Let’s hear from our Conference Scholars from Victoria
November 7, 2022
The Crawford Fund’s Annual Conference was held recently in Parliament House, Canberra. The event had a special flavour this year celebrating 35 years of the Crawford Fund and the 40th anniversary of the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR). These milestones provided an opportunity for all those who are a part of Australia’s rich history in agriculture for development to get together and celebrate and, also to reflect and to consider the work yet to be done.
As well as bringing together the world’s leading experts in agricultural science, research, policy, development and industry to address the conference topic, the Crawford Fund is committed to encouraging the next generation in international agriculture for development to the event via scholarships awarded through our State and Territory committees and scholar supporters.
Our conference scholarship program started in 2010 in the hope that by experiencing the Crawford Fund conference and network, our special program of activities around the conference and being mentored by inspirational experienced researchers, young researchers would be inspired and energised to be more involved. The results have been fantastic, with a great mix of youth and experience at our flagship event each August and a growing and enthusiastic conference scholar alumni approaching 400.
Our competitive Conference Scholarships are offered to young people with a genuine interest in international agricultural research and development to attend the conference and a special set of activities that we have developed since the program commenced in 2010.
Our other activities to encourage university students and early career researcher include highlighting opportunities in volunteering for projects overseas through the Australian Volunteers Program; our work with Researchers in Agriculture for International Development (RAID), and our special international student awards to enable students to be involved in overseas projects as part of their university study.
One of the requirements of the scholarship is that each scholar provides us with a reflection on their experience. We will be providing these reflections over the coming weeks, grouped by State.
Once again, we would like to thank our wonderful mentors, mentioned alongside the scholar they supported, who volunteer their time and offer valuable guidance, support and insights to the scholars throughout the conference.
Five scholars from Victoria attended the 2022 Crawford Fund conference, three were supported by our Victorian Committee, and two were supported by The Gardiner Foundation. Highlights of their experiences have been captured below:
Victorian Committee supported scholars:
Billy Chudleigh, The University of Melbourne
“Attending the 2022 Crawford Fund Conference was an extremely rewarding experience, not only as a person with a deep interest in international agricultural research and development, but as a young student who is looking to progress their knowledge in the field and gain a foot in the door.”
Scarlett Cuthbertson, The University of Melbourne
“The conference on the whole has given me a lot of food for thought regarding which path in my career I want to take. From here I hope to get some experience overseas, either via the Australian Volunteers Program or an ACIAR project, which will help me narrow down the specific area I want to focus on and do future study in.”
Hannah Ebert, The University of Melbourne
“The 2022 Crawford Fund Scholar program provided an immersive environment to help me see the many pathways available in agriculture and international development. Any trepidations holding me back have been pushed aside to make way for newfound confidence to get out there and actively seek out opportunities. As a student who has only just begun post-graduate studies, I came in eager to learn about the different careers within this space and was well rewarded by the multitude of different people in varying professions that I was able to speak with.”
The Gardiner Foundation supported scholars:
Holly Hone, Agriculture Victoria
“As an early career researcher, I certainly feel that my understanding of the social context in which we, as agricultural scientists, operate in has been broadened and developed by the nuanced and energizing perspectives tabled by the researchers I was able to observe and meet with over the three days. Also deeply motivating and moving was the passion of other researchers which has further enhanced my sense of passion for my PhD project.”
Alexander Russell, The University of Melbourne
“I would like to thank the Gardiner Foundation, the Victorian Crawford Committee, RAID and the Crawford Fund for the opportunity to participate in the Scholar Program. My only regret is not having pursued this opportunity sooner.”
Read on for the full reflections of each VIC scholar:
Billy Chudleigh, The University of Melbourne
Mentor: John Dalton
Attending the 2022 Crawford Fund Conference was an extremely rewarding experience, not only as a person with a deep interest in international agricultural research and development, but as a young student who is looking to progress their knowledge in the field and gain a foot in the door.
It can be a daunting prospect as a third year undergraduate student to be surrounded by many experts and scientists who are already held in such a regard, But each and every one of the ‘experts’ made a clear effort to lend what information or guidance they may have.
The opportunity to see all the incredible work that people are doing within the field inspired me and shone a light on the infinite opportunities that the field of agriculture provides.
