Plant Health Australia (PHA) is pleased to welcome two new directors, Bruce Kefford and Liz Alexander, following member endorsement at the 13th Plant Health Australia Annual General Meeting in Canberra on Wednesday 27 November.  

Members voted unanimously to accept the recommendations of the PHA Board Selection Committee to appoint the new directors and to reappoint current directors Julie Haslett and Darral Ashton for new four-year terms. The new directors replace outgoing Board members Jan Davis and Roger Smith.

Dr Bruce Kefford has extensive experience at policy and operational levels in biosecurity and natural disaster preparedness, response and recovery. Until July this year he was in the role of Deputy Secretary with the Victorian Department of Environment and Primary Industries. He is passionate about the application of science, policy and regulation, in collaboration with industry, to improve industry sustainability and competitiveness.

Liz Alexander specialises in finding collaborative and innovative solutions for regional challenges. She was a director of Cotton Australia and is currently the Chair of Theodore Irrigation Scheme Local Management Arrangements Interim Board, Chair of Rio Tinto Coal Australia Clermont Groundwater and Environmental Reference Group and sits on the Deputy Premier’s Central Queensland Regional Planning Committee.

PHA Chairman, Dr Tony Gregson, thanked retiring directors Jan Davis and Roger Smith, acknowledging the valuable contribution that both directors made during their tenure on the PHA Board. He wished them both all the best in their future endeavours.

At the first PHA Board meeting following the AGM, Dr Gregson was appointed as Chairman for the next two years. Darral Ashton was appointed as Deputy Chairman at the same meeting.