Crawford Fund Medal 2018

August 13, 2018

The Crawford Fund’s success is based on people who are seeking to make an enduring contribution to global food security. Their commitment and perseverance, often over long periods, mark the Fund out as a unique contributor. Many go unnoticed and their contributions unheralded.

Accordingly, in 2010 the Crawford Fund decided to recognise people who have made a considerable and continued contribution to international agricultural research through our programs and related activities.

It is, therefore, with great pleasure that we are presenting the 2018 Crawford Fund Medal to Dr Bob Clements AO for his extensive and continuing contributions to international agricultural research.

Bob, who hails from Cowra in NSW, is an internationally distinguished agricultural scientist, and a research and people manager who has made a considerable long-term contribution to international agricultural research, and those involved in it and who benefit from it.

At an international level, he has been committed through decades of work associated with ACIAR, international centres, societies and projects. Nationally, he is respected for his leadership roles at CSIRO, ACIAR, as a former CEO of the Crawford Fund, and at a range of Australian academic societies, as well as in universities including University of Queensland, University of Melbourne and the Australian National University.

His work in agronomy, plant breeding, sustainable management systems and genetic resource technology, and in the leadership of projects and institutions has provided him with an opportunity to mentor Australian and overseas researchers and students, and to champion the need to deliver benefits to developing country and Australian farmers. From a scientific and leadership perspective, Bob has played a key role in the development of world-class research on enhancement and modification of photosynthesis in plants to deliver benefits in crop production; work that continues to this day via Bob’s association with ANU.

In addition to Bob’s ACIAR & CSIRO work, Bob has had a long-term engagement with the International Grasslands Congress and has continued to contribute to international agencies via reviews and as a member of the Boards of several Australian Cooperative Research Centres post ‘retirement’.  Additionally, he was President of the International Crop Science Congress in Brisbane 2004.

Bob has had an illustrious career as a scientist, leader and mentor and is indeed a worthy recipient of the Crawford Fund Medal.