GRDC Southern Panel Chairman
Applicant information and application form
2013
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Contents
Overview ..................................................................................................................................................... 4
Vision........................................................................................................................................................... 5
Mission ........................................................................................................................................................ 5
Values ......................................................................................................................................................... 5
The GRDC ................................................................................................................................................... 5
Structure ...................................................................................................................................................... 5
Grain growing regions .............................................................................................................................. 6
The Northern Region............................................................................................................................ 6
The Southern Region ........................................................................................................................... 6
The Western Region ............................................................................................................................ 6
Regional Panels ....................................................................................................................................... 6
GRDC Regional Panel Members ............................................................................................................. 7
Role of the Regional Panel Chair ................................................................................................................. 7
Southern Panel Chairman – Call for Applications......................................................................................... 8
Remuneration .............................................................................................................................................. 8
Period of appointment and time requirements .............................................................................................. 8
Conflicts of Interest ...................................................................................................................................... 8
The Application Process .............................................................................................................................. 9
Application Form ........................................................................................................................................ 11
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Applicant Information
Southern Region Panel Chairman
Overview
People with demonstrated grain production expertise in the Southern Region are invited to apply for a parttime position on the Grains Research and Development Corporation’s (GRDC) Southern Panel
commencing on 1 May 2013 for two years.
The GRDC is one of the world’s leading grains research organisations, responsible for planning, investing
in and overseeing RD&E to deliver improvements in production, sustainability and profitability across the
Australian grains industry.
Its primary objective is to drive the discovery, development and delivery of world-class innovation to
enhance the productivity, profitability and sustainability of Australian grain growers and benefit the industry
and the wider community.
The panel system is a key strength of the GRDC. The panels play an important advisory and strategic
planning role in GRDC investments. The Board makes decisions informed by the knowledge and
experience of regional panels. The panel system helps to ensure that the GRDC’s investments are directed
towards the interests of Australian grain growers and the Australian Government and remain closely
aligned with the GRDC’s Strategic Plan.
This Research and Development Plan 2012–2017 sets out the framework for the current investment
strategy. The plan is available on the corporation’s website.
The GRDC’s Board is seeking to appoint a part time consultant to act in the capacity of Chairman of the
Southern Panel from 1 May 2013. Appointment to this part-time position will be for two years.
Applications are invited and will be assessed by a selection committee. Appointment is based upon the
skills and experience of the applicant in the following fields:
 Extensive knowledge and established networks within the Australian grains industry
 Ability to facilitate and communicate internally with their regional panel and with the National Panel
 Understanding of the GRDC’s strategic direction and investment processes
 Contributions made while appointed as a GRDC Regional Panel member or similar position in the
grains industry
 Commitment and capacity to the meet time requirements of the Chairman’s role
 Demonstrated ability to lead, facilitate and communicate issues related to research, development
and extension activities across the entire Southern Region
 Demonstrated ability to chair and direct meetings
Written applications addressing the relevant fields of expertise listed above must be accompanied by a
brief curriculum vitae that includes career, personal details and the names of three referees with their
contact details. Applications should not exceed four (4) pages.
Applicant’s should as part of their application detail any potential Conflicts of Interest that could arise in
them being selected in the role. The GRDC defines potential conflicts as:
Applications should be marked confidential and addressed to Corporate Secretary, Grains Research and
Development Corporation , PO Box 5367, KINGSTON, ACT, 2604
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Applications close on Friday 22 February 2013. For more information on the Southern Panel Chair
recruitment details visit www.grdc.com.au
Vision
A profitable and sustainable Australian grains industry, valued by the wider community.
Mission
Create value by driving the discovery, development and delivery of world-class innovation in the Australian
grains industry.
Values
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We are committed and passionate about the Australian grains industry.
We value creativity and innovation.
We build strong relationships and partnerships based on mutual trust and respect.
We act ethically and with integrity.
We are transparent and accountable to our stakeholders.
The GRDC
The Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC) is one of the world’s leading grains research
organisations, responsible for planning, investing in and overseeing RD&E to deliver improvements in
production, sustainability and profitability across the Australian grains industry.
The GRDC’s primary objective is to drive the discovery, development and delivery of world-class innovation
to enhance the productivity, profitability and sustainability of Australian grain growers and benefit the
industry and the wider community.
Structure
The GRDC is based in Canberra and currently has approximately 60 staff and operates under the direction
of a Board of eight directors. A team of executive managers lead the corporation’s business activities. As
well as advising the GRDC Board, the management team is responsible for realising the Board’s priorities
and managing and evaluating R&D investments in the Australian grains industry.
The GRDC coordinates a national portfolio and market-driven approach to grains R&D. At the operational
level, the GRDC’s organisational structure is divided into four Business Groups:
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Regional Grower Services
Research Programs
Commercial
Corporate Services.
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The Business Groups coordinate the GRDC research investments within their respective business areas.
Grain growing regions
Geographically, the grains industry is defined by three broad agro ecological regions.
The Northern Region
The GRDC’s Northern Region encompasses Queensland and northern New South Wales, has generally
high inherent soil fertility, although there is increasing evidence that this has been run down over time.
