Profiles
- Ian Macleod
- Phil Frost
- Jane Floyed
- Mike Hanlon
- Brendan Griffiths
- Chris Monsour
- Richard Porter
- Dr Hoong Pung
- John Seidel
- Mark Sumner
- Stephen Tancred
- Andrew Woodcock
Ian Macleod (Managing Director)
Ian has headed up Peracto since 1985 and has responsibility for setting and implementing strategic direction and overall company management.
Research interests
- Developing and managing research teams and networks nationally and internationally
- Crop protection research, particularly in poppies, pyrethrum and horticultural crops
Qualifications/Affiliations
- Bachelor of Science (Hons)
- Member of the Australian Institute of Management
- Member of the National Alliance of Independent Crop Consultants
Phil Frost (Regional Manager, TAS)
Phil has over 10 years experience in the evaluation and development of crop production inputs including herbicides, fungicides, insecticides, PGR's and nutrients. He works closely with a number of the local industries to develop practical solutions to agronomic issues with the aim of improving the efficiency and sustainability of crop production. With offices in both Launceston and Devonport the Tasmanian team is well positioned to access the diverse range of crops and agricultural industries in Tasmania where a relatively reliable climate with mild temperatures is ideal for growing high quality crops.
Research interests
- Weed management.
- Evaluation and development of crop production inputs
- Solving industry production issues
Qualifications
- B.Agr.Sc.(Hons)
- Agsafe accreditation
Jane Floyed (QA Manager)
Jane's responsibilities include management of the Good Laboratory Practice (GLP) System for Peracto. She is also the Lead Quality Assurance Auditor.
Jane has spent the past 20 years developing and implementing QA and OH&S systems across a broad range of industries. She has been with Peracto since GLP compliance in residue trials became mandatory and has been instrumental in the development and continuous improvement of the GLP system.
Qualifications
- Bachelor of Nursing – University of Tasmania
- Research and Learning and Education in Nursing – University of Tasmania
- Certificate IV in Workplace Training and Assessment
- ISO 9001:2000
- External Audit Certificate – QMS, Hobart, Tas
- Rehabilitation Coordinator
Mike Hanlon (Technical Manager)
Mike has national responsibilities to coordinate contract research requirements for clients, primarily agricultural chemical companies and R&D organisations. Activities include client contact, protocol development or enhancement, cost determinations, trial programme organisation and control to deliver timely, quality reports, primarily for registration or commercial purposes. Mike is one of the main contact points for Peracto's many and varied clients located within Australia and overseas.
Research interests
- Agricultural chemical research – fungicides, herbicides, insecticides and plant growth regulators, particularly producing efficacy, crop safety and residue information that are of value to the client for sound decision making and label recommendations.
Qualifications/Affiliations
- B.Agr.Sc. (Hons)
- Certified Practicing Agriculturalist
- Agsafe accreditation
Brendan Griffiths (Regional Manager, Goondiwindi)
Brendan has worked as a field agronomist since 1991, specialising in northern irrigated cropping and dryland cereals, pulses, pastures and cotton. He has spent the last eleven years working in field agronomy as a consultant to growers in the Border Rivers Region of Northern NSW, as well as conducting field evaluation and development work in crop production with his team at Peracto Goondiwindi. He has close agency contacts and has worked collaboratively on such projects as Grain & Graze and the irrigated grains project for the Northern cropping region.
Research interests
- Irrigated cropping
- Farming systems evaluation
- Plant nutrition
- Insect management
Qualifications
- Bachelor of Business
- Diploma Market Research
- Graduate Certificate Rural Science
- Masters of Agriculture (to be completed October 08)
Chris Monsour (Regional Manager, North Queensland)
Chris is based in Bowen (in the Dry Tropics of North Queensland) and undertakes contract research and provides pest management and agronomic services in a range of horticultural crops between Mackay and Townsville.
