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Ian Rogan to lead AWI on-farm R&D
One of Australia's leading agricultural consultants, Ian Rogan, has been appointed to the position of General Manager, Wool Production at Australian Wool Innovation Limited (AWI).
AWI Chief Executive Officer Dr Len Stephens welcomed the appointment and said Mr Rogan would bring a considerable depth of experience in agriculture generally and sheep and wool production in particular.
"Ian Rogan is one of Australia's most respected agricultural consultants and I'm very pleased to have someone of his expertise joining the team," Dr Stephens said.
"Importantly, Ian has a strong commercial understanding of agriculture.
"He will complement the existing skills and experience of the personnel in the Wool Production team, including Dr Paul Swan, Dr Scott Williams, Lu Hogan and Anne Ramsay."
The appointment of Mr Rogan completes a management restructure Dr Stephens began after taking the position of CEO at AWI in April last year.
The new appointment will also allow Dr Swan to move into the specialist position of Program Manager, Genetics and Wool Quality.
"Genetic improvement technologies are vitally important to the long-term profitability of woolgrowers and we have a number of major investments in this area including the sheep genomics program and Australian Sheep Genetics Database," Dr Stephens said.
"This provides these projects with the best resources to deliver results to our shareholders."
Mr Rogan has been a Director and Senior Consultant of NSW-based agricultural consultancy Hassall and Associates for the past 12 years.
Through his role at Hassall and Associates, Mr Rogan has been Chairman of Macquarie Merino Sire Evaluation Committee, a sub-program manager for the Australian Sheep Industry CRC, Chairman of the Central West NSW Catchment Management Board and previously national coordinator of RAMPOWER Breeding Services.
Before joining Hassall and Associates he spent time as a regional director of research with NSW Agriculture and three years as principal research scientist with the South Australian Department of Agriculture where he headed the state's centre of excellence for sheep and wool research.
"The Wool Production portfolio represents a significant proportion of the company's research, development and innovation activities," Dr Stephens said.
"The cost-price squeeze on primary producers will continue and AWI's challenge is to continue to look for opportunities for woolgrowers to improve on-farm productivity and sustainability, to find new and better solutions to old and ongoing problems.
"Ian Rogan will drive AWI's Wool Production R&D program to ensure producers are provided the best opportunities to improve on-farm profitability."
Mr Rogan will begin work with AWI in late July.
Ends
Media contact: AWI Chief Executive Officer, Dr Len Stephens
tel (02) 9299 5155
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