Industry Advisory committee
The Industry Advisory Committee is an important governance group, responsible for providing advice to the CRC about key industry issues. The Committee’s scope and remit includes:
• Provide advice on project proposals: Offer advice on project investment cases with respect to industry needs, commercialisation prospects, pathways to market, and adoption potential in Australian agriculture.
• Provide advice on commercialisation strategies: Offer advice on the commercialisation potential of projects, including recommending partnerships and pathways that may enhance the impact and success of the projects.
• Provide advice on adoption potential: Offer advice on the likelihood of technology and research outputs being adopted by producers and growers, ensuring that proposed projects are practical and beneficial for the industry.
• Provide industry insights: Represent the agricultural sector’s perspectives within the CRC, providing insights into industry requirements and future trends.
• Act in the best interest of the CRC: Ensure that all advice is aligned with the overall mission and objectives of the CRC, prioritising the organisation’s goals over individual member interests.
• Participate in regular reviews: Engage in periodic reviews of the IAC’s functions and effectiveness, providing feedback and suggestions for improvements to better support the CRC’s mission and objectives.
Industry Advisory committee Members
Belinda Lay
Belinda Lay is the Chief Administration & Finance Executive (CAFÉ) and business partner at Coolindown Farms, which is a family-owned mixed sheep and grain enterprise near Esperance.
Belinda has worked in the Agricultural Industry since leaving school in 1994, acquiring 30 years of Industry experience, during that time she has also attained three Diplomas in Business Studies, Agriculture and Project Management plus completed the full Australian Institute of Company Directors Course in 2020. In 2019 Belinda won the WA Agrifutures Rural Women’s Award for her pilot project looking at GPS tracking of sheep.
In 2021, she partnered with Meat & Livestock Australia (MLA) to run multiple activities simultaneously looking at Return on Investment of IoT device on a commercial farm and has a deep understanding of emerging innovations and technologies connected to the farm, in particular livestock, this includes the full utilisation of EIDs and the data available for decision making. Belinda holds an Animal research licence and has undertaken research activities for other parties during Covid.
Ian Corr
Growing up on a cattle property in Queensland, and currently running a small farming operation in NSW, Ian has a strong connection to production Agriculture, and a focus on improving adoption of solutions for further advancing the sustainability credentials of Australian Agriculture.
Naomi Leahy
Naomi Leahy is an experienced professional in the beef industry, currently serving as the General Manager of Argyle Foods Group, an Australian beef supply chain business. With a keen focus on sustainable practices, she spearheads the development of the company’s beef supply chain, ensuring quality and sustainability from the paddock through to the end market.
Before joining Argyle Foods, Naomi worked with Meat & Livestock Australia, where she focused on whole of supply chain R&D, with a particular focus on creating new higher value pathways for producers. She also served as the Cattle Manager at a feedlot in Western Australia, honing her expertise in livestock management and has prior experience working on research trials.
Passionate about innovation in the agricultural space, Naomi is dedicated to advancing sustainable practices within the industry while promoting responsible sourcing and transparency.
Martin Harmer
Martin Harmer is the Australian Research manager of DLF Seeds, a global and Denmark based pasture seed company. Martin obtained a Bachelor of Agricultural Science from the University of Melbourne and a background in consulting before joining DLF Seeds’ Australian Research Team in 2011. Martin initially managed multi-site and multi-year temperate forage grass species agronomy and variety evaluation trials, before commencing his current role leading the Australian team developing novel forage solutions attuned to the needs of Australian Farmers.
DLF Seeds have significant investments in the breeding of pasture species specifically for Australia, including annual pasture legumes (bred in a joint venture with The University of Western Australia), phalaris (with the recent purchase of CSIRO’s phalaris breeding program) and lucerne (with the recent purchase of Corteva’s lucerne breeding programme). DLF Seeds’ Australian Research Team work closely with their international colleagues tackling increasing issues of climatic adaptation and animal productivity.
Wes Lawrence
Wes grew up on a mixed farm in WA’s Great Southern. After balancing school with farm work he spent several years managing daily operations on the family properties, from machinery operation and wool pressing to running sheep and crop programs.
Following study and work and study in human services, accounting, and business consulting, Wes found his way into technology, developing and commercialising a range of innovations from sports broadcasting to marine and automotive sensor systems.
Returning to agriculture, Wes founded AxisTech, a company creating electronics, software, and data solutions for agriculture and working with government, universities, RDCs, CRCs, Grower Groups, and agrifood businesses.
Wes brings a systems-driven approach and a passion for sustainable, nature-positive solutions. Beyond AxisTech, he actively invests in and commercialises breakthrough technologies in MRV, circular economy, waste-to-plant nutrition, and more, promoting agricultural practices that boost biodiversity, conserve resources, and enhance soil health. His vision is to empower farmers and agribusinesses to thrive while making a lasting, positive impact on the natural environment for future generations.
Nicola Cottee
Dr. Nicola Cottee is an Innovation Broker with the Cotton Research and Development Corporation who has a long-standing association with climate and cotton research. Dr Cottee has held various roles throughout her career, including postdoctoral fellow at CSRIO, research direction and stewardship policy officer with Cotton Australia, and senior technical advisor with the NSW Environment Protection Authority. Her early-career research focusing on heat stress tolerance of cotton sparked her interest in the potential impacts of a variable and evolving environment for Australian agriculture.
Currently, Nicola leads CRDC’s Carbon Theme, where she leverages her experience to lead a portfolio of strategic research investments. Her extensive experience in research, stewardship, regulation, and policy positions her to drive collective action on GHG emissions reductions opportunities, enhancing the resilience and competitiveness of Australian agriculture. She believes this collective action can bring significant positive change to the industry.
Claire Mahony
Claire Mahony is Head of New Ventures and Innovation at
AACo. After growing up on a sheep and cattle property in western
Queensland, Claire started her career in Animal Science by studying at the
University of Queensland and Texas A&M University, USA. She then went
on to complete a Global Executive MBA through Monash and she now focuses on
creating value for AACo through adoption of innovation at scale. She is
passionate about the Australian beef industry and supporting the innovation
ecosystem in Australia.