Deputy Chair
At age 31, Jo was recognised on the 2020 Queen’s Birthday Honours List for her service to agriculture through her advocacy and support of young people, volunteering and contribution to dairy research.
Passionate about research that delivers tangible benefits for farmers, since obtaining a PhD in animal breeding and genetics from the University of New England in 2016, Jo’s work has focused on practical tools to illustrate the benefit of better herd-improvement decisions on farm. This includes six months as a visiting scientist at Teagasc Moorepark in Ireland on an Endeavour Postdoctoral Fellowship. Jo currently works as a research scientist for Agriculture Victoria.
Jo has a history of active involvement across the wider agricultural sector, particularly in advocacy and supporting young people. In addition to invited speaking engagements, her volunteer contributions span 17 years and dozens of leadership roles across 14 not-for-profit organisations including Enactus Australia, NSW Farmers Association and Action for Agriculture.
A big believer in paying it forward, Jo dedicates much of her spare time to speaking at schools and events, mentoring students and junior scientists, and volunteering at agricultural shows.
Jo’s contributions to agriculture have been recognised within and outside of the sector through numerous awards including:
- Enactus Global Alumni of the Year Award – 30 and over (2020)
- Australian Financial Review 100 Women of Influence
- University of New England’s Young Distinguished Alumni Award 201
- Leadership Category Victorian Young Achiever Awards 2018
- Royal Agriculture Society of Victoria’s Emerging Leaders in Victorian Agriculture Award 2018
To learn more about Jo, connect with her on LinkedIn.
