The Grains Research Foundation Ltd's newly-appointed executive officer, Dr Nicole Jensen, comes with a strong background in plant breeding and information management in both the Australian and US seed industries.
With a PhD in quantitative genetics and plant breeding, the former wheat breeding research officer at the Leslie Research Centre from 1997 to 2000, Dr Jensen was one of the original breeders of the wheat cultivar EGA Stampede - a high-yielding wheat variety that was released in May.
Dr Jensen later worked with Pioneer Hi-Bred International in the United States.
GRFL chairman Damien Scanlan said Dr Jensen's appointment was "a huge win, not only for the GRFL", but for Australian agriculture.
"Nicole is an outstanding candidate and we are very excited to have someone with her experience and knowledge join the GRFL," he said.
"It's wonderful to see people like Nicole coming back to work in the Australian grains industry.
"The GRFL has several major issues to tackle in the coming year and we look forward to Nicole’s contribution to these debates."
Dr Jensen said she's also looking forward to working with members of the GRFL.
"This role offers me a unique opportunity to work with grain growers, research providers, funding organisations and agribusiness to ensure research is done that will help grain growers maintain profitable and sustainable businesses," she said.
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