It has relatively high seasonal rainfall and production variability compared with the other two regions. Both
summer and winter crops are important for profit. Yield depends, to a significant degree, on conservation of
soil moisture from summer-dominant rainfall. The Northern Region has the highest diversity of crop
production, including maize, sorghum and tropical pulses as well as wheat, barley, winter-growing pulses
and oilseeds.
The Northern Region is the largest source of Australia’s premium hard high-protein wheat for export and
domestic use. Demand for feed grains from the region’s important livestock industries is a key driver of
grain production.
The Southern Region
The Southern Region encompasses south-eastern Australia, including central and southern New South
Wales; Victoria; Tasmania; and south-eastern South Australia.
It has a diverse suite of soils of generally low fertility and with many subsoil constraints, such as salinity,
sodicity and toxic levels of some elements, although there are also some areas with very productive soils.
Yield potential depends on seasonal rainfall, especially in autumn and spring, and there is less dependence
on stored soil moisture than in the Northern Region.
Crop production systems are varied and include many mixed farming enterprises with significant livestock
and cropping activities.
The Western Region
The GRDC’s western Region comprises the cropping areas of Western Australia, where soil fertility is
generally low to very low, and yields depend on winter and spring rainfall.
In many areas, yields are low by world standards; this is compensated for by the large scale and degree of
mechanisation of the enterprises. Long-term variability in seasonal rainfall and production is lower in the
coastal areas than in the Northern and Southern regions.
Wheat, barley, canola and lupins are the dominant crops, with livestock enterprises in mixed farming
systems often of less importance. The Western Region has a relatively small population and feed industry,
and consequently exports more than 85 per cent of its grain production.
Regional Panels
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Across Australia there are three Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC) Regional Panels
representing the principal cropping zones – northern, southern and western regions. The Panels work with
GRDC management to develop the research, development and extension portfolio. Panel members
provide a ‘face’ to the GRDC representing the corporation and promoting its regional investments.
Panel members’ combined skills and experience provide the Board with a valuable network to draw out
local, regional and national grains industry issues. The GRDC Board considers the appointment of
members to the Regional Panels as crucial to the GRDC’s success.
Each Panel is made up of grain growers, agribusiness practitioners, scientists and the GRDC’s executive
managers, with provision for other industry experts to participate as appropriate.
The Northern Regional Panel, Southern Regional Panel and Western Regional Panel represent Australia’s
three grain-growing regions. Each regional panel:
 identifies and monitors regional and national grains industry issues that are relevant to the region
 interacts with grower groups, research advisory committees and other interested parties in the
region to exchange information
 identifies and develops priorities for RD&E investment and recommends these to the National Panel
 keeps growers and advisers in the region informed about the GRDC’s strategic direction,
investment portfolio and research projects
 assists staff in monitoring the effectiveness of the investment portfolio.
The regional panels are composed of grain growers, agribusiness representatives, researchers and the
GRDC’s executive managers.
GRDC Regional Panel Members 2011-13
Northern Regional Panel
Southern Regional Panel
Western Regional Panel
Chair
James Clark
Members
John Sheppard
Rob Taylor
Aaron Sanderson
Jodi McLean
Keith Harris
Loretta Serafin
Mark Sutherland
Vicki Green
William Martel
Stephen Thomas
Chair
David Shannon
Members
Peter Schwarz
Chris Blanchard
Richard Konzag
Bill Long
Chris Jones
Neil Fettell
John Minogue
Keith Pengilley
Susan Findlay Tickner
Stuart Kearns
Chair
Peter Roberts
Members
Ralph Burnett
Narelle Moore
Bill Ryan
Darren Hughes
John Even
Mike Ewing
Shauna Stone
Vince Logan
Role of the Regional Panel Chair
The Chair plays a crucial leadership role in ensuring that the Panel operates effectively. In addition to
Panel member responsibilities, Regional Panel Chairs are expected to:
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chair Panel meetings and teleconferences
represent their region as a member of the National Panel
facilitate communication between the National Panel and their Regional Panel
manage Panel activity.
National Panel
The National Panel is composed of the chairs of the three regional panels, the Managing Director and the
GRDC’s executive managers.
The National Panel:
 addresses national RD&E priorities across the GRDC’s investment portfolio and makes
recommendations to the Board
 assists the Board to maintain links with grain growers, the Australian Government, state and
territory governments and research partners.
Southern Panel Chairman – Call for Applications
The GRDC is seeking applications from people interested in appointment as Panel Chairman of the
Southern Panel from 1 May 2013.
To be eligible for appointment as the Panel Chairman, a person must have a high level of demonstrated
expertise in production of one or more of GRDC leviable crops within the Southern Region.
Remuneration
Sitting fees for the role of Panel Chairman will be $681 per day as set by the Remuneration Tribunal.
http://www.remtribunal.gov.au/determinationsReports/Current%20Principal%20Determinations/2012/201213%20Determination%2020.11.2012.pdf
Period of appointment and time requirements
The Southern panel Chairman will be appointed initially for a period of two years from 1 May 2013.
All Panel Members are engaged by the GRDC under contract as members of one of three of the
corporation’s advisory panels. This call for applications is for the Chairman of the advisory panel that
operates in the Southern region.
