Our Board

The SRDC Board is responsible for developing the Corporation’s policies, governing its operation and monitoring its performance. The SRDC Board is committed to governance systems that enhance performance and ensure that SRDC is operating according to accountability provisions of the PIERD Act and CAC Act.

SRDC Directors have experience in one or more of the following fields of expertise: commodity production, commodity processing, commodity marketing, conservation of natural resources, management of rural resources, science, technology and technology transfer, environmental and ecological matters, economics, administration of research and development, finance, business management or sociology. 

SRDC currently has six Directors, plus an Executive Director.

Ian Knop AM	Chair	Mr Knop established Profile Ray & Berndtson in 1976--a highly respected International executive search and strategic consulting advisory firm that has 55 offices worldwide and works with leading organisations in the private and public sectors. In addition to his role as Chairman and Managing Director of Profile Ray & Berndtson, Mr Knop is the Deputy Chairman of the Aurora Energy Board, Director of the Export Finance & Insurance Corporation and member of the Sullivans Cove Waterfront Authority. Mr Knop is a retired chairman of Soccer Australia, the Sydney Ports Corporation and the Australian Hotel School of Management and is a former director of Wilhelmsen Lines Australia, NSW Financial Institution Commission and the FIFA World Club Championship Board. In 2007 he was awarded the Order Of Australia for his services to the state of Tasmania and his contribution to sport and indigenous affairs across Australia.
Stephen Guazzo	Deputy Chair	Stephen Guazzo was first appointed to SRDC as a non-executive Director on 28 April 2006. He is a third generation canegrower from the Herbert River region with more than 35 years experience in the industry. Stephen has a reputation for innovative cane production and harvesting practices. He has served on the Herbert Regional Advisory Group and other industry bodies.
Michael Braude	Director	Michael Braude has 25 years commercial experience in management, economics, finance and treasury across three major corporations. He has held responsibilities for risk management, insurance and corporate treasury functions and has acted as a company appointed Alternate Director and Superannuation Trustee. Michael has also been actively involved with professional associations and tertiary educational bodies as a lecturer, course convenor and presenter. He is a regular presenter on a wide range of finance and business related topics to a number of professional associations. In 2007 Michael was the Deputy Chair for the Finance and Treasury Association’s annual congress. Michael is currently a Senior Fellow of the Financial Services Institute of Australasia, a FTA Senior and a member of the Australian Society of Certified Practising Accountants. He also holds a Masters of Business (Applied Finance) degree from the University Of Technology, Sydney (UTS), and a Bachelor of Business qualification.
David Campbell	Director	David Campbell has more than 25 years of experience in product and business development; commercialisation of technologies; marketing; logistics and general management. His experience spans the life sciences, biotechnology, agribusiness and chemical industries domestically and internationally. He has wide experience with the research sector and with government interaction.  David has held senior positions at Stem Cell Sciences plc, Monash Commercial Pty Ltd, Monsanto Australia Limited, Linfox Group, and Pivot Ltd (now Incitec Pivot Ltd). He is a Director of Animal Health Australia and has operated a successful consultancy in strategy and policy development, and commercialisation for the life sciences and agribusiness industries, government and Rural R&D Corporations.
Caroline Coppo	Director	Caroline Coppo has been involved in a sugarcane farming business in the Herbert region for ten years and has actively contributed to community development, sugar industry innovation and environmental issues in the region.  She has a background as a marine biologist, teacher and catchment coordinator and has extensive knowledge of water quality, environmental and natural resource management issues.  Caroline was the Sugar Executive Officer in the Herbert sugar region as part of the Sugar Industry Reform Program and is currently a Director of terrain NRM, the regional NRM body in the Wet Tropics. Caroline’s qualifications include a Bachelor of Science and a Bachelor of Education from James Cook University. She is a Graduate Member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
Ian Sampson	Director	Ian Sampson is currently Executive General Manager of People and Sustainability for Thiess Pty Ltd and is a Director of Lysaght Peoplecare Ltd. He has a Bachelor of Commerce and a Bachelor of Laws from the University of NSW and is a Graduate Member of The Australian Institute of Company Directors. Ian worked in the steel manufacturing and mining sectors for BHP Co. Ltd for 28 years in a variety of industrial relations and human resources management roles in Australia and New Zealand. From 1999 to 2004 he was General Manager Human Resources and Stakeholder Relations for CSR Sugar. Since 2004 Ian has worked as a strategic advisor to several sugar companies as well as consulting in the mining, manufacturing, aviation, petroleum and services industries in Australia, South Africa, Papua New Guinea and Fiji.
Angela Williams	Director	Angela Williams followed an agricultural career path after completion of an Agricultural Science degree in 1989 from the University of Queensland with a major in extension/communications. She has spent the past 20 years growing and refining her skills in agricultural extension, group extension and the community engagement process across a range of rural industries throughout Queensland. This work also involved natural resource management activities and funding management across the Gulf, Wet Tropics, Herbert, Burdekin, Mackay Whitsunday and Fitzroy bioregions. For the past 10 years Angela has run a successful consultancy business specialising in managing short term contracts specifically those that relate to change management, project management and business planning.  Most recently Angela has managed and delivered the Sugar Executive Officer contract as part of the Sugar Industry Reform Program in the Bundaberg-Isis sugar region.
Dr Anthony Pressland	Director	Dr Pressland is a consultant with extensive experience in research and development and natural resource management, both as a scientist and administrator.     He has worked in the pastoral and agricultural lands of Queensland, including the sugar growing areas of the south. In his capacity as a senior executive officer of government, he had responsibility for programs in weed and pest management, catchment management, and natural resource planning and management, including those which were community based.  He has undertaken reviews of a government agency’s science portfolio, of weed incursions, and of issues associated with community based natural resource management.  He has helped develop tertiary post graduate courses and he also chairs a science advisory committee for a tertiary institution.