Advisory Board
The Chief Executive Officer of the APVMA is supported by an advisory board selected and appointed by the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry.
The function of the advisory board, defined in legislation, is: to provide advice and make recommendations to the CEO in relation to the performance of a function or the exercise of a power of the APVMA. The advisory board does not have decision-making power, but assists to inform the CEO on strategic matters and provides an expert consultative mechanism. The CEO is responsible for the governance and management and of the authority, including the performance of its functions and the exercise of its powers.
The advisory board may consist of up to nine part-time members selected for their specific expertise in areas defined in the legislation. Thus, two members are to have experience in the regulation of chemical products, one in the agricultural chemical industry, one in primary production, one in environmental toxicology, one in protecting consumer interest, one in public health and occupational health and safety and, finally, if the minister chooses, one in a field relevant to the APVMA's functions.
Advisory board members do not act as representatives for particular interests. Indeed, the legislation provides that the advisory board members must give written notice to the minister of any direct or indirect financial conflict of interest. Any declarations of interest are advised in the APVMA's annual report. The annual report also lists the areas in which the advisory board has provided advice to the CEO.
Terms of reference
The function of the advisory board is prescribed in the APVMA's enabling legislation, the Agricultural and Veterinary Chemicals (Administration) Act 1992 (ComLaw) (external site) and further described in the APVMA Advisory Board terms of reference (PDF, 401kb) | (RTF 182kb).
Meeting summaries
To facilitate increased transparency and public access to APVMA advisory board meetings and outcomes, the APVMA will publish a summary of the key advice outcomes and discussion points from each meeting.
Membership
The appointments of former members of the advisory board, named below, ended on 10 January 2012. Advertisements calling for applications to the new advisory board and additional information can be found on the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry’s website.
Mark Allison is the Chief Executive Officer of Grain Growers Limited and holds a non-executive director role with Elders Limited. Previously, Mr Allison was the CEO of Farmoz, Wesfarmers Landmark, Wesfarmers CSBP, CropCare Australasia, the Chairman of CropLife Australia, and he is a former Director of the APVMA.
Wayne Cornish is a farmer, former Chair of ChemCert Australia and former Chair of the National Farmers' Federation Farm Chemicals Subcommittee and DrumMUSTER. Mr Cornish was the President of the South Australian Farmers' Federation for six years and has been heavily involved in natural resource management, education and training, and local government.
Lyn Fragar AO was previously the Director of the Australian Centre for Agricultural Health and Safety (University of Sydney). Dr Fragar was awarded Officer of the Order of Australia in recognition of her work in farm health and safety at local, state and national levels, and she continues her association with the Centre. Dr Fragar is Chair of the Board of Hunter New England Local Health District, and is a Director of the Boards of GPSYnergy (responsible for vocation training of general practitioners) and Chemcert Ltd.
Claude Gauchat is Managing Director of direct2 Pty Ltd, Chairman of Agrifood Awareness Australia Ltd and director of ChemCert (Australia) Ltd. He is the former Executive Director of Avcare Ltd.
Jenni Mack is the Chair of CHOICE (Australian Consumers' Association) and former Chair of the APVMA's Community Consultative Committee. She is also a member of the Board of Food Standards Australia and New Zealand.
Michael R. Moore is Chair of Water Quality Research Australia and Past Director of the National Research Centre for Environmental Toxicology.
Simon Robinson is a Life Member and former President of the Animal Health Alliance.
Roger Toffolon is the Manager, Biosecurity, Business and Legislation within the NSW Department of Primary Industries. He is an expert in the regulation of farm chemicals.