Dr Danny Llewellyn

Chief Research Scientist

https://people.csiro.au/L/D/Danny-Llewellyn

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GPO BOX 1700
CANBERRA ACT 2601 AUSTRALIA

Biography

Dr Danny Llewellyn is a Chief Research Scientist with CSIRO and a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Technology and Engineering, having been actively involved in plant biotechnology for over 35 years in the development, evaluation and deployment of GM traits primarily in cotton. Following a PhD in biochemistry and biophysics at the ANU he moved into the emerging area of plant genetic engineering at the Max Planck Institute in Cologne during the initial genesis of plant genetic modification and brought that technology back to Australia when taking up a postdoc with CSIRO to use transgenic plants for the first time to study basic aspects of plant gene regulation. He moved to cotton in the mid 1980’s developing and/or testing GM traits mostly for insect and herbicide tolerance with various large multi-national life science companies. He pioneered the field testing of GM cotton in Australia working closely with CSIRO’s cotton breeding team to deploy a number of those traits into full commercial production, ensuring the on-going sustainability of an industry worth billions to Australia. His research and close interaction with GMAC and later the OGTR helped to empirically define and validate the physical parameters required for the safe containment of GM traits in cotton during their field testing up to commercial release. He has received a number of Awards and honours in recognition of his services to Australian agriculture and the cotton industry. The commercial deployment of GM traits is on-going, but Dr Llewellyn also maintains an active research program in cotton genomics, marker-assisted breeding and the development of the next generation of GM traits to improve yield and quality of Australian cotton varieties.

Other Interests

Classical music (particularly early music), gardening, reading, computer programming and the occasional jigsaw puzzle

Professional Areas

Fields of Research

Current

Current Roles

Team Leader
Core Biotechnology Team

Academic Qualifications

1975

BSc (Hons) Biochemistry
Australian National University
1980

PhD
Australian National University

Professional Experiences

1980-1980

Research Assistant
Australian National University
1980-1982

CSIRO Postdoctoral Fellow
Max-Planck Institute for Plant Breeding
1982-1985

Rural Credits Research Fellow
CSIRO
1985-present

Researcher and Project Leader in Cotton Biotechnology
CSIRO

Achievements and Awards

-1994

Cotton Researcher of the Year
Australian Cotton growers Research Association
-1995

Chief's Award for Excellence in Science Delivery
CSIRO Plant Industry
-2000

Fellow
Australian Academy of Technology & Engineering
-2001

Centenary Medal for Services to Agricultural Biotechnology
Australian Government
-2003

Chief's Award for Excellence in Research Adoption
CSIRO Plant Industry
-2003

Chairman's Medal
CSIRO
-2006

Clunies Ross Award
ATSE
-2009

Award of Excellence
Weed Science Society of America
-2011

Chairman's Medal
CSIRO

Community and Corporate Citizenship

2017-present

Member OGTR Gene Technology Technical Advisory Committee (GTTAC)
2006-present

Secretary ACT Division ATSE Academy

Publications

We have publications by Dr Danny Llewellyn