PEAK dairy group Australian Dairy Farmers welcomed DairyBio co-director Dr David Nation as the new managing director of industry services body Dairy Australia.
Dr Nation will succeed outgoing managing director Ian Halliday, who will soon take up an appointment as Australia’s Consul-General and Senior Trade Commissioner in Dubai.
“David has a long history with the dairy industry and I am confident he will bring extensive experience to the position,” ADF President Terry Richardson said.
“Research and development is vital to maintaining the profitability of Australian dairy farms and we look forward to David contributing to this important conversation.”
Dr Nation has for the past two years led DairyBio, a joint venture of the Victorian Government and Dairy Australia to provide five years’ investment in dairy bioscience to deliver a series of practical applications in pasture and herd improvement.
Before this he spent six years as the chief executive of the Dairy Futures Cooperative Research Centre and five years as a program manager at Dairy Australia.
Mr Richardson also acknowledged the contribution Mr Halliday made to the dairy industry over the past nine years as Dairy Australia’s managing director.
“Ian will leave behind an impressive legacy including the delivery of a globally-recognised industry sustainability framework and strengthening Dairy Australia’s regional development programs,” Mr Richardson said.
“We’ve enjoyed working with Ian over the years and we wish him and his family all the best as they embark on this next exciting chapter.”
Dr Nation will officially commence as managing director on July 30.