Research interests
Chris has considerable experience in conducting efficacy, residue, crop safety, fertiliser and variety assessment trials, to complement his expertise in pest management, including biological control agents.
Qualifications
- Bachelor of Science - Murdoch University
- Bachelor of Applied Science (Hons) - Queensland University of Technology
- PhD (Entomology) – University of Queensland (in progress)
Richard Porter (Regional Manager, SA)
Richard is based in Adelaide and undertakes contract research in a range of broadacre, viticultural and horticultural crops across the state.
Research interests
Richard has experience in the conduct and management of trial programs, gleaned from technical roles in the agchem and seed industries over the past fifteen years. Particular interests exist in broadacre agronomy, viticulture and variety trials (Richard is a QP).
Qualifications
- Bachelor of Agricultural Science - University of Adelaide
- Post Graduate Diploma in Business - University of Adelaide
Dr Hoong Pung (Principal Research Scientist)
Hoong has extensive experience and knowledge in a wide range of diseases including Sclerotinia diseases, grey mould, downy mildew, poppy fire, white blister, root and stem rots by Rhizoctonia, potato diseases such as black scurf, common scab, powdery scab, pink rot and dry rot. Since 1995, Hoong has conducted plant pathology research in approximately 20 industry funded horticultural projects with the aim of developing commercially acceptable integrated disease management strategies with chemical, cultural and non-chemical methods in a wide range of crops (e.g. apples, legumes, leafy vegetables, brassicas, root vegetables, potatoes, poppies, pyrethrum).
Research interests
Diagnostic services, laboratory studies and field trials within commercial crops to investigate, identify, screen, evaluate and develop plant disease control strategies. Hoong has a special interest in horticultural crop diseases, optimising and integrating chemical and non-chemical control strategies for soil borne disease management and overall crop and soil health.
Qualifications
- B.Sc. (Hons)
- Ph.D (Plant Pathology)
John Seidel (Regional Manager, NSW/VIC)
John is based in Walla Walla; a mixed farming area with easy access to the horticultural areas of the MIA, Batlow and the Rutherglen vineyards. He is also responsible for Peracto’s Shepparton and Melbourne operations.
Research interests
John has over 30 years experience in research and development, both in the conduct of agronomic field trials and in project management. His particular expertise is broad acre seed and foliar disease management and pest and weed management in crop and pastures. He also has a keen interest in the adoption of biological control techniques in agriculture.
John has access to sowing and harvesting equipment and conducts broad acre crop and pasture trials as well as trials in pome and stone fruit and vines.
Qualifications
- B.Sc.
- Certificate IV in Workplace Training and Assessment
- Registered ChemCertTrainer
Mark Sumner (Regional Manager, WA)
Mark is based in Perth and undertakes contract research and technical services in a wide range of broadacre and horticultural crops, turf grass and domestic pest control.
Research interests
Mark has over 30 years experience in product research and development, technical service and project management in the agrochemical and crop protection industry. Primary roles involve a wide range of cropping situations including broadacre agriculture, horticulture, forestry, turf grass and domestic pest control. Mark has a special interest in product application, application techniques and equipment design, and has been instrumental in developing a number of novel application systems for crop protection products.
Qualifications
- Bachelor of Science - Murdoch University
Stephen Tancred (Regional Manager, Stanthorpe)
Research interests
Plant protection and agronomic research services for a wide range of temperate and sub-tropical fruit and vegetable crops.
Qualifications
- Bachelor Agricultural Science (Hons) - University of Queensland
- Post Graduate Diploma Agricultural Studies - University of Queensland
- Graduate Certificate Management - University of New England
Andrew Woodcock (Business Manager)
Andrew manages the business and administrative side of Peracto, including development and monitoring of the annual budget process, forecasting, performance tracking, staff recruitment and contract negotiation. He is also involved with IT systems development.
He has been with Peracto since 2005 and comes from a business management background in a variety of industries including hospitality and mining.
Qualifications
- Bachelor of Business (Accounting) - University of Tasmania