Overview
- Recruitment now open: Applications are now open for the Honey Bee & Pollination Advisory Panel, offering an opportunity for industry representatives to shape the future of RD&E investment.
- Driving strategic investment: The Panel plays a central role in guiding funding decisions, providing expert recommendations to AgriFutures on where RD&E investment will deliver the greatest impact for industry.
- Connecting industry and research: Bringing together industry insights and technical expertise, the Panel helps ensure research priorities are aligned with the needs of beekeepers, pollination services and broader agricultural system.
AgriFutures Australia is inviting applications from across the honey bee and pollination industry to join its Honey Bee & Pollination Advisory Panel, offering industry participants a direct role in shaping how levy funds are invested.
At a time when the industry is responding to evolving challenges and opportunities, and with a new five-year RD&E Plan on the horizon, this is a timely opportunity to shape the industry's future. The Advisory Panel plays a critical role in ensuring research, development and extension (RD&E) investment remains practical, relevant and firmly grounded in on-farm and on-hive realities.
Putting levy funds to work for industry
The AgriFutures Honey Bee & Pollination Program invests in RD&E to support a productive, sustainable and profitable Australian beekeeping industry. Funded through the statutory levy paid by commercial beekeepers, the Program invests around $1 million annually into research and innovation to drive productivity, sustainability and growth across the industry.
These investments are guided by the industry's five-year RD&E Plan, with priorities including bee health and resilience, pest and disease management, pollination and income diversification, floral resources and product development. With a strong focus on challenges such as Varroa mite management and changing production conditions, the Program is designed to respond to both current challenges and future opportunities.
The role of the Advisory Panel
The Honey Bee & Pollination Advisory Panel sits at the centre of this investment process, providing recommendations to AgriFutures on the allocation of RD&E funding.
Panel members act as the industry's "eyes and ears on the ground," ensuring that research priorities reflect what matters most to beekeepers, pollinators and the broader industry. In practice, this includes:
- Advising on RD&E priorities and shaping the RD&E Plan
- Identifying emerging challenges and new opportunities
- Aligning investment advice and feedback including assessing research proposals and reviewing research reports to ensure alignment with industry needs
- Supporting awareness, adoption and impact of research outcomes across the sector
- Panel members also provide recommendations on shortlisted research applications consistent with the Program's RDE plan priorities and may assist with adoption and commercialisation to ensure projects deliver tangible benefits for levy payers.
Who should apply?
The Panel is built to reflect a mix of practical and technical skills and experience in the honey bee and pollination industry, including:
- Commercial beekeepers and pollination service providers
- Technical specialists
- Industry participants with experience in areas such as production, biosecurity, or extension
Selection is based on a balance of skills and experience with an emphasis on direct industry experience, understanding of RDE priorities and the ability to identify what research will make a real difference, leadership and governance skills (strategic thinking, communication, financial management and stakeholder engagement). A key requirement is a clear understanding of industry challenges and a desire to contribute to practical, outcomes-focused research.
To ensure transparency and avoid conflicts of interest, panel members are required to manage any potential conflicts, including where they are involved in current or prospective research funded through the Program.
What's involved?
Panel members are appointed through an open, competitive process designed to ensure a balance of skills, perspectives and geographic representation across the industry. Appointments are typically for a three-year term, helping ensure continuity while allowing for fresh perspectives to be introduced over time.
The Panel meets quarterly (in person or online) with reading and preparation required between meetings. As a guide, Panel members should expect to commit up to 20 days per year to cover meetings, preparation and agreed program needs which may include input to project steering committee meetings.
Panel members are remunerated for their time in line with Commonwealth Remuneration Tribunal rates, with travel and associated costs supported where required.
A chance to contribute to the industry's future
For those working in the commercial honey bee and pollination sector, joining the Advisory Panel is an opportunity to have a direct influence on how levy funds are invested and to help shape the future direction of the industry.
The Panel works closely with the Australian Honey Bee Industry Council, and draws on input from beekeepers, researchers and stakeholders to ensure research remains relevant, practical and widely adopted. As the industry continues to navigate biosecurity challenges, market pressures and evolving production systems, strong industry input into RD&E investment has never been more important.
Apply now
Applications to join the AgriFutures Advisory Panel are currently open. If you have the experience, insight and motivation to contribute to the future of the industry, now is the time to step forward.
