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Dr Michael Robertson

Director

https://people.csiro.au/R/M/Michael-Robertson

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Contact details:

PRIVATE BAG 5
WEMBLEY WA 6913 AUSTRALIA

Biography

Dr Michael Robertson is the Acting Executive Director of CSIRO's Future Industries sector. The sector includes CSIRO's research units Agriculture & Food, Manufacturing, Health & Biosecurity, Australian Animal Health Laboratory, Australian Centre of Disease Preparedness, and Science Connect. He is based in Perth, Western Australia. His research background is in agricultural science, with an undergraduate degree from Lincoln University, New Zealand, and a PhD from the University of Queensland, specialising in crop agronomy and simulation modelling. He had a 2-year post-doctoral stint in the USA in the early 1990’s.

Michael has worked for CSIRO in Townsville, Brisbane and Perth where his work has aimed to develop and use information-intensive methods and products (e.g., predictive models, precision agriculture, digital innovation) to inform better management regimes for farming systems. Michael has served in various leadership roles in CSIRO including Deputy Director and then Director in CSIRO Agriculture & Food. He has led teams that impact on farm practice, agribusiness activities, and commercial ventures. Michael also has led multi-disciplinary teams to tackle complex agricultural issues and has worked from the tropics to the temperate zone and with all major broadacre industries.

Professional Areas

Current Roles

  • Site leader
    Leader for CSIRO Floreat in Western Australia

  • Acting Executive Director, Future Industries
    Sector Executive for agriculture & food, human and animal health, biosecurity, manufacturing, and CSIRO publishing, education, futures, infrastructure testing, SME engagement.

Academic Qualifications

  • 1991

    PhD University of Queensland

  • 1985

    Bachelor of Agricultural Science (Hons) University of Canterbury, New Zealand

Professional Experiences

  • 1992-1996

    Research Scientist
    CSIRO Tropical Crops and Pastures, Townsville

  • 1996-2005

    Senior Research Scientist and Principal Research Scientist
    CSIRO Tropical Agriculture and Sustainable Ecosystems, Brisbane

  • 2005-present

    Group leader
    CSIRO Sustainable Ecosystems, Agricultural Landscapes Program, Perth

  • 2014-2021

    Science Director
    CSIRO Agriculture and Food, Perth

  • 2011-2013

    Program Leader
    CSIRO Ecosystem Sciences, Perth

  • 2013-2014

    Deputy Chief
    CSIRO Ecosystem Sciences, Perth

Publications

We have publications by Dr Michael Robertson