Celebrating Cathy Reade: A Legacy of Service and a New Chapter at ICRISAT

May 5, 2025

It is with pride and gratitude that we at the Crawford Fund extend our warmest congratulations to Cathy Reade on her appointment as Chair of the Governing Board of the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT). This role is a significant next step for Cathy in her commitment to achieving global food security through international agricultural research and follows her previous two terms on the Board of the World Vegetable Center.

For over three decades, Cathy has been the cornerstone of the Crawford Fund’s outreach and public engagement efforts. As our Director of Outreach, she shaped our public awareness program and spearheaded initiatives nurturing the next generation of agricultural leaders, evidenced in her work with our scholar programs and the annual conference. Her efforts have provided valuable opportunities for young Australians to engage with global agricultural challenges, fostering a community of informed and passionate advocates for international agricultural research.  

Her new role at ICRISAT comes at a pivotal moment, as the world grapples with the intertwined challenges of climate change, food insecurity, and land degradation. We wish Cathy every success in guiding ICRISAT in its mission to transform the drylands of the semi-arid tropics through innovative science and strategic partnerships.   

While we will deeply feel Cathy’s absence when she retires from her position in the Crawford Fund following our annual conference in August, we welcome the prospects of continued collaboration. Her enduring commitment to the Crawford Fund’s mission assures us that she will remain a vital supporter of our projects and initiatives.

On behalf of the entire Crawford Fund family, I extend our deepest appreciation to Cathy for her dedicated service and especially for her more recent impacts in NextGen. We celebrate her achievements and look forward to following her activities in her new role at ICRISAT.

I also extend my personal appreciation. Cathy’s legacy will endure as her path expands.

Shaun Coffey