The Hon John Kerin
“I’m passionate about the absolute ongoing need for scientific, economic, social and environmental research to be conducted into agricultural production and natural resource management. Since retiring from active politics, I have been involved with six co-operative research centres, reports on and management of fisheries, forestry and land management and I am currently a member of the Board of the CSIRO, Chair of the Poultry CRC and also Chair of a technical committee of the RIRDC on weed research and management as well as being a Board Member of the Southern Rivers Catchment Management Authority.
I believe that one of the two best ways to assist the developing world is by the extension and provision of agricultural research. My experience as Trade and Overseas Development Minister only re-inforced my view, and that which I had gained through formal university study and the best half hour of my life, when I spoke with Sir John Crawford in the late 1970s. When I was Minister for Primary Industry, Professor Derek Tribe came to my office wishing to enlist my support for his idea of setting up the Crawford Fund. His belief in the need for such an organisation has been more than justified and, if anything, the need is greater today now that food security for the world is even more of a concern.”
The Hon John Kerin AM FTSE FAIAST