in Manjimup, specialising in avocados. His research includes assessing avocado flower behaviour, fruit quality and irregular bearing. Milan will also be exploring fruit robustness, fungicide treatments,...
Job Titles:
- Research Scientist, Crop Protection
Miranda joined DPIRD Northam's crop protection team as a Research Scientist in May 2021 to determine the applicability of...
Naomi delivers communications for the Western Australian Farming Systems project, a five-year co-investment by DPIRD and GRDC. The project aims to deliver a multi-disciplinary farming systems research approach, focused ...
Based in Narrogin, Natalie focuses on communication and extension to support farming systems that meet the challenges and capture opportunities in broadacre farming across WA. As part of the Farming Systems Innovation (...
Nathan is a technical officer whose primary role involves working on cereal frost research projects and phenology as part of the Grains Genetics team. ...
Job Titles:
- Senior Research Scientist
Neil is the lead for the department's Vegetable team. Neil's current areas of interest include irrigation and fertiliser use efficiency, the use of marginally saline water for irrigation, cost effective protected...
Nicole is responsible for providing technical support at the Frank Wise Institute for Tropical Agriculture in Kununurra, across a range of projects and agricultural research activities.
Job Titles:
- Manager, Geraldton, Central Region
As manager of the Geraldton Office, I have responsibility for providing support in the production of positive results for the agri-food sector centred around Geraldton and extending across the grain growing region...
I am based in South Perth and provide advice and direction to Project Managers and their teams in the area of project monitoring and evaluation (M&E). All those involved in projects, be they managers, staff, funding...
I am a hydrologist committed to applying evidence-based science to managing agriculture and the resources on which its future relies. I am part of a small group of professionals who help rural and regional industries...
Paulette joined the Department in mid 2017, as an Administration Officer for the former eConnected Grainbelt Project, assisting in administering grant initiatives through the SmartyGrants Program.
She also spent...
Perry works within the Farming Systems Innovation Directorate of the Primary Industries Pillar. His focus is to enable innovative farming systems that create wealth and enhance the liveability of regional landscapes and...
Pete has recently been appointed as a machinery specialist within the Soil Science and Crop Nutrition portfolio, which involves the establishment and management of field trials for plant...
Job Titles:
- Senior Technical Officer for the DPIRD
Phil is a Senior Technical Officer for the DPIRD weather station network. He plans, organises servicing and repairs, and provides remote support to the onground maintenance team. He also performs remote maintenance of weather station loggers, maintenance of weather data and compiles monthly weather station network reports.
Phil is currently involved in a project to replace 169 weather station data loggers and upgrade them from 3G to 4G, in advance of the shutdown of the Telstra 3G network.
Evaluating business systems with the eConnected+ team, Phil provides analysis to promote ongoing improvement and problem resolution for weather data and administration systems, as well as DPIRD applications and tools.
Job Titles:
- Entomology Technical Officer
Rachel started with DAFWA as a Technical Officer trainee, working in horticulture, and is now a Technical Officer with the Entomology team.
Joining the department in 2007, Rachelle's work has focused on industry development, improving water use efficiency and increasing production and quality of various fruit and vegetable crops. She has managed national...
Ranny is a techinical officer based in Geraldton and joined DPIRD in September 2022. She is part of the Farming Systems Innovation team, working on the ‘Increasing farming systems profitability and longevity of benefits...
I am based at DPIRD's South Perth office developing efficient technologies to minimise disease constraints for sustainable and profitable canola production in WA, and allowing its expansion into new regions. I lead the...
Rhys is a based in the Kimberley and assists to develop and reinforce farming activities in the Ord River region. Rhys is leading the industrial hemp variety trial and eco fibre hemp trial, along with providing support...
Richard holds the position of grape and wine research scientist and has more than 20 years' experience working in wine and table grape production. Richard joined the department in 2008 and has completed a number of state...
Job Titles:
- Principal Research Scientist. Irrigated Agriculture Directorate
I am a land and water scientist passionate about Australian agriculture and the management of the resources on which its future relies. I believe in evidence based science and its role in supporting agriculture. I lead...
