CRDC board meets in Narrabri

The new Cotton Research and Development Corporation board has wasted no time in building on CRDC’s vision to grow Australia’s cotton industry by $1 billion over the next five years.

Less than one week after being announced by Agriculture Minister, Senator Murray Watt, the new CRDC board convened in Narrabri last Monday and Tuesday for briefings and inductions, getting straight to work on the ambitious targets of the new Clever Cotton plan.

Clever Cotton is a strategic plan that guides all CRDC’s research, development and extension investments from 2023 to 2028.

CRDC chairman Richard Haire said the new board is laser focused on rising to the challenge set by Clever Cotton.

“Clever Cotton is our most ambitious strategic plan ever – calling on CRDC to turn a $125 million investment into a $1 billion return for the industry over the next five years. Capturing that $1 billion starts now, and our new board members have come with their sleeves rolled up, ready to get on with the job,” Mr Haire said.

“The two-day induction in Narrabri allowed our new board, CRDC staff, growers and other industry stakeholders to work out how we can most effectively deliver the Clever Cotton plan by mapping out clear goals, investment approach and planned impact.”

CRDC board directors on a three-year appointment until September 30, 2026 are Ross Burnett, Queensland (reappointment), Julianne (Julie) Bird, South Australia (new appointment), Niall Blair, New South Wales (new appointment), Sally Ceeney, New South Wales (new appointment), Bernard (Bernie) George, New South Wales (new appointment) and Michelle Tierney, New South Wales (new appointment).

Mr Haire said the new board was a capable and experienced team with great diversity of background, experiences and expertise.

“It’s exciting to welcome a passionate new team of directors to CRDC, and at the same time, great to have Central Queensland cotton grower Ross Burnett returning for a second term to provide some continuity,” Mr Haire said.

“The new directors bring a unique blend of industry experience and non-cotton backgrounds across business, research, government and communications – diverse external perspectives that will foster broad and rich insights to complement the learnings and thinking of the experienced team at CRDC.

“To our outgoing board members, I express a big and sincere thank you for their dedication to advancing Australia’s cotton industry. CRDC prides itself on listening to industry, and the outgoing board was no exception – responding with a strategic plan that prioritises the things that matter to growers: our paddocks, our planet and our people.”CRDC acting executive director Allan Williams said the new directors come onboard at an exciting time for cotton industry innovation.

“Australia’s cotton industry has long been synonymous with innovation, but with the range of technologies available to us now, and more coming online everyday, it’s a really exciting time to be a part of CRDC – helping to shape the next generation of innovations that will see industry deliver on improved farming efficiencies and meet changing expectations around sustainability and supporting data.

“I look forward to working with the new board to bring Clever Cotton to life.”

The CRDC board appointments were announced alongside new appointments for the Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC) and AgriFutures Australia.

Senator Watt said he was pleased to see renewal across the research and development corporations and more diverse appointments taking place.

“These new appointments bolster the important role RDCs have to play in the agriculture sector,” Senator Watt said.

“RDCs are a key pillar in Australia’s agricultural innovation system, and the work they oversee ripples through the industry.

“They support important R&D to assist their respective sectors to lift their production, sustainability and profitability, while supporting the Australian government’s agricultural priorities of biosecurity, climate-smart production, trade, Indigenous engagement and workforce development.

“These new appointments are a steady mix of reappointments and new faces, allowing for experience to guide the boards while injecting fresh ideas and new directions into the RDCs.

“All appointees bring strong expertise in fields like agriculture, research, business and public policy, adding to RDC leadership.

“I am proud that the new appointments have also improved the diversity of RDC boards, including by appointing more women, and people from First Nations and culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.

“This will ensure that the RDCs can better represent the diversity of the agricultural industries that they serve. I would also like to thank all outgoing directors for their contributions to their respective RDCs.