8 August 2008
New Chief Executive
This Biosecurity Australia Advice informs stakeholders of the appointment of a new Chief Executive of Biosecurity Australia, Dr Colin Grant.
The Secretary of the Australian Government Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) has announced the appointment of Dr Colin Grant as the new Chief Executive of Biosecurity Australia.
Dr Grant previously was Executive Director of the Bureau of Rural Sciences (BRS) within DAFF. BRS provides scientific advice to the agricultural portfolio and other government agencies across a wide spectrum of scientific disciplines. Dr Grant has had a long career at a leadership level in Commonwealth and state government departments, including agriculture, environment and industrial relations.
Dr Grant was educated in Kenya, studied for a Bachelor of Science at the Haile Selassie University in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, and he has a Bachelor of Science degree with double majors in botany and zoology from the University of Tasmania. His PhD degree was in fisheries production ecology from James Cook University. Dr Grant has worked in five jurisdictions in Australia (Tasmania, Queensland, Western Australia, New South Wales, and the Australian Capital Territory) and in several overseas locations, including leading an aid program in Jamaica and working for the United States Department of Commerce.
The Secretary acknowledged former Chief Executive John Cahill’s distinguished career, including heading the quarantine operations for the 2000 Sydney Olympics and culminating in the establishment of Biosecurity Australia. Mr Cahill managed the formation of Biosecurity Australia as an independent prescribed agency in 2004 and was its Chief Executive until the recent announcement of his retirement.
Information about the work of Biosecurity Australia is available on the Biosecurity Australia website.
John Wilson
Communications Manager
Telephone: +61 2 6272 3811
Facsimile: +61 2 6272 4333
Email: Biosecurity Australia