Rob has an extensive history at the department, having commenced in 1982 at the Manjimup's then Smith Brook station. Rob has witnessed many changes within his role, including a move of the research station to a purpose...
I project manage the Grains and Livestock Industries directorate's Strategy and Policy unit that supports the economic development of the state's agricultural and food industries by delivering strategic and policy...
Dr Pires is Research Scientist who supports the development of tools and methods to better understand and manage crop disease in cropping systems and the impacts of current and future climate in rangeland systems. He...
Job Titles:
- Executive Officer - Boosting Grains Research and Development
I am an Executive Project Officer of the WA Government's Royalties for Regions - $20 million Boosting Grains Research and Development project. Through this project, DPIRD is laying the foundations for a major boost in...
Job Titles:
- Director - Horticulture and Irrigated Agriculture
Rohan Prince has 22 years of experience working in State Government across various roles. Since 2017 Rohan has been the Director of Horticulture and Irrigated Agriculture. He is an enthusiastic, result driven leader and...
Job Titles:
- Research Officer, Integrated Farming Systems
I am a Research Officer working within the Grains Research and Innovation Program on two collaborative GRDC funded projects. My role in the program is as a rhizobium and legume ecologist specialising in the selection of...
I am the project manager of the Grains Biosecurity Planning project within the grains industry directorate. My role is to work with grains industry stakeholders to improve grains industry surveillance and diagnosis,...
Job Titles:
- Research Scientist - Soil Management
Rushna researches soil-plant nutrition and micro-water harvesting for sodic soil management. Her career goals are to apply science, technology, and research to the agriculture...
Dr Peltzer leads the Crop Protection portfolio that focusses on the management of pests, diseases and weeds in Western Australian cropping systems. This includes 21 projects, many of which are co-funded by the Grains...
Salzar is based at the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development Northam office and is responsible for the establishment and management of two GRDC funded projects. These address the sowing season window...
Job Titles:
- Trainee Technical Officer
Based at the Carnarvon Research Station, Sam is a Trainee Technical Officer. He is keen to pursue a career in agriculture and is currently completing his Certificate in Horticulture.
Sam is learning how to...
Based in Esperance, Sam works on sodic soils, soil amelioration and re-engineering soils research projects as a Technical Officer. She is currently working on a research project that aims to deliver the best agronomic...
Sandra is a Development Officer based in Esperance and working in the Farming Systems Innovation (FSI) Directorate. Her focus is supporting regional client delivery by providing and maintaining regional statistic-based...
Sarah has more than 20 years' experience in plant pathology and leads DPIRD's nematology team in research to help growers mitigate economic loss caused by plant parasitic nematodes in both horticultural and broadacre...
Sarah is a research scientist specialising in field pathology. She is the department's first plant pathologist based in the Kimberley region and has built relationships with local industry and stakeholders to understand...
My role involves working with DPIRD's researchers and grower groups in the WA grains industry and overseeing soils research trials and extension, and the implementation of the DPIRD Research, Development and Extension (...
Job Titles:
- Project Manager
- Research Scientist
Shahajahan has worked for the Department since 2001, his roles have included crop agronomy and major root disease identification and control in the wheatbelt. Shahahjahan is currently managing research trials for...
I am based at Murdoch University with the Barley pre-breeding group. My role is to provide a genotyping service for the plant breeding companies such as Intergrain. This involves screening large numbers of samples...
Shoaib's research focuses on the development of innovative technologies and business models including value-chain management for enhancing on-farm productivity and profitability in mixed farming systems. Currently he is...
Simon has been working in soil and plant research since 2014 and has a keen interest in the management of agricultural and horticultural systems in Western Australia. Simon conducts research on the development of...
Sophie is currently working on the Apple Breeding Project, where she is responsible for the planting, pruning and maintenance of apple trees. Sophie assists with the creation of new apple varieties through grafting,...
Stacey is currently working to build grower and consultant confidence in the production of high value pulses in WA. She provides growers with localised production packages, the knowledge and confidence to achieve yield...
