Dr Alison Stewart has been appointed the new CEO of the Foundation for Arable Research (FAR).
FAR Board Chair David Birkett says Dr Stewart, who is currently General Manager Forest Science at Scion, will bring with her a unique combination of skills.
“Alison is an internationally recognised scientist with specialist knowledge in the area of plant protection. She has a wealth of experience in managing research groups, programmes and institutions in New Zealand universities and CRIs, with research encompassing everything from cutting edge molecular technologies to product development and on-farm trials. As such, she has a strong understanding of the New Zealand science sector, particularly as it relates to primary industries.
“She has also worked in the commercial sector in New Zealand and the USA, successfully developing and commercialising several biologically based pest and disease management technologies for the agriculture, horticulture and nursery sectors, and sat on the boards of Plant & Food Research in New Zealand and The Waite Research Institute at the University of Adelaide.
“Alison is also familiar with FAR and its research, having been involved in several FAR funded research projects and a member of the independent External Programme Management Review panel which carried out a high-level overview of FAR’s activities and research in 2016.”
Dr Alison Stewart will take up the role of CEO in mid-March, replacing founding CEO Nick Pyke who has been with the organisation since it was formed in 1995.
Further information:
As GM Forest Science at Scion, Dr Stewart leads a range of activities including breeding, agronomy, biosecurity, remote sensing, wood quality and value chain optimization, and is also responsible for Scion’s strategic relationships with a number of national and international stakeholders.
- Dr Stewart is an applied plant scientist who has focused on sustainable disease management, soil biology and plant biotechnology
- PhD in Plant Pathology from the University of Stirling
- First female Professor at Lincoln University (1998)
- Founding Director of the Bio-Protection Research Centre at Lincoln University (2003-2011)
- AgResearch Technology Transfer Award (2002)
- MAFBNZ Biosecurity Award for Excellence (2008)
- Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit in recognition of services to biology (2009)Distinguished Professor of Plant Pathology, Lincoln University (2011)
- Member of the MPI led Primary Sector Science Direction Steering Committee (2017)
- Fellow of the NZ Institute for Agricultural and Horticultural Science
- Fellow of the Australasian Plant Pathology Society