Dr Chris Chilcott

Dr. Chris Chilcott is a rangeland ecologist with over 20 years’ experience in the agricultural sector, largely in livestock industries. Chris leads CSIRO’s work on developing Northern Australia based at the Darwin laboratory. He is responsible for facilitating strategic, multidisciplinary and collaborative research relevant to the development of the north. Chris’ most recent research has focused on identifying the scale and location of opportunities for developing northern Australia including work relating to mosaic irrigation, transport logistics and biosecurity.

Chris has professional experience in animal industries, pastoral production and rangeland management. He has been instrumental in leading complex industry developments, development of strategic policy and advising on international trade and market developments to enable growth in key sectors. Chris has strong experience and established relationships with governments across the north, including Northern Territory, Queensland and Western Australia and our South-east Asian trading partners.

Prior to joining CSIRO Chris led a strategic policy team providing leadership on industry development in Queensland. This included beef, sheep and wool, goats, chicken meat, eggs, pigs, and minor industries, as well as providing support to the Northern Australian Beef Industry Agricultural Ministers Forum. Chris has also held the position of Regional Director for the Rangelands region in the Western Australian Department of Agriculture and Food, which included the Kimberley, Pilbara, Gascoyne and Murchison, Goldfields and Nullarbor regions.

Chris has a PhD in Ecosystem Management from the University of New England, and a BSc in Environmental Science from Murdoch University. He brings to CSIRO a strong strategic acuity, an impressive depth of knowledge of industry supply chains and a strong commitment to the sustainable development of the north.