$10,000 cash prize
Australia: Nominations open for Horticulturist of the Year
The cross-sector award is open to any professional that has demonstrated excellence in horticulture from any point in the supply chain including R&D, education, training, advertising or promotion and technology transfer.
Last year’s winner, Richard Llewellyn, Managing Director of BioResources was nominated by Macadamia Australia for his work in mass rearing and supply of MacTrix wasps for control of nutborer, a major pest in macadamias and lychees. The award money has enabled Richard to undertake a number of work-related trips, including a visit to China where he met with fellow insect breeders who are rearing a similar species of wash on silkworm eggs.
Caption: Richard Llewellyn, Managing Director of BioResources, was named last year’s winner of the HAL Graham Gregory award. The $10,000 cash prize was put to good use, assisting to expand his research in the mass rearing and supply of MacTrix wasps for control of nutborer.
“I was really surprised to win the award, particularly given that I work in a fairly unconventional area of horticulture,” Richard said.
The HAL Awards are also designed to support future generations of horticulturists with two award categories designed specifically to encourage innovation, leadership and professional development.
The Young Leader award, which is open to all professionals aged 35 and under, recognises and encouraged leadership in any horticultural discipline. The Kendle Wilkinson Award, open to anyone who has completed a Masters or PhD in horticulture or agriculture in the past five years, is designed to bridge the gap between science and best-farm practice.
Winners of both the Young Leader and Kendle Wilkinson Award receive a special plaque to and are given the opportunity to travel to Sydney for the award ceremony.
“Horticulture is one of Australia’s most important industries with a GVP of $8.6 billion in the past financial year,” said HAL CEO John Lloyd.
“Given the significance of the industry to the Australian economy, it’s important to give recognition to the hard-working professionals behind the scene and reward the forward-thinking leaders of our industry."
“Their achievements, whether spanning a few years or a lifetime, are contributions that positively impact horticulture for all of us.”
Nominations for all three awards close on 20 September 2013.
For more information and to download nomination forms, visit www.horticulture.com.au or phone +61 2 8295 2300.