Professor John Lovett at home with his biosecure Angus Bull, Harold. 

Last week was a whirlwind week for the Cooperative Research Centre for National Plant Biosecurity.

The Fourteenth Meeting of the Board was held in Canberra on Wednesday 5 and Thursday 6 November which was preceded by a meeting of the Finance and Audit Committee on Tuesday 4 November. The Annual General Meeting of the company and a meeting of Participants were held on Wednesday 5 November.

At the Annual General Meeting the recommendation of the Board Nomination Committee that Ms Christine Campbell, Professor John Irwin and Mr Barry Windle be appointed as Directors of the Company was accepted. As Chair of the Board, I offer my congratulations to them all and look forward to their continued and valued contribution to the CRC Board.

The Board received an update on preparations for the Third Year Review. The independent panel has held two teleconferences with the Board's subcommittee since BM13. Professor Elizabeth Deane (ANU) has joined the panel as the nominee of the Department of Innovation, Industry, Science and Research. A schedule for the independent panel's formal meeting, to be held in Canberra on 16 and 17 December has been compiled. Representatives of industry and participants, together with Program Leaders, will be included and invited to provide feedback on the performance of the CRCNPB, to date. The Board's Subcommittee (Professor John Lovett, Mr Barry Windle and Professor John Irwin) will also be involved, along with members of the senior management team.

The opportunity was taken to incorporate two other events into this intensive program. Australia's former Chief Scientist, Dr Jim Peacock, launched the CRCNPB's ‘Big Book' Plant Pest Investigation, at the CSIRO ‘Discovery' Centre on 6 November. The ‘Big Book' is a resource prepared for primary school students as an adjunct to the CRCNPB's successful primary school education program.

Later that day, a ‘Scientists of Tomorrow School Summit' was also held at the ‘Discovery' Centre. Prizes were awarded to students and schools from the ACT for innovative approaches to plant pests. Master of Ceremonies for the day was Dr Ruben Meerman, the ABC's ‘Surfing Scientist', who displayed an enviable rapport with the students who were present. These events emphasise the CRCNPB's commitment to education from primary school through to postdoctoral studies. The primary school initiative, trialled in the ACT, is now to ‘go national'.

Back to The Leaflet. [1]