2021 Australian Biosecurity Award recipients

Dr John Virtue

Dr John Virtue is a recognised expert across the biosecurity management field, initiating and leading interventions against pests and diseases through prevention, eradication, containment and strategic management measures.

Read John's story in the winners’ booklet.

Sarah Corcoran

Throughout her career, Ms Sarah Corcoran has delivered many significant eradication programs for agricultural and environmental pests. She has overseen investment in infrastructure and biosecurity research, including disease detection, management and response, which have enabled her to implement consistent approaches to biosecurity nationally.

Read Sarah's story in the winners’ booklet.

Pohlmans Nursery

Pohlmans Nursery is recognised for its contribution to the development of BioSecure HACCP, a national industry on-farm biosecurity program developed by Greenlife Industry Australia (GIA) and Hort Innovation Australia. Pohlmans Nursery’s contributions included the implementation of draft biosecurity procedures, testing the validity and value of the program, and providing GIA with advice and results.

Read more about Pohlmans Nursery in the winners’ booklet.

Queensland Port Authorities and Biosecurity Queensland

Since 2019, all five of Queensland’s port authorities have partnered with Biosecurity Queensland to voluntarily implement the Queensland Seaports Environmental DNA (eDNA) Surveillance program (Q-SEAS program) for early warning detection of invasive marine species.

Read more about the Q-SEAS program in the winners’ booklet.

Agriculture Victoria

Agriculture Victoria (Victorian Government – Department of Jobs, Precincts and Regions) is recognised for its response to the 2020 avian influenza (AI) outbreak – the largest recorded outbreak in Australian history. The response was managed by the Department of Jobs, Precincts and Regions through Agriculture Victoria in parallel with the state’s most severe COVID-19 restrictions.

Read more about the avian influenza response in the winners’ booklet.

Social Platforms Regulatory Awareness and Engagement group – Biosecurity Queensland

Biosecurity Queensland’s Social Platforms Regulatory Awareness and Engagement (SPRAE) group was developed to address the illegal sale of cacti online. The illegal sale of cacti poses a serious risk to Queensland’s arid and semi-arid landscapes. SPRAE partnered biosecurity officers with digital communications experts and created the first regulatory Facebook profile, dubbed ‘BQ Officer’, which allowed officers to engage directly with sellers via an official government profile.

Read more about the Social Platforms Regulatory Awareness and Engagement group's work in the winners’ booklet.

Anindilyakwa Land Council Land and Sea Rangers and South32 GEMCO

The Anindilyakwa Land Council and South32’s Groote Eylandt Mining Company (GEMCO) collaborated to develop a quarantine and biosecurity program for the Anindilyakwa Indigenous Protected Area. The program plays a critical role in protecting Groote from existing and emerging biosecurity threats, such as the cane toad.

Read more about their joint efforts in the winners’ booklet.

South Coast Natural Resource Management Inc.

South Coast NRM has been the leading non-government agency managing Phytophthora dieback in Western Australia, helping deliver on-ground protection and developing mapping tools, planning handbooks, and behaviour change resources. South Coast NRM contributes knowledge and resources to multiple biosecurity panels and planning bodies and has led a range of other biosecurity-themed projects.

Read more about South Coast NRM's work in the winners’ booklet.

GMV Fruit Fly Area Wide Management Program

The GMV Fruit Fly Area Wide Management Program plays a vital role in managing and reducing the impact of fruit fly on horticulture in the Goulburn Murray Valley (GMV) region. The program is funded by the Victorian Government through the Managing Fruit Fly in Victoria Regional Grants program, and is under the auspices of the Moira Shire Council. The program involves creating awareness through education and engagement in the community, industry, research organisations and government.

Read more about the program in the winners’ booklet.

Urban Plant Health Network - Agriculture Victoria

The Urban Plant Health Network pilot aimed to improve awareness of plant health and biosecurity risks in urban areas and to empower urban and community gardeners to take part in general surveillance in residential and community gardens, to support Australia’s biosecurity system using the proven extensionAUS™ model.

Read more about the Urban Plant Health Network in the winners’ booklet.

Associate Professor Kim M Plummer

Associate Professor Kim Plummer is recognised for her long career as an educator, researcher and mentor in relation to strengthening Australian plant biosecurity systems and raising awareness. She has been an influential part of the Australian plant biosecurity landscape for over 30 years.

Read Kim's story in the winners’ booklet.

Biosecurity Commendation Certificates

• Dr Cherie Gambley - for her outstanding scientific contribution and national leadership in improving Australia’s capability and preparedness in plant health and biosecurity research.
• Dr Satendra Kumar - for national scientific leadership in plant biosecurity and mentoring and developing those who sit in key positions of leadership today.
• EcoDNA Group - for their work with eDNA to enable real-time detections in the field and develop novel sampling methods that can be applied at the border to protect Australia from harmful invasive species, including khapra beetle.
• Tim Farry - for his considerable contribution to enhanced environmental biosecurity outcomes in the invasive pest and disease space.
• Idealview Diary - for strong commitment to on-farm biosecurity and advocating biosecurity in the goat industry.
• Hanneke Parish - for her efforts in protecting and maintaining plant health.
• Pam Kent - for her efforts in protecting and maintaining plant health.