When Dr Alison Stewart sat on the panel that did the external programme management review of the Foundation for Arable Research (FAR) in 2016 she realised the huge opportunities for the future of the organisation.
Then, a year later, she saw the advertisement for a new chief executive.
“My role on the review panel gave me a good insight into what FAR had done and where it was heading with its research and activities and I could see there were very exciting opportunities for the arable sector in the future.
“When I saw the advertisement come up last year I saw it as my opportunity to take a key role in the future of the arable sector.”
As an applied research and information transfer organisation responsible primarily to arable growers it was right in Stewart’s domain.
“I love all plants, horticulture and all trees,
“I am a plant scietnist and gardening is a hobby.
“I am excited by the prospect of working with farmers and industry to further grow and develop high value produce,” she said.
As an internationally recognised scientist with specialist knowledge in the area of plant protection Stewart has a wealth of experience in managing research groups, programmes and institutions in New Zealand universities and Crown research institutes.
Her research has encompassed everything from cutting edge molecular technologies to product development and onfarm trials.
As such, she has a strong understanding of the NZ science sector, particularly as it relates to primary industries, FAR board chairman David Birkett said in announcing Stewart’s appointment.
Currently the general manager of forest science at Scion, Stewart would bring with her a unique combination of skills.
She has worked in the commercial sector in NZ and the United States successfully developing and commercialising several biological pest and disease management technologies for the agriculture, horticulture and nursery sectors.
She has been on the boards of Plant and Food Research in NZ and The Waite Research Institute at the University of Adelaide.
In her role at Scion Stewart led a range of activities including breeding, agronomy, biosecurity, remote sensing and value chain optimisation.
She has also been responsible for Scion’s strategic relationships with a number of national and international stakeholders.
Birkett said Stewart was familiar with FAR’s goals and activities because she had been involved in several FAR-funded research projects as well as the review panel.
Stewart will take up the role in March, replacing founding chief executive Nick Pyke who has been with the organisation since it was formed in 1995.
And she is looking forward to her new challenge acknowledging she has big shoes to fill.
The applied plant scientist who has focused on sustainable disease management, soil biology and plant technology said she was all too aware of the challenge ahead knowing the work Pyke had done in establishing and growing FAR in his 22 years with the organisation.
“I have known Nick all my career in NZ – even before FAR we did a lot of horticulture work together.”
During her work with the review panel Stewart was impressed with the innovative thinking of the board and the future opportunities she saw for the arable industry and the role FAR would play in that.
“It really appealed to me to be engaging with the board on how we can take advantage of these opportunities and provide the research and development to realise them.
“This was the right time for me to put all my experience together and take to the table as the chief executive of FAR.”
Stewart acknowledged she would bring a different set of skills to the role but believed that would not mean big changes.
“Changes are never a good idea at first and so I intend spending a lot of time talking and listening otherwise you could end up with egg on your face.
“When I know what their (board’s) ideas are for the future I can build on that with my ideas and the success will be all working together.”
Stewart said the industry had already engaged with precision agriculture technologies and robotics so looking ahead it would be about growing them to continue to improve efficiencies in the way farmers manage their cropping businesses around minimising environmental impact.
Plants for protein will be a key focus identifying the right opportunities for specific regions around NZ.
“We will need to do really good commercial analysis in this space.”
Currently based with Scion in Rotorua Stewart said heading back south would be like heading home.
“Christchurch is home now, I spent 18 years there so coming back is coming home.”
Between Lincoln and Scion she was three years as senior vice president research and development and chief technical officer at Marrone Bio Innovations in California.
“That was an opening to immerse myself with some top connections that would help connect NZ researchers into the global innovation network.”
While she thoroughly enjoyed forestry Stewart was “enthusiastically excited” about the arable industry.
“What I do see in both the NZ environment and the global environment are opportunities for plant-based proteins and novel cropping systems with huge openings for the arable sector to grow and innovate as one even more important sector for NZ.”
Stewart will take up her role with FAR on March 19 and while she doesn’t expect to initially have too much spare time, she does plan to pursue her love of the outdoors that includes walking in the hills, cycling and photography.
Credentials:
Dr Alison Stewart is an applied plant scientist who has focused on sustainable disease management, soil biology and plant biotechnology.
She has a PhD in plant pathology from the University of Stirling, Scotland, and in 1998 became the first female professor at Lincoln University.
She was the founding director of the Bio-Protection Research Centre at Lincoln University from 2003 to 2011.
Her credentials include:
AgResearch Technology Transfer Award (2002)
MAFBNZ Biosecurity Award for Excellence (2008)
Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit in recognition of services to biology (2009)
Distinguished Professor of Plant Pathology, Lincoln University (2011)
Member of the MPI led Primary Sector Science Direction Steering Committee (2017)
Fellow of the NZ Institute for Agricultural and Horticultural Science
Fellow of the Australasian Plant Pathology Society