Scarlett Cuthbertson, The University of Melbourne
Mentor: Bill Lewis
Being able to attend the 2022 Crawford Fund Conference ‘Celebrating Agriculture for Development- Outcomes, Impacts and the Way Ahead’ as a Victorian Committee Conference Scholar was something I won’t forget quickly. As a second-year undergraduate student studying my Bachelor of Agriculture, the sheer number of scholars and experts I met over my 3 days in Canberra was priceless, and the connections I have made will be beyond useful as I progress in my studies and career.
It was an honour to listen to Dr Audrey Aumua on Monday night as she delivered the Sir John Crawford Memorial Address. Her perspective on international research in the Pacific, including the heightened effects of climate change in such areas, was enlightening. My main take away from her address was the requirement for collaboration in future research projects, and that “welcoming and supporting all is the only way to succeed”.
As many speakers touched on during the conference, the effect the 3 Cs (covid, climate change and conflict) are having on our global agricultural production and supply chains is unprecedented. Being able to hear about the same issues affecting many different areas of agriculture and the intersectionality of the 3 Cs highlighted it’s an area for renewed research going forward.
The Conference was also a great opportunity to celebrate and commend the success and achievements of both the Crawford Fund for their 35 years and to ACIAR for their 40 years! Both organisations have been able to make tremendous progress and change in the field of agricultural research for development, and as depicted at the conference there is still a lot of work left to be done in the sector.
The scholar day activities were the perfect introduction to all things Crawford Fund and RAID, and also a great steppingstone for networking with people in the agriculture industry on Tuesday. Learning from past Crawford Fund scholars now in various positions both domestically and overseas also helped to inspire and illustrate the vast experiences possible in this field of work.
I would like to thank my mentor during the event Bill Lewis. Thanks to Bill I was able to meet and mingle with many of the distinguished guests that attended the Crawford Conference on Tuesday. It was great to hear his experiences in the Australian Agriculture industry and dairy sector, and even of his time at Dookie College!
The conference on the whole has given me a lot of food for thought regarding which path in my career I want to take. From here I hope to get some experience overseas, either via the Australian Volunteers Program or an ACIAR project, which will help me narrow down the specific area I want to focus on and do future study in. I can’t thank all of the organisers, the Crawford Fund Committees, RAID and speakers at the conference enough for the amazing 3 days and all that I learnt during my time!
Hannah Ebert, The University of Melbourne
Mentor: Bosi Bett
The 2022 Crawford Fund Scholar program provided an immersive environment to help me see the many pathways available in agriculture and international development. Any trepidations holding me back have been pushed aside to make way for newfound confidence to get out there and actively seek out opportunities. As a student who has only just begun post-graduate studies, I came in eager to learn about the different careers within this space and was well rewarded by the multitude of different people in varying professions that I was able to speak with.
The pre-conference scholar events were a thought-provoking experience and a welcome warm-up to the main events. I was met with warmth and enthusiasm from my mentor Dr. Bosibori Bett who gave me the energy I needed to get out there and network. Hearing from Dr. Alison Bentley and her journey from student to now being the Director of the Global Wheat Program for CIMMYT was truly inspiring and helpful. Hearing the highlights of how different people got to their current careers was beneficial as a student wondering “where do I begin?”. The chance to discuss with other scholars their journey was also greatly beneficial. It was helpful to hear from those who are further in their careers but achieving milestones that I will be heading towards in the near future. It gave a sense of community and was overall a truly positive experience to be surrounded by so many like-minded people.
Presentations given at the conference were enlightening, particularly those where I learned about the bigger picture of issues in agriculture from perspectives I had not been exposed to before. Dr. Philip Pardey’s presentation was especially influential for someone who had not been exposed to the economic side of agriculture R&D in such a clear way before. I particularly benefited to hear about the gaps within the space of international development in agriculture. Hearing about the vital roles of translating research and making sure that it plays a real role in society rather than being completed and moved on from was an important take-home message and is one I hope to be able to take with me and vocalize in the future careers I have. Ms. Jessica Raneri’s presentation had a similar element as she vocalized the disconnection of agriculture research programs from involving nutritionists and public health experts. Having an element of “this is what we need to do better” made the event feel so much more important.
