Welcoming our new TAS Committee Chair

October 15, 2025

The Crawford Fund has welcomed Associate Professor Stephen Ives to our Board and as the new Chair of the Tasmania Committee.

Stephen was appointed to the roles, following a decision by Richard Warner to step down after nine years leading the Tasmania Committee.

“Stephen is very well known to the Crawford Fund as part of the Tasmania Committee already, and because of his work with the university and ACIAR. We look forward to working more closely with him on the Board over the coming years,” said Shaun Coffey, the Crawford Fund’s Chief Executive Officer.

“I would also like to thank Dick for his wonderful contribution to the Crawford Fund Board since 2016. His sense of humour, empathy, and commitment to make a difference marked his approach to the role,” he said.

“We are very happy that he will remain on the committee promoting the Crawford Fund and ongoing Tasmanian involvement in international agriculture for development,” he said.

Following work as a draftsman and a vegetable and cereal agronomist, Stephen completed his PhD and moved his family to Vietnam to coordinate a livestock research project funded through ACIAR before returning to Tasmania to continue his local and international research in soils, crops, and livestock with the Tasmanian Institute of Agriculture at the University of Tasmania.

Since 2017, Stephen has incorporated undergraduate teaching with his research, providing pathways for young people to be involved in international agricultural research particularly with the support of the Crawford Fund.