The Foundation for Arable Research (FAR) has appointed Dr Roger Williams, former Head of Science for the Royal Horticultural Society, UK, as Senior Manager for Research Development.
Roger takes on the newly created role with responsibility for growing FAR’s research programme, to meet the increasing science and extension needs of New Zealand cropping farmers.
Nick Pyke, FAR’s CEO comments: “Delivering benefits to cropping farmers through up-to-date research is the foundation of FAR’s business. Roger’s appointment will enable us to build more effective collaboration with key research providers and other primary industry sectors to ensure FAR and government investments into research, development and extension help drive the cropping sector forwards.”
Roger added: “I had a great introduction to New Zealand cropping on a secondment to FAR in 2007, while I was working for the UK’s Home-Grown Cereals Authority (the levy board for UK arable farmers). I have kept in touch with the FAR team ever since and I’m delighted to be joining it at such an exciting time. I’m really looking forward to working with the New Zealand cropping community to ensure that robust, cost-effective research and extension delivers practical solutions for a sustainable, profitable cropping industry in New Zealand.”
Dr Williams has spent the last four years as Head of Science at the Royal Horticultural Society in the UK. He has overseen an expansion of the Society’s plant science research programme, built on collaboration with universities and research institutes around the UK and abroad. Previous roles include Assistant Research Director at the Home-Grown Cereals Authority and postdoctoral research positions at Rothamsted Research, the first agricultural research station in the world.
Roger holds a postgraduate diploma in Public Leadership and Management, a PhD in plant pathology and a BSc in Applied Biology. He is the Secretary of the British Society for Plant Pathology (BSPP) and a member of the Linnean Society of London.
Dr Williams is expected to arrive in New Zealand in May with a start date of late May 2012.