Horticulture Innovation Australia (HIA) has ramped-up its bid to eradicate Queensland fruit fly (Qfly) through two strategic contract appointments in area wide management (AWM) and sterile insect technique (SIT).
Dan Ryan has been appointed to the role of programme director of the SITplus consortium, a research group facilitated by HIA that brings together experts from Macquarie University, Primary Industries and Regions South Australia, the CSIRO’s Health and Biosecurity Flagship, Plant & Food Research Australia, and the New South Wales Department of Primary Industries.
Ryan has previously served as business leader Australia for Plant & Food Research for 11 years, as well as being a representative stakeholder in the SITplus consortium. Ryan’s role will be to work with the consortium’s stakeholders to enhance the momentum generated to date, aligning the different components of the HIA’s A$48m Qfly management investment, of which SITplus is central.
Meanwhile, Penny Measham has been appointed Qfly AWM coordinator. Measham has a scientific background and has been working with fruit industries for 10 years in numerous research and extension roles.
The Qfly AWM coordinator role is part of a recent round of funding HIA has secured through the Rural Research and Development for Profit co-investment project. Measham has been engaged on a 34-month contract with HIA as of 24 August 2015.
The appointments come as the construction of Australia’s first facility to combat fruit fly is getting underway in Port Augusta, South Australia.
