Written by Dr Robyn Hean, UNE Business School
The 2022 John Dillon Memorial Lecture, co-hosted by the New England Branch of the Australasian Agricultural and Resource Economics Society and the UNE Business School Research and Research Training Committee, was held on 23 November. The lecture was a hybrid event with 27 in-person and 39 online audience participants from around the world.
The lecture, entitled "Sustainable Intensification and ESG – compatible in a changing climate?", was presented by Ms Lucinda Corrigan. A recording