This Western Regional Panel Chair position is for a two-year period starting on 1 September 2024 with the requirement to spend 75 days a year on GRDC related business
The search is now on for an innovative, passionate and committed leader from the Western Australian grains industry to chair the Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC) Western Regional Panel.
The incoming panel chair will replace WA grain grower Darrin Lee, who has held the position since 2018 and will step down at the finish of his term on 31 August 2024.
GRDC regional panels play a key role in connecting the organisation with the grains industry and informing research, development and extension (RD&E) investments. Panels are regionally based and typically comprised of growers, agronomists, farm advisers, researchers, agri-professionals and industry stakeholders.
GRDC Board Chair and Goondiwindi-based grain grower, John Woods, said chairing a regional panel was an invaluable opportunity to ensure the constraints and opportunities facing Australian grain growers were identified, understood and supported by strategic RD&E investments designed to deliver enduring profitability on-farm.
“This financial year GRDC will invest more than $200 million in RD&E, so it’s crucial we have passionate regional panel members, who can ground truth and inform proposed projects to ensure they meet grower and industry needs,” John Woods outlined.
“At the helm of these regional panels, we want leaders, who are exceptional communicators, effective collaborators, broadminded, inquiring and inclusive so they can bring informed and clear-sighted information from industry into GRDC.
“Our panel chairs also play a pivotal role in communicating and extending information from GRDC RD&E back to industry. So, theirs is a complex, but critically important role.”
John Woods said the organisation was looking for a Western Australian grains industry leader, who had a strong interest in driving collaboration and was keen to work closely with growers to understand issues and opportunities across WA better.
“Networking is a key part of the role as it generates unparalleled opportunities to engage across the grains industry and in a broader sense, the entire agricultural landscape. This includes attending study tours, grower meetings, research updates and cross-industry events.”
To be successful in the role of the regional panel chair, John Woods explained how representatives needed to have a strong understanding of the grains industry and solid connections with stakeholder groups, growers and agri-professionals in their region.
The GRDC Western Regional Panel Chair position will be for an initial two-year period, starting on 1 September 2024, until 31 August 2026. The successful candidate will be required to spend approximately 75 days a year on GRDC related business.
The successful candidate must be able to meet the time requirements of the role and have experience with chairing and leading meetings in a team setting.
Please note that the roles of the regional panel chair and member are advisory only and not the subject of an employment relationship with GRDC.
Applications close 5pm AWST Friday 15 March 2024. To find out more about the position, go to this link.
