Simon says...
Welcome to the final edition of The Leaflet for 2008.
It's hard to believe another year has crept by so quickly. It only seems like the other day we started planning for our Third Year Review, and now its over! Having a full independent review of our operations to date is a fitting way to end the year; providing us with the opportunity to reflect on the changes and growth the CRC has experienced since its start-up. Cooperative research centres are complex entities and as a result, the Panel interviewed many key people involved in our activities. This included staff, our Chair, Program Leaders, Participants, industry representatives and our PhD students. We look forward to receiving the recommendations from the Panel and implementing strategies to ensure the continued success of the CRC.
As the CRC steps into its fourth year, we are enthusiastic to see more of our research activities reach fruition. In February 2009, we have scheduled the launch of two key web-based diagnostic tools. The Plant Biosecurity Toolbox and the Biosecurity Bank will deliver world class plant pest diagnostic capability to Australia which is a key driver for the Diagnostics Research Program.
I am pleased to use this edition of The Leaflet to launch the dates for the Global Biosecurity 2010 conference. Global Biosecurity 2010: safeguarding agriculture and the environment is a collaborative effort between the CRC for National Plant Biosecurity, Plant Health Australia, Invasive Animals CRC and Australian Biosecurity CRC for Emerging and Infectious Diseases. This international conference is scheduled for 28 February - 3 March 2010 in Brisbane, Australia. Through The Leaflet, and the conference website (under development) we will keep readers up-to-date with the conference program.
Before signing off for what has been a very challenging and rewarding year, I would like to thank everyone who contributes to the success of this CRC - the Board, our management team, Participant organisations, the Participant's Committee, researchers, students, supervisors and the many other industry related organisations who contribute to our activities. Committees such as the Science Committee and the Grains Advisory Panel provide invaluable guidance and leadership over our project portfolio to ensure our research meets both science excellence and the needs of end-users. Each skill set and breadth of experience from all these people and their organisations is pivotal to successful delivery of our research outcomes and shaping Australia's future plant biosecurity capability.
I wish all of you, and all readers of The Leaflet a very merry Christmas and prosperous new year.
I look forward to sharing our successes with you in 2009.
Kind regards
Dr Simon McKirdy
Chief Executive Officer
CRC for National Plant Biosecurity
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in this issue...
from the arm of the chairCRCNPB Chair, Professor John Lovett provides a wrap up of 2008. READ MORE
global biosecurity 2010Mark your calendars now for the Global Biosecurity 2010 conference. READ MORE
paving a career in sciencePhD student Rachel Meldrum was recently awarded Northern Territory's Young Australian of the Year 2009. Discover how Rachel became interested in pursuing science as a career. READ MORE
other news...
CRCs across Australia will be competing against each other to get their logo photographed in the most unusual location. Help the CRC for National Plant Biosecurity rise to the challenge. READ MORE Meet our Diagnostics Research Program Leader, Dr Deb Hailstones. READ MORE |
