Dr John Keniry AM - Chair: John is a well-known Australian agribusiness identity, company director and primary producer with considerable expertise at the highest level in the livestock, food and fibre industries. Dr Keniry has a PhD in Chemical Engineering and has served as Chairman or Director of numerous agribusiness companies in Australia and New Zealand and on the Boards of Government organisations at State and Federal level. He is a Fellow of The Australian Institute of Company Directors, Fellow of the Royal Australian Chemical Institute, Fellow of the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering and former member of the Prime Ministers Science, Engineering and Innovation Council. He is presently also Chairman of the Pork CRC, and is a past member of the Board of Innovation Australia.
Christine Hawkins - Deputy Chair: Christine is a corporate strategist and experienced Company Director, with a special interest in the Australian agricultural sector and agribusiness, especially wool. She is an accredited facilitator with the Australian Institute of Company Directors and responsible for a number of public courses, as well as private sessions for Boards of Directors on Corporate Governance and the role and responsibilities of Directors. Christine has a Master of Commerce degree, is a CPA, and a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. Christine's career spans economics, corporate finance and investment banking. Since 1995 she has operated her own corporate consultancy business, as well as running Cinnabar Designs Pty Limited which manufactures/markets fine merino knitwear.
John Lewis - Member: John has had many years experience in the wool and textile industries specialising in scouring, combing, spinning, knitting, weaving, non-woven, dyeing and finishing areas of the trade. He has been heavily involved in bringing R&D and product developments to market and implementation of new technology to support business efficiencies. John is currently Divisional Manager of AWTA’s Product Testing Division, the current Chair of the Federation of Australian Wool Organisations (FAWO) and a Director of Jin Ao Testing Company, Nanjing China.
Stuart Mitchell - Member: Stuart is a commercial wool and sheep producer from Bollon in Queensland. He has extensive experience in commercial sheep production systems and a good understanding of the value and practical application of the research outcomes expected from the CRC for Sheep Industry Innovation. Stuart is currently a member of the Australian Wool Innovation Sustainable Production Systems Advisory Panel, the Falkiner Memorial Field Station Advisory Panel and the Bestprac National Steering Committee. He is also a Member of Cashel Vale Pastoral Company P/L, Bollon West Water Authority and Woolpax P/L.
Kate Joseph - Member: Kate has established a successful track record of leadership during her committed career in the agricultural sector. As a sole operator, Kate runs a specialist prime lamb operation, turning off approximately 1500 sucker lambs annually. Kate has strong ties within the agricultural industry through her work on several committees and industry Boards and is currently President of Sheepmeat Council of Australia. Kate has updated her practical skills through formal specialist courses such as the AICD Company Directors Course, the Australian Rural Leadership Program and has completed a Master in Agricultural Science (Sheep nutrition) establishing herself as an exceptionally qualified individual within the industry.
Professor John Gibson - Member: John brings 27 years experience and international recognition in a wide range of disciplines relevant to the CRC for Sheep Industry Innovation, including genetics, genomics, farming systems, livestock nutrition and economics of livestock production. He is currently Professor and Director at The Institute for Genetics and Bioinformatics at The University of New England (Armidale, NSW) and has experience in leading research, development and the successful delivery of innovation to industry in Australia, Europe, North America and Africa. Professor Gibson is also a Technical Adviser to Pfizer and a Member of, Scientific Advisory Council, International Livestock Research Institute.
Rob Egerton-Warburton - Member: Rob runs a Merino sheep and cropping enterprise in Kojonup, Western Australia. Rob is actively involved in on-farm research and development in both livestock and cropping systems. Rob spent two years teaching outdoor education in NSW before attending Marcus Oldham College in Victoria. Rob is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and Rabobank Executive Development Program. Other Directorships include Merinotech Pty Ltd.
Peter Trefort - Member: Peter manages his family's property at Narrogin, Western Australia. He has over 40 years' experience in sheep and cattle production as well as management across the supply chain. He has worked extensively developing on-farm and processing R&D strategy with the Dept of Agriculture & Food (WA), University of Western Australia and Murdoch University. Peter has been successful in developing and commercialising an innovative new range of lamb cuts to extend markets both domestically and internationally. He is currently a Member of Hillside Meats, Elderstone Nominees Pty Ltd, Narrogin Agricultural College Advisory Council, WA Q Lamb, WA Agricultural College Advisory Councils and Meat & Livestock Australia.
CJ Hawkins Homestead, University of New England, Armidale NSW 2351