Welcome to our new Board members
August 25, 2026
The Crawford Fund for Food Security would like to officially welcome two new appointments to the Board of Directors. Dr John Allen and the Hon Sussan Ley were officially welcomed at the most recent Crawford Fund Board meeting.
“As part of a natural cycle of renewal and reinvigoration, we are very pleased to have John and Sussan joining the Board,” said Ms Su McCluskey, Chair, Crawford Fund for Food Security.
“John, with his world-leading expertise managing the diagnosis and control of transboundary animal and zoonotic diseases; and Sussan with her extensive leadership experience in national policy, regulatory reform and regional community engagement, bring fantastic credentials to the organisation,” she said.
“The work of the Crawford Fund is more important than ever. With global challenges including budget cuts and climate change encouraging new ideas and ways of doing things, and opportunities like the development of Australia’s national food strategy, it is a very exciting time to be contributing to food and nutrition security,” she said.
“We welcome John and Sussan to the Crawford Fund for Food Security, and look forward to working with them to make meaningful impact,” she concluded.
These appointments follow the announcement of Dr Geoff Allan FTSE PSM as the new Chair of the NSW State Committee, and Director of the Crawford Fund for Food Security Board in May. And, news of the retirement from the Board of Dr Tony Gregson (VIC), Dr Richard Sheldrake (NSW), Mr Dick Warner (TAS) and the Hon John Anderson.
Read more about John and Sussan below:
Dr John Allen PhD, BVSc, MBA, GDipIPLaw, GAICD
John is a private veterinary consultant and Chair of the Victorian Crawford Committee. He was Program Leader of the international engagement program within the Australian Centre for Disease Preparedness (ACDP) from 2009 to 2023 and has extensive experience in the management of projects enhancing the diagnosis and control of transboundary animal and zoonotic diseases across numerous countries within the Asia Pacific Region, contributing to Australia’s pre-border biosecurity.
John is a Ministerial appointee to the Victorian Cattle Compensation Advisory Committee and is Chair of the Wildlife and Small Institutions Animal Ethics Committee within the Victorian Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action (DEECA), and Chair of the Swinburne University AEC.
He was a Director and Treasurer of Vets Beyond Borders from 2019 to 2024, and a Director of Veterinaires Sans Frontieres, (VSF International) from 2020 to 2023.
Prior to joining CSIRO, John was on the senior management team of an ASX listed biotechnology company where he managed the business development and commercialisation of the company’s intellectual property, and coordinated clinical trials and regulatory approvals of innovative animal research and human cancer diagnostic modalities.
He has held positions in academia, as a Senior Business Development Manager at Monash University, and as Head of Research and Commercialisation at Victoria University. He, was a rural veterinarian before embarking on his career in commercialisation of research and in international development and has operated a beef cattle farm in the Otway ranges of Victoria.
Sussan Ley is the Former Leader of the Opposition; Former Minister for Health, Aged Care and Sport; and Former Minister for the Environment.
She brings extensive leadership experience in national policy, regulatory reform and regional community engagement. As both a cabinet minister and a long‑serving rural MP, she has led complex reforms at the intersection of public policy, science and practical program delivery. Her background in executive government and public administration brings a strategic, long-term perspective on organisational success and growth.
Based in Albury and with a farming and flying background, Sussan has a long‑standing commitment to rural communities, agricultural resilience and sustainable land management. Her work has consistently focused on strengthening regional capacity, supporting evidence‑based decision‑making and ensuring that national policy reflects the realities of Australia’s food and farming systems.
Throughout her career, Sussan has mentored many young people and is a strong advocate for expanding opportunities in regional Australia and internationally.
She is currently broadening her professional focus into writing and public commentary.
