SESSION CHAIR | Theme 2: Keith Pengilley, PIEFA Director

Keith has an extensive background in large scale family and corporate grains and livestock production in northern NSW and Tasmania. His interests lie along the entire agricultural supply chain from research and development through to marketing and international exports. Currently based in Tamworth, NSW as Regional Manager for NSW Department of Primary Industries. Prior to this role Keith spent over 7 years on the GRDC Southern Panel and 5 of those as chair.

Professor David Lamb ​
Chief Scientist | Food Agility Cooperative Research Centre
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BIOGRAPHY: David is a physicist and has worked in precision agriculture for more than 25 years. He is presently the Chief Scientist of Food Agility, an AU$330M+, Australian Cooperative Research Centre focussed on transforming the agrifood sector using the power of data and digital. He has co-designed/led more than 90 industry-funded R&D projects and established Australia’s first tertiary course in Precision Agriculture. Passionate about the role of STEM in agrifood education and innovation, he established the University of New England’s internationally renowned SMART Farm in 2007, and recently the Charles Sturt University Global Digital Farm initiative. In 2018 he co-created of the ‘Farm of the Future’ Pavilion at the Sydney Royal Easter Show.

KEYNOTE ABSTRACT 
TITLE: Smart Farms – Bringing Agtech to life, for life
Engaging with the wonder and innovation of food production should be a lifelong journey. Everyone starts consuming food well before they start making career choices. In their landmark article “The employer of choice  or a sector without workforce?” (AFI, 2022), Pratley et al. argue that not only is the supply of University graduate (tertiary) and Vocational Education and Training (VET) para-professionals presently ‘well short of what is needed to fill employment opportunities’, but that, worryingly, will remain the trend without intervention.
Typically, primary and secondary schools, as well as tertiary and VET programs, focus on the use of local, small scale and often plot-based school/college farms in order to expose students to ‘agricultural experiences’. The emergence of smart farms, namely commercial scale, highly-digitalised farms anchored by educational institutions, offers the chance to broaden the context (and exposure) of students beyond many perceived ‘traditional’ job roles.  Data and technology-fuelled innovations now underpin contemporary, existential issues of sustainability, resilience and food security. There are lucrative, satisfying and challenging career pathways in agriculture that didn’t exist 20 years ago.
Using three of Australia’s leading educational smart farms, this presentation will discuss the role and opportunities for smart farms more broadly to contribute to addressing the skills shortage in this vital sector.

Renée Anderson ​
Cotton Grower, Consultant
Owner/Manager | Anderson Farming 

BIOGRAPHY: A food/fibre producer in Central QLD experienced in research, agronomy and industry roles in the Australian Cotton Industry for 26 years. A passionate advocate and skilled communicator for Australian agriculture & sustainable farming systems, having researched social licence & environmental stewardship during her Nuffield Scholarship. Renée, in her previous industry position as Regional Manager for Cotton Australia, played a key role in the high regional adoption of industry sustainability best management and school & community education. 
Renée holds a grower advisory position for the Australian cotton industry sustainability panel, is involved in community volunteering, strategic agricultural education & advocacy in schools for ag workforce sustainability.

KEYNOTE ABSTRACT
TITLE: An Australian Cotton Yarn – A Cut Above the Rest
Australian cotton growers and the industry have made changes towards ongoing sustainability improvements over the last three decades, spurred on by knowledge-sharing and the commitment to our cotton best-practices program – myBMP, which helps farmers meet science-based targets for meaningful impact.
Aligning our ambition with strong Australian STEM capacity, we are looking to the future to continue to meet community and consumer expectations including water efficiency, renewable energy, biodiversity, the circular economy, and climate solutions.

Nataša Sikman BSc(Psych)​
Deputy CEO, People, Culture and Processes
Senior Climate Policy Manager | Australian Forest Products Association

BIOGRAPHY: Nataša is the Deputy CEO and Senior Climate Policy Manager at the Australian Forest Products Association (AFPA), the national industry advocacy group representing tree growing, timber processing companies and the pulp, paper and bioproducts sectors.  She is skilled in policy development, communication, strategy, and advocacy and is passionate about evidence-based scientific policy development particularly focused on sustainable nature-based solutions and the opportunities in the bioeconomy to combat climate change.

KEYNOTE ABSTRACT
TITLE: From Fibre to Future – Connecting Sustainable Timber and Wood Fibre Solutions
Fibre products, including timber, packaging and bioproducts, play an ever-growing and significant role in our daily lives both in Australia and globally. Innovation is fundamental to the continued growth, production, and manufacturing of these products. Sustainable nature-based solutions will be key to drive the benefits of the bioeconomy to help combat climate change and to ensure food and fibre security. The goals of the Paris Agreement demand a greater use of sustainable, low carbon, recyclable and biodegradable products in order to decarbonise economies meaning that connecting the dots across the fibre supply chain will be critical if we are genuine about achieving net zero by 2050. This keynote presentation aims to give educators the confidence to embed and explore the timber and wood fibre bioeconomy in their primary and secondary classrooms. Whether it is understanding tree genetics, carbon accounting, circular economy, the bioeconomy, the science behind engineered wood products, First Nations People’s connection to sustainable forestry, wood art and design or the environmental benefits of forests and timber, the timber and wood fibre bioeconomy is an exciting, innovative and critical area to help achieve a sustainable future.