Keynote Listeners
Our Keynote Listeners play an integral role in summarising and communicating the key take home messages from our conference each year.
Shortly after the event they will release a succinct summary for those looking for an overview of what they heard or a snapshot of what they missed.
Our Keynote Listeners are sourced from our Researchers in Agriculture for International Development (RAID) Network – the Australia-based network that brings together early to mid-career researchers with an interest in agriculture and international development.
RAID’s support is also key to the successful delivery of our conference scholar program, assisting with our scholar activities and mentoring some of the scholars. Most of our conference scholars go on to be members of the RAID Network, a program of the Crawford Fund for Food Security.
Our RAID Keynote Listeners in 2026 are:
Krishna Alamuru
Krishna is the secretary of RAID Network, a 2024–26 Plantae Fellow with the American Society of Plant Biologists (ASPB) and a PhD candidate at the Centre for Crop Health, University of Southern Queensland, where his research focuses on plant pathology, genomics, and disease resistance in mungbean. His PhD investigates host–pathogen interactions, including tan spot, a bacterial disease, and powdery mildew, a fungal disease affecting mungbean.
Krishna has received several recognitions for his research and science communication, including multiple best presentation awards at the Centre for Crop Health HDR Symposium and the Broad Acre Cropping Initiative Lightning Talks, as well as recognition through ASPB and international plant science networks. Through his research and professional service, he aims to contribute to sustainable agriculture, crop improvement, and stronger global connections in agricultural research.
As a keynote listener, Krishna is excited to engage with the conference themes, reflect on the key messages from speakers and delegates, and help communicate these insights to a wider audience interested in agriculture, food security, and international development.
Bek Ash
Bek is the state rep coordinator for RAID Network and is an early career researcher passionate about sustainable livestock systems, international development, and climate change. She is completing a PhD by publication exploring context specific adaptation and mitigation strategies across diverse livestock systems. Her research spans systems modelling of grazing management in Australia, gender and resilience in pastoralist communities in northern Kenya, and emissions mitigation modelling at the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA). Beyond research, Bek is an active agricultural leader and science communicator, having presented at major national and international events. She is a Westpac Future Leaders Scholar and RAID central committee member.