There are 8 Drought Resilience Adoption and Innovation Hubs focusing on collaboration. They provide networks for researchers, primary producers and community groups to work together to enhance drought resilient practices within their region.
The hubs aim to ensure agricultural research is useful and accessible. This increases opportunities to commercialise agricultural innovation.
The hubs are in regional areas that reflect the key agricultural and climatic zones across the country. These regions are:
- Southern NSW
- Southern Queensland / Northern NSW
- South-West WA
- Victoria
- Northern WA/NT
- Tropical North Queensland
- South Australia
- Tasmania
Each hub has a regional university as a member. The hubs bring together research providers and end users to address drought resilience priorities for their region.
See more about each hub
Southern NSW
Southern QLD/Northern NSW
South-West WA
Victoria
Northern WA/NT
Tropical North QLD
South Australia
Tasmania
Background
We ran a competitive grants process for 8 new hubs from 30 October to 23 December 2020. These hubs were the successful applicants.
The hubs will be funded for 4 years. We will review this funding as part of the 4-yearly review of the Drought Resilience Funding Plan.
Hubs Advisory Committee
The independent advisory committee has oversight of the hubs. They connect the hubs to each other and ensure the hubs align with national priorities, advances, and strategic objectives.
Committee members
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Brent Finlay, Chair
Brent has 40 years' experience in agriculture.
He is managing director of Finlay Agricultural Industries (FIA). FIA provides strategic advice to agricultural enterprises.
Brent is independent chair of Granite Belt Water (GBW). GWB is building a new dam and irrigation scheme for horticulture in the Darling Downs.
Brent was president of the National Farmers' Federation. He was also president of AgForce Queensland. He represented Oceania at the World Farm Organisation in Rome.
Brent runs sheep property, Coorinda, in the traprock area of south east Queensland.
Emeritus Professor James Rowe
James was Professor of Animal Science at the University of New England.
His doctorate is in animal nutrition.
James was CEO of the CRC for Sheep Industry Innovation. He has worked with government, and public and private sector companies.
James contributed to many innovative sheep production and feeding systems, like ASKBILL. ASKBILL predicts sheep wellbeing and productivity using weather, pasture, and stock information.
Caroline Welsh
Caroline is a director of Birchip Cropping Group (BCG). BCG uses research and extension to improve the success of broadacre farmers.
Caroline is also deputy chair of GWMWater.
She has worked for government in agricultural communication, irrigation development and climate variability.
Caroline is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
Caroline lives in Berriwillock in Victoria's Mallee region. She is a partner in a family grain farm.
Dale Park
Dale is the director of Kilandra Pastoral Co and manager of DH & JM Park.
Dales' industry knowledge is in agribusiness and new business development.
Dale was president of the Western Australian Farmers' Federation. He is passionate about representing his fellow producers.
Dale has a longstanding interest in drought resilience. He is a board member of Farmers for Climate Action. He is also a member of the National Farmers' Federation environment committee.
Dale farms cattle in Badgingarra, north of Perth.
Trent De Paoli
Trent is the CEO of biotechnology company Novum Lifesciences. His expertise is in food technology, manufacturing, and processing.
Trent was the director of the AustChilli Group. AustChilli is Australia's largest supplier of fresh chilli and innovative food ingredients.
He is passionate about innovation, problem solving and scaling businesses.
Trent has served on agriculture boards including the Agricultural Industry Advisory Council.
Trent is a 2013 Nuffield Scholar. He is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
Funding information
The table below details the payment information for the Drought Resilience Adoption and Innovation Hubs, as required under the Future Drought Fund Act 2019.
| Regions | Total amount payable (over 4 years) |
Date of first payment | Amount of first payment | Total amount paid | Total amount still to be paid |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Southern NSW | $8,000,000 (GST excl.) | 28 June 2021 | $2,000,000 (GST excl.) | $2,000,000 (GST excl.) | $6,000,000 (GST excl.) |
| Southern QLD / Northern NSW | $8,000,000 (GST excl.) | 28 June 2021 | $2,000,000 (GST excl.) | $2,000,000 (GST excl.) | $6,000,000 (GST excl.) |
| South-West WA | $8,000,000 (GST excl.) | 28 June 2021 | $2,000,000 (GST excl.) | $2,000,000 (GST excl.) | $6,000,000 (GST excl.) |
| Victoria | $8,000,000 (GST excl.) | 28 June 2021 | $2,000,000 (GST excl.) | $2,000,000 (GST excl.) | $6,000,000 (GST excl.) |
| Northern WA/NT | $8,000,000 (GST excl.) | 28 June 2021 | $2,000,000 (GST excl.) | $2,000,000 (GST excl.) | $6,000,000 (GST excl.) |
| Tropical North Queensland | $8,000,000 (GST excl.) | 28 June 2021 | $2,000,000 (GST excl.) | $2,000,000 (GST excl.) | $6,000,000 (GST excl.) |
| South Australia | $8,000,000 (GST excl.) | 28 June 2021 | $2,000,000 (GST excl.) | $2,000,000 (GST excl.) | $6,000,000 (GST excl.) |
| Tasmania | $8,000,000 (GST excl.) | 28 June 2021 | $2,000,000 (GST excl.) | $2,000,000 (GST excl.) | $6,000,000 (GST excl.) |