Dr Steve Quarrell’s career has taken him from working in orchards and vineyards to completing a PhD in horticultural pest management and leading biosecurity planning projects at Plant Health Australia.

In this profile, Steve shares his pathway into agriculture and the experiences that continue to shape his approach to biosecurity and preparedness.

Please introduce yourself and tell us a bit about your education and career.
I started an electronics apprenticeship in the Royal Australian Navy when I was 16 fixing radars and weapon systems and then moved to private industry. After a while I got jealous looking out of the workshop window at the gardener and wanted to travel Australia. I then spent 3-years working around Australia mainly in orchards and vineyards and decided agriculture was what I wanted do.

In my early 30’s I decided to go to university and completed a Bachelor of Agricultural Science at the University of Tasmania and then both an Honours degree, and a PhD in in horticultural pest management. I then spent the next 10-years at the university working in research focussed on IPM, honey bee health and crop pollination and lecturing in entomology, industry development and extension.

In 2024, I made the move to Plant Health Australia (PHA) as the Biosecurity Planning Manager.

Where do you currently work and what is your role?

I currently work at PHA managing the National Fruit Fly Council (NFFC) and the PHA’s Biosecurity Planning portfolios.

What does a typical day at the office look like for you?

I manage a small team who work on multiple projects across a wide variety of plant industries. I spend a lot of time on the phone and in meetings working with the team, Research and Development Corporations (RDCs) and Peak Bodies ensuring we complete our projects on time and improve industry’s biosecurity preparedness. Since the start of 2026, when I stepped into the NFFC role, my focus has largely been working on fruit flies.

How does your role relate to biosecurity and, more specifically, fruit fly?

I work across all PHA’s member industries. Fruit flies are one of the challenges faced by many industries. The NFFC and PHA’s planning team spend a lot of time trying to better understand the impact especially exotic species may have if they were introduced into Australia.

What motivates you to continue doing the work you do?

The growers. When I was working on farms I started to understand the daily challenges growers face. Despite everything, they never seem to give up supporting them keeps me going.

What are you most proud of in the work you do?

I like to solve problems, fruit flies and biosecurity more broadly gives plenty to work on. Finding solutions to issues gives me satisfaction.