GRDC Chairman Keith Perrett said Harvey’s experience in agricultural science and strong leadership skills would further strengthen the GRDC’s push to drive innovation for a profitable and environmentally sustainable grains industry.
“John’s selection was the result of an international recruitment process which attracted a strong field of candidates,” Perrett said. “John has over 25 years experience in rural RD&E and an extensive knowledge of the Australian grains industry, having worked as a key member of the GRDC team since November 1997. He’s served the corporation well — continually demonstrating his capacity as a strategic thinker, the fortitude to manage change and an ability to thrive in complex operating environments.
Harvey is a graduate member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and is a director of Australian Crop Accreditation System Limited. He is on the management boards of Pulse Breeding Australia and Barley Breeding Australia and a member of the Australian Winter Cereals Pre-breeders Alliance. He has also served as a director of the Value Added Wheat CRC (VAWCRC) and as a member of the board of GrainGene and the CRC for Plant Based Management of Dryland Salinity.
Peter Reading will continue as GRDC managing director until Harvey takes over on March 1, 2011.