Steel has been working in the Australian National Apple Breeding Program (ANABP) since 1998 and is responsible for managing the activities for the ANABP in Manjimup. This involves cross pollinating selected apple...
Job Titles:
- Technical Services Manager
I am based at Geraldton and manage the Technical Services Units for Geraldton and Wongan Hills. This involves me supervising and coordinating our technical staff and operations to implement research activities. I also...
Dr Davies has expertise in managing soil constraints in cropping systems with a focus on developing practical tools and options for grain growers. He leads two DPIRD and GRDC funded co-investment projects. Outcomes from...
Job Titles:
- Senior Application Developer
Steve Collins is a UX, UI designer currently creating innovative farming system decision tools for the...
Sud is involved in the 'FutureSheep' and ‘Western Australian Farming Systems (WAFS) projects. WAFS projects primarily concentrates on exploring options for system breaks,...
Sue is a Research Officer involved in cereal prebreeding activities. She currently manages the cereal doubled...
Job Titles:
- Senior Administration Officer
Having worked for the department since 2004, Sue is an experienced team member, assisting staff with an array of administrative tasks. Sue has been involved in the roll out of new internal systems and supporting staff...
Job Titles:
- Client Engagement Adviser
I am currently working with two DAFWA projects made possible by the WA Government's Royalties for Regions initiative - $20Million Boosting Grains Research and Development Project, and $10Million eConnected Grainbelt...
Job Titles:
- Project Manager, Land and Water Policy and Planning
I am an experienced soil scientist and project manager. I am involved with a number of projects relating to land, soil and water assessment, planning policy, people leadership. I lead a small group of professionals that...
I am a Research Scientist based at Nash Street, Perth. My role is in the Grains Directorate management support.
Job Titles:
- Business Development Manager
Tom is the Business Development Manager for the eConnect+ Project and leads the Business Development area within the project's Extrata Data Sharing Platform initiative.
He is also the Lead for Natural Capital...
Tom is the newest member at the Manjimup Horticultural Research Institute, having commenced in September 2022.
Tom is a great all rounder, who supports the national apple breeding program by maintaining the apple...
Job Titles:
- Project Officer
- Project Officer for the Farming Systems Innovation Directorate
Toni is a Project Officer for the Farming Systems Innovation Directorate. Her role focuses on coordination of HR recruitment related activities of the directorate and liaising between the directorate, HR and other...
Tyler has recently commenced with the Department to lead commercialisation of the next apple chosen for the market by the Australian National Apple Breeding Program (ANABP). Tyler has significant experience in quality...
Job Titles:
- Research Scientist / Research Scientist in the Climate Resilience Program at DPIRD
Valeria joined DPIRD in 2020, originally as a fruit research scientist in Carnarvon, where she implemented trials on protected cropping and trellised fruit growing systems. Valeria has transitioned to the vegetable team...
My role involves ensuring that the Western Region has people with the skills in crop production and crop protection research agronomy to continually innovate at the local level to address evolving R&D priorities. I...
Job Titles:
- Technical Services Manager Merredin
As the Technical Services manager for Merredin I am responsible for coordinating our technical support, facilities and resources to ensure they are used efficiently and effectively. This includes the allocation of...
Wayne is a research scientist in soil science, currently working on DPIRD soil constraint projects and delivering to clients throughout the state. He enjoys working with growers, grower groups and the GRDC to develop...
Job Titles:
- Research Scientist
- Research Scientist, Genetic Improvement
Yong is a Research Scientist working with the Genetic Improvement portfolio. He leads the Molecular Genetics group. Through collaboration with universities and breeding companies, Yong works on...
Yu-Yi joined the department in 2020 as a Technical Officer working in various grape and wine research and development activities, while also supporting other horticultural activities including apples and citrus.
Zac is a Technical Officer in the Soil Science and Crop Nutrition portfolio where he undertakes soil/plant sampling and monitoring of field research trials located throughout the Wheatbelt and Mid-west regions.