Successful candidates would be required to commit to and have the capacity to be able to meet the time
requirements of up to 100 days per annum to carry out the role.
Conflicts of Interest
It is recognised that there are degrees of conflict of interest, and the action taken should be appropriate to
the situation.
GRDC employees, directors and Panel members must seek to avoid conflict between their obligations to
the GRDC and other individuals or organisations. Where a potential or actual conflict arises it is to be
declared and managed in accordance with GRDC internal operating procedures.
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A GRDC employee, director or Panel member can have:
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an actual or potential conflict; or
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a perceived actual or potential conflict
between:
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his or her duty to act in the GRDC’s best interests; and
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some other interest of, or duty owed.
This includes, but is not limited to, the existence of a material personal interest in a matter that relates to
the GRDC’s affairs. All GRDC employees, directors and Panel members must disclose a material personal
interest in an item where they have a conflicting interest or duty that is significant enough to divide their
loyalties. This would include an interest in or duty to another entity that interferes with the person’s ability
to bring independent judgement to bear, or where there would be a reasonable perception of such a
conflicting interest.
Material personal interest includes:
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direct pecuniary interests where the person, their employer’s or immediate family business
interests are affected and
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material non-pecuniary interests, for example, when a person is an office-holder or employee of
an industry association representing members whose interests are directly affected.
Some examples of situations where a conflict of interest might occur include:
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placing a GRDC contract with a relative
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having an interest in organisations doing business with the GRDC
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having another job that affects the person’s ability to perform their GRDC role.
Chairpersons, Panel Members and their institutions are not precluded from applying for GRDC
investments, but any potential conflict of interest must be declared.
The Application Process
The format for your application is flexible however your submission should be easy to read, accurate,
concise and informative.
You may include other documents to support your application.
The Regional Panel Chair application form is included in this document.
Applications shall preferably be provided in Word format and quote Southern Panel Chairman
Application. These should be emailed to: recruitment@grdc.com.au or hard copies faxed to 02 6166 4599
or posted by 5.00PM EDST on Friday 22 February 2013 to:
Southern Panel Chairman Selection Committee
Grains Research and Development Corporation
PO Box 5367
KINGSTON ACT 2604
Applications close on Friday 22 February 2013
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For further Information on the role of the Southern Panel Chair please contact Stuart Kearns
via email on s.kearns@grdc.com.au
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Regional Panel Chair
Application Form
PERSONAL DETAILS
Title
Mr
Postal Address:
First Name:
Surname:
State:
Postcode:
double click to select
Phone Number:
Fax Number:
Mobile:
Email:
Date of Birth:
/ /
Please indicate which Regional Panel you are applying
Southern Regional Panel
for:
QUALIFICATIONS/ AREAS OF EXPERTISE
Current Position/ Professional
Activities:
Relevant Qualifications*:
* Please note: A copy of your Curriculum Vitae must be submitted as part of the application.
Please rate your level of expertise in the following areas:
HIGH
MEDIUM
LOW
Plant genetics – breeding (applied)
Plant genetics - prebreeding
Plant genetics – gene discovery
Plant biochemistry and physiology
Agronomy
Crop protection - weeds
Crop protection - pests
Crop protection - pathogens
Soil science (structure/ biology/ nutrition)
Environmental science
Farming systems
Engineering
Knowledge management
Extension for practice change
Commercialisation of agricultural technology
Risk, finance and business management
Grains logistic and marketing
SELECTION CRITERIA
1 Extensive knowledge of and networks within the Australian grains industry
2. Ability to facilitate and communicate internally within their regional panel and with the National Panel.
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3. Understanding of the GRDC’s strategic direction
4. Understanding of the GRDC’s investment processes
5. Contributions made while appointed as a GRDC Regional Panel member or similar position in the grains
industry
6. Commitment and capacity to the meet time requirements of the role
7. Demonstrated ability to lead, facilitate and communicate issues related to research, development and
extension activities across the entire Southern Region
8. Demonstrated ability to chair and direct meetings
REFEREE DETAILS
1
Title:
First
Name:
Surname:
First
Name:
Surname:
Position:
Institution:
Phone Number:
Fax Number:
Email:
2
Title:
Position:
Institution:
Phone Number:
Fax Number:
Email:
DECLARATION
I, the applicant declare that the information supplied by me on this form is complete, true and correct in every particular.
I authorise the GRDC to obtain from my nominated referee details any details that would be relevant to my application
for a role as the Southern Panel Chairman.
I understand that giving false or misleading information is a serious offence under the Criminal Code (Commonwealth)
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and that my application will not be processed if I have not provided all documents and information requested on this
form or as set out in the application guidelines.
/
Signature of Applicant
/
Date
Name of Applicant
GRDC USE ONLY
GRDC Reference Number:
Application Checklist
Have you filled out all sections of the form?
Have you attached a copy of your curriculum vitae?
Have you e-mailed a copy of the application and any attachments to recruitment@grdc.com.au?
Please note: the name of the emailed documents should incorporate the applicant’s name.
Have you posted a signed copy of the application and supporting documentation?
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