Welcoming new members to our NSW Committee

May 21, 2026

The Crawford Fund for Food Security’s NSW Committee met last week in Sydney, and took the opportunity to officially welcome two new faces, and announce a leadership change following a farewell for outgoing Chair Dr Richard Sheldrake AM.

Dr Geoff Allan FTSE PSM is the new Chair of the NSW State Committee, and Director of the Crawford Fund for Food Security Board. Geoff served 42 years with the NSW Government, culminating in his role as Deputy Director-General of the Department of Primary Industries, where he oversaw fisheries, forestry and hunting operations. His career has focused on advancing sustainable fisheries and aquaculture across Australia, Southeast Asia, and the Pacific. Through extensive collaboration with the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR) – as Project Leader, Fisheries Program Consultant, and Reviewer – he has championed partnership models that deliver mutual benefits to Australia and developing nations.

Bruce Finney, Group Director, Research Assurance at the NSW Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, joins the NSW Committee as an experienced agricultural and innovation leader with a career spanning more than 30 years in commercial agriculture, the Australian cotton industry and the public sector rural RD&E system. He has held senior executive roles within Australia’s cotton and primary industries sectors, including Executive Director of the Cotton Research and Development Corporation and prior to this with the Twynam Agricultural Group, managing properties across NSW and Argentina. Currently, he is responsible for the management of NSW DPIRD’s research stations, R&D office services, and organisational research quality assurance functions. Bruce brings extensive expertise in governance, strategic leadership, stakeholder engagement, driving innovation and sustainable industry outcomes.

The Committee also welcomed Assoc Prof Peter Thomson, from the Sydney School of Veterinary Science at the University of Sydney. Peter has worked as a statistician for 45 years in academia and government, primarily in the agricultural and veterinary sciences. His wide-ranging research over this time has included genetics, ecology, and epidemiology. As well as this research, much of his time has been involved in training and consulting, across a range of levels. He has also worked in capacity building in a number of international agricultural development projects and individually in Vietnam, China / Tibet, Pakistan, and Bangladesh and in sub-Saharan Africa (Tanzania, Zambia, Somalia and Kenya).

“Geoff, Bruce and Peter bring extensive experience, knowledge and networks to the Crawford Fund for Food Security, and we look forward to their contributions in helping us work towards our vision of a food-secure world,” said Shaun Coffey, Chief Executive of the Crawford Fund for Food Security.

“We also take this opportunity to sincerely thank Richard for his passion and energy as a Director of the organisation for almost a decade,” he said.

As Chair of the NSW Committee, Dr Richard Sheldrake AM was appointed to the Crawford Fund Board in 2017 following almost four decades in the NSW Public Service where he was Director-General of four Departments. In March 2026, he was honoured for his long-term and outstanding service to the Crawford Fund for Food Security alongside his colleagues from Tasmania and Victoria, Dick Warner and Dr Tony Gregson AM, who are also stepping down from their respective state committee Chair and Board roles.

“They leave the organisation in a very strong position, with clear priorities and a commitment stronger than ever to advocate for and support Australia’s contribution to, and benefit from, international agricultural and food research,” said Ms Su McCluskey, Chair of the Crawford Fund for Food Security.

“We thank them for their massive contributions. Recognising that now more than ever, Australia’s food security is intimately linked to regional and global systems, trade, communication, and security, we will honour their legacy by stepping up to the challenges and opportunities ahead,” she concluded.