Chief Plant Health Manager, Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment, Tasmania

Andrew has 30 years’ experience working in government in Tasmania and Victoria. He is also Tasmania’s Chief Plant Health Manager with Biosecurity Tasmania in the Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water, and Environment, a role that has responsibility for representation (state and national) and decision making in relation to the development and maintenance of the Tasmanian plant biosecurity system including plant biosecurity emergency responses. He also has management responsibility for Tasmania’s plant biosecurity laboratories.

Previously Andrew has held senior science and policy roles in horticulture and weed management. Andrew is a Churchill Fellow receiving his Fellowship in 2002 sponsored by the Swire Group to investigate integrated pest management in horticulture in northern Europe and Scandinavia. In 2005 Andrew was made a life member of the Tasmanian Weed Society.

Andrew is past chair and a former director on the board of the Ag Institute Australia which is a peak body representing agriculturists in Australia.

Andrew is current chair of the Plant Health Committee.

Andrew’s key skills are in the areas of strategic planning, legislative and policy development and implementation, government operational process, organisation leadership, project management, scientific and plant science knowledge, systems thinking and international trade.

Andrew holds degrees in biological and agricultural sciences from the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (BAppSc) and University of Tasmania (MAgrSc) respectively, and a Graduate Certificate in Public Sector Management from Flinders University of South Australia. Andrew is also a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.