A lifelong commitment to the cotton industry has resulted in Allan Williams being appointed the new Executive Director of CRDC. 

Following a thorough selection process, Chair Richard Haire today announced the news from a CRDC Board meeting in Emerald. 

“On behalf of the CRDC board, I am delighted to appoint Allan as CRDC’s Executive Director,” Richard said.

“Allan has been an integral member of the CRDC team for 12 years – firstly as an R&D Manager, then General Manager, Innovation, and most recently as Acting Executive Director. 

“Allan is exceptionally well qualified for the role, having dedicated his career to cotton. This experience, combined with Allan’s strong leadership, established relationships and sound guidance mean he is the ideal person to lead the CRDC team to deliver against our ambitious new Strategic Plan, Clever Cotton.”

Allan grew up on a cotton farm near Wee Waa and brings over 30 years’ experience in research and development to the position.

Allan’s former roles have included Senior Agronomic Advisor for the global Better Cotton Initiative, Executive Officer for the Australian Cotton Growers Research Association (ACGRA), and Executive Officer for the then Cotton Consultants Australia (now Crop Consultants Australia). During his time with ACGRA, Allan developed the BMP Program – the predecessor to myBMP.

Cotton industry sustainability is a particular passion of Allan’s – he is co-Chair of the Sustainability Working Group, which leads the cotton industry’s PLANET. PEOPLE. PADDOCK Sustainability Framework, and since 2006 has also held the position of Chair of the International Cotton Advisory Committee’s (ICAC’s) Expert Panel on the Social, Economic and Environmental Performance of Cotton. 

Allan holds Bachelor of Science and Bachelor of Law (Hons) degrees from the University of Sydney, is a graduate of the Australian Rural Leadership Program, and has been a finalist in both the Australian Cotton Industry’s Researcher of the Year and Service to Industry Awards. He commences in the role of CRDC Executive Director today.