The University of New England (UNE) is proud to be AgQuip’s official education partner in 2025. UNE is holding dynamic panel sessions on each day of the event to support school students and others looking for a pathway into this enormously diverse sector.
The sessions will feature leading academics and researchers from across a range of fields, including livestock genetics, soil science, pest management, natural resources and law.
Specially designed for secondary school students and their parents, the sessions are also open to anyone considering a career change.
Tuesday’s panel session will give visitors insights in diversity of agriculture-related careers. Wednesday will look at agricultural and environmental stewardship, and Thursday’s session will cover emerging technologies and ag-related law including transition and succession planning.
Events will be held at 11am at the UNE Event Shed at M-N|40. Come along to discover how this partnership is connecting the next generation to agriculture's exciting future.
Interested in a career in agriculture, but not sure where to start?
Tuesday, August 19, 11am - Talk to an expert – insights on Ag, Careers and making change
Professor Fran Cowley – Fran leads the teaching and learning program in UNE’s School of Environmental and Rural Science. Fran is a Professor in Livestock Production and expert in using feed solutions to reduce methane emissions and carbon footprints of cattle and sheep.
Dr Ivanah Oliver – Ivanah is a Soil Scientist, specialising in soil formation and carbon sequestration. She has a special interest in soils education.
Professor Guy Charlton – Guy is a Professor of Law. His interests include comparative indigenous law, corporate law, constitutional and human rights law and property law.
Industry panellist and UNE Alumna - Karina McCulloch, Director, McCulloch Agencies, Tamworth.
Wednesday, August 20 - Agricultural and Environmental Stewardship
Dr Anna Probert - Anna is a lecturer in Zoology. She teaches entomology and her research focuses on the impacts of non-native species to biodiversity and human well-being and livelihood.
Dr Rhiannon Smith - Rhiannon is an expert in sustainable farming systems where agriculture and nature thrive together. Her interests include biodiversity conservation in production landscapes, sustainable land management, and designing carbon neutral farms.
Professor Karl Vernes – Karl is the Head of UNE’s School of Environmental and Rural Science. He is a Professor of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation Biology and his research in mammal ecology and conservation has taken him around the world.
Industry panellist - Sharon Single, farmer and Wheat Research Foundation board member. Sharon is an agricultural professional and director with an agronomic, managerial and project management background.
Thursday, August 21 - Future of Farming and Sustainable Agriculture [Please note this panel has been cancelled due to weather. UNE's main site will be still be open on Thursday].
Dr Jamie Barwick – Jamie is an expert in Precision Agriculture and livestock systems. He coordinates UNE’s Bachelor of Agriculture. Jamie’s work as a livestock researcher focuses on the use on-animal sensors to improve production and efficiency.
Professor Sam Clark – Sam is a Professor in Animal Genetics. Sam’s research centres around genetic evaluation and genomic selection in sheep, beef and dairy cattle, and he leads research programs within the national Zero Net Emissions Agriculture Cooperative Research Centre.
Dr Lucie Newsome - Lucie is one of the UNE researchers behind the UNE FarmTransfer Survey, the first national survey of farm business succession to be made in 20 years with the aim of improving one of the most challenging aspects of agriculture. Her research centres on gender and agriculture, gendered experiences of work, gender and entrepreneurship and farm succession.
