John Sandow

I have enjoyed a diverse and highly rewarding career in agriculture based in Perth, Brisbane and Canberra. I retired from the Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC) in 2007 after five years as the Crop Protection Program Manager. I have since maintained a link with many of my former colleagues through my role as a Director of the Cooperative Research Centre for National Plant Biosecurity (CRCNPB) and also to a lesser extent through some contract work. The lion’s share of my time is now taken up maintaining a 10 acre property in the NSW hinterland of the ACT, and local community involvement.

I am originally from Melbourne and the thing I miss most is the hectic social life that comes with living in a big city surrounded by one’s life-long friends. At least, I used to miss it – I often wonder whether I would really enjoy being that time-poor now?

Living near Canberra is a delight. I love all the seasons; but especially in Spring and Autumn I find myself driving past scenes that, were I in another country, I would pull over and take a photograph. We take it all for granted.

My favourite or ideal holiday destination is Europe. My wife Chris and I love the history, the architecture, the music, the gardens... Put us on a river vessel almost anywhere in Europe and we’ll happily seek out the antique shops at every port of call.

In my spare time I fix things. There is a lovely saying attributed to William Morris: “Have nothing in your house that you do not know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful.” To this philosophy I would add; “and restore it to perfect working order”.

My favourite movie is probably languishing somewhere among the countless movies that I have never seen. When I do go to see a movie, it is usually because I expect to be enlightened by it. I enjoyed The King’s Speech, because I knew very little about King George VI… (one of the downsides of a 100% science focused education.)

At the moment I am reading “The Geology of Australia” by David Johnson. I am a closet geologist.

If money was no object, I would do exactly as I am doing now.

A quality I would most like to be remembered for is being a tower of strength in any emergency. Regrettably this will not happen, so I shall have to settle for having a keen sense of humour.

What I find most valuable about being a Board Member is maintaining a connection with colleagues, technologies and trends in the agricultural sphere, and then applying the experience I have gained from my roles in science and commerce, both private and public. I believe that the CRC Board collectively continues to play a crucial supportive role in management’s ability to sustain the CRCNPB as one of our most effective Cooperative Research Centres.