The Australian Government has welcomed the appointment of two new directors to the inaugural board of Agricultural Innovation Australia (AIA).
Minister for Agriculture, Drought and Emergency Management David Littleproud said he welcomed the new appointees and the experience they would bring.
“I welcome Kathy Grigg and Anne O’Donnell to the AIA board,” Minister Littleproud said.
“Ms Grigg is an experienced board member across agribusiness, financial services, and the wine, wool, pork, red meat and dairy industries.
“Her experience includes her roles as deputy chancellor of Deakin University, director of GrainCorp Ltd, and a member of the audit committee at the ACCC.
“Ms O’Donnell brings over 40 years’ experience in the finance sector to the AIA board.
“She is a director of Equity Trustee Holdings Ltd, an external member of the National Capital Audit Committee and is a former director of Grain Growers Association Ltd – a small snapshot of an extraordinary career.
“These appointments to the board mark its completion, which means that AIA can now focus on jump starting joint investment and collaboration to maximise benefits to Australian agriculture, levy payers and the Australian community.
“AIA is a key element of the Australian Government’s new National Agricultural Innovation Agenda to modernise Australia’s agricultural innovation system.
“Innovation is key to help meet industry’s ambitious target for a $100 billion sector by 2030 and we know the biggest productivity gains will come from long-term, transformational R&D.”
Fast Facts:
- AIA is managed by an independent, skills-based board, the two new directors are
- Kathy Grigg
- Anne O’Donnell
- Ms Kathy Grigg and Ms Anne O’Donnell join recently appointed Board members Mr Bernie Brookes AM (Chair), Dr Anne Astin AM PSM and Ms Heather Stacy AM.
- Agricultural Innovation Australia Ltd was established on 1 October 2020 to drive agricultural innovation via a cross-industry approach across the sector.
- The new board is in the process of appointing a Chief Executive Officer.
- The Government is investing $1.3 million in seed-funding for the first AIA investment strategies.
- RDCs are responsible for investing around $800 million each year in agricultural innovation. Almost $300 million of this is Australian Government funding from taxpayers, and around $500 million comes from industry levies.
