New director of world-leading plant research facility
Dr Susie Robinson, newly appointed Executive Director of the Australian Plant Phenomics Facility.
Photo by Jo Pitman, APPF.
The University of Adelaide-led world-leading facility that underpins innovative plant research in Australia has appointed its first Executive Director to drive future success.
The Australian Plant Phenomics Facility, led by the University of Adelaide, has appointed Dr Susie Robinson in the newly created role.
Dr Robinson brings a depth of experience across research, higher education and public policy, and has strong credentials in industry development, innovation, corporate strategy and operations, both in large organisations and small private companies.
“We are delighted to have someone of Dr Robinson’s calibre join the Australian Plant Phenomics Facility (APPF),” said Dr Ron Sandland, Chair of the APPF Advisory Board.
“Trained in the sciences and business management, and with a PhD from Cambridge University, Dr Robinson brings the right mix of experience and business acumen needed to drive the development and implementation of the APPF’s next five-year strategy. This will ensure our capabilities and services continue to align with the needs of the research community and industry, to help address critical challenges in agriculture and plant science.”
Dr Robinson said: “I very much look forward to joining the Australian Plant Phenomics Facility and working with its Advisory Board, host organisations and stakeholders to drive further success and a bright future for the APPF.”
Established in 2009, the APPF is funded by the National Collaborative Research Infrastructure Strategy (NCRIS) to provide Australian researchers and industry with open access to advanced technologies, expertise and analytical tools in plant phenomics. The facility supports high-quality research that drives greater innovation in the Australian research sector and the economy more broadly.
The APPF is a national facility with nodes at the University of Adelaide (The Plant Accelerator), CSIRO in Canberra (High Resolution Plant Phenomics Centre), and the Australian National University (ANU).
Dr Robinson will start in her new role on 3 June 2019. She will be based at the APPF’s Adelaide node, located on the University of Adelaide’s Waite campus.
The University’s Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research), Professor Mike Brooks, welcomed Dr Robinson’s appointment.
“This appointment will help to ensure the Australian Plant Phenomics Facility remains the pre-eminent research facility of its kind, and that the University of Adelaide and our partners will continue to play a critical role in agricultural research and industry in the years to come,” Professor Brooks said.
“As outlined in the University’s new strategic plan, Future Making, agrifood and wine are a key industry engagement priority for the University, with food security one of our grand challenges.
“We hope to see the facility’s outstanding and widely recognised work continue to grow in value for the benefit of the sector and the economy,” Professor Brooks said.