Nicola Hinder

Deputy Secretary of the Agricultural Trade Group, Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry

Nicola Hinder PSM is the A/Deputy Secretary for the Agricultural Trade Group, responsible for the Trade Reform, Exports and Veterinary Services, Plant and Live Animal Exports, and Trade Market Access divisions in the Agricultural Trade group.

Prior to commencing the role as Acting Deputy, Nicola was the A/CEO of the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA) leading the APVMA through a challenging period.
Ms Hinder’s trade knowledge has been based in numerous trade positions within the department and for the Australian Government. Ms Hinder led the Exports and Veterinary Services Division of the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF). Ms Hinder’s responsibilities include technical market access negotiations underpinning the export of a wide variety of agricultural goods from Australia and the management of regulatory and operational staff based throughout Australia, providing export certification, verification, and assurance functions.

Ms Hinder is the Australia Delegation Head for the CODEX Alimentarius Commission and Chair of the CODEX Committee on Food Import and Export Inspection and Certification Systems (CCFICS). Ms Hinder has undertaken a broad range of roles across government – for the department this includes biosecurity, corporate, media, emergency management and international trade (including serving the Australian Government on postings to the European Union and in India).

In 2019, Ms Hinder received a Public Service Medal for services to Biosecurity and Trade.