Horizon SA Forum - Contemporary leadership in rural South Australia

With Dr Wendy Craik AM, Deputy Chancellor UniSA and Commissioner of the Productivity Commission

Wednesday 29 August 2012, Bradley Forum

2012 Year of the Farmer
Rural industries in South Australia, like in many other parts of Australia, have experienced considerable change in the past decades. Leadership within this context of change has been pivotal to regional industry and community viability, vitality and resilience. Through a greater understanding of the leadership in several South Australian rural industries and land management movements we can draw principles that may help regional Australia grow and prosper into the future.

The Horizon SA Forum Series is proudly presented by The Hawke Centre to mark the 21st Birthday of the University of South Australia in 2012. It reflects the significance of sound leadership for the benefit of all South Australians and the fact that global connection and competitiveness are being embraced by our State.

Wendy Craik AM, Commissioner
Dr Wendy Craik AM was appointed a full-time Commissioner of the Productivity Commission in June 2009 and is currently the Presiding Commissioner on the inquiry into Barriers to Effective Climate Change Adaptation and a Commissioner on the Electricity Network Regulation inquiry. Wendy previously worked on Australia's Urban Water Sector, Economic Regulation of Airport Services and the Wheat Export Market Arrangements inquiries.

Wendy was Chief Executive of the Murray-Darling Basin Commission from 2004 to 2008.

Prior to this Wendy was President of the National Competition Council, Chair of the Australian Fisheries Management Authority and Chair of the National Rural Advisory Council. Other former positions include Chief Executive Officer of Earth Sanctuaries Ltd, a publicly listed company specialising in conservation and eco tourism, Executive Director of the National Farmers Federation, and Executive Officer of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority. She has also worked as a consultant for AcilTasman Consulting.

Wendy holds a Bachelor of Science (Hons) from the Australian National University, a PhD (Zoology) from University of British Columbia, Vancouver, and a Graduate Diploma in Management from the Capricornia Institute of Advanced Education, Queensland.

Wendy was awarded the Member of the Order of Australia in 2007 for service to the natural resource sector of the economy, particularly in the areas of fisheries, marine ecology and management of water reform, and for contributions to policies affecting rural and regional Australia.

Dr Craik has been the Deputy Chancellor of the University of South Australia since 2009.

While the views presented by speakers within the Hawke Centre public program are their own and are not necessarily those of either the University of South Australia or The Hawke Centre, they are presented in the interest of open debate and discussion in the community and reflect our themes of: strengthening our democracy - valuing our diversity - and building our future.

The copying and reproduction of any transcripts within the Hawke Centre public program is strictly forbidden without prior arrangements.