Overall, I am very thankful that I had the opportunity to attend Crawford Fund Conference as a Scholar. It was truly an enlightening experience and one that will be influential in my future career planning. I take with me valuable insights, connections, and passion to pursue future work in the agriculture development space.
The Gardiner Foundation supported scholars:
Holly Hone, Agriculture Victoria
Mentor: Deirdre Lemerle
When I applied for the Crawford Fund Scholar program in 2021, I was considering future directions for my career in agriculture. I was ready to begin my PhD in seed microbiomes and biofertilizer microbes and I knew I was passionate about being part of the effort to secure international food systems, but I was unsure about how my research would fit into the broader agricultural research context and what shape my post-graduate career would take. Opportunities such as the scholar program, offer the space in which early career researchers can expand their understanding of the agricultural sector as a whole and envision potential pathways with peers and mentors. This conference offered an invaluable opportunity to meet with like-minded individuals from a range of backgrounds, research foci and career stages within the agricultural research space.
The conference centred around the pivotal role of agriculture in advancing international development and covered broad ideas of celebrating agriculture for development touching particularly on outcomes, impacts and the way ahead. This year’s conference took place during a combined food, fuel and fertiliser crisis. As such, speakers such as Professor Andrew Campbell spoke to the impact this with will have on global food security, particularly in combination with climate change, the invasion of Ukraine and a global financial crisis. Several key speakers, such as Dr. Audrey Aumua and Dr. Jenny Gordon, touched on the importance of ensuring that research done in the lab is not divorced from the social context in which it will be applied. In Jessica Raneri’s presentation, it was made clear that nuances that gender dynamics can add to the application of agricultural development in certain cultural contexts, must be considered and incorporated in every aspect a project from foundation to delivery. Further to this, the importance of agriculture being seen as a good investment in the future was a key take away from the symposium.
While the reality of the scope of problems that are being tackled by the international agricultural community was perhaps sobering. As an early career researcher, I certainly feel that my understanding of the social context in which we, as agricultural scientists, operate in has been broadened and developed by the nuanced and energizing perspectives tabled by the researchers I was able to observe and meet with over the three days. Also deeply motivating and moving was the passion of other researchers which has further enhanced my sense of passion for my PhD project as a broader myriad of pathways is clearer since meeting with so many skilled and impassioned individuals.
It was a privilege to be a part of the Crawford Fund Conference in 2022. I am grateful for to the Victorian Crawford Committee and the Gardiner Foundation for sponsoring my attendance as well as to my mentor, Dr. Deidre Lemerle, and the RAID committee for giving their time thoughtfully and generously to make my first conference experience a delight.
Alexander Russell, The University of Melbourne
Mentor: David McGill
The Crawford Conference is the centrepiece of the Australian agricultural for development (A4D) calendar and the opportunity to attend with the support of the Crawford Scholar Program a privilege for any budding early- to mid-career researcher. The Crawford Conference 2022 Annual Conference: Celebrating Agriculture for Development – Outcomes, Impacts and the Way Ahead provided a comprehensive perspective of A4D over the 40 years ACIAR has operated.
The presentations provided attendees with an understanding of the breadth of disciplines involved in A4D, and the sociopolitical context in which A4D operates. For me four items stood out, one from the Scholar Day and three from the Conference, broadening my understanding of the work and impact of A4D. Regina Bi Nukundj provided a valuable insight into the impact of livestock programs in Papua New Guinea. Similarly, Logotonu Meleisea Waqainabete provided an insight into work in genetic resources in Fiji. Jessica Raneri presented the intersection of gender and nutrition, which highlighted the important work that occurs outside of my own field of view. Finally, David McGill provided an insight into his journey into social research from the perspective of a livestock veterinarian, and while I believe this was noteworthy in and of itself, it was great to see my mentor (and masters project supervisor) talk with the passion for A4D in Pakistan, that I have been witness to.
In addition to the presentations, the conference provided the opportunity to interact with professionals from A4D, a community of practice I endeavour to be part of, and it was an intimidating prospect. The benefit of meeting David and having his support provided me with confidence to interact more than I otherwise would have. I know that having the opportunity to practice this skill in that environment will improve my ability to do it throughout my future career.
I would like to thank the Gardiner Foundation, the Victorian Crawford Committee, RAID and the Crawford Fund for the opportunity to participate in the Scholar Program. My only regret is not having pursued this opportunity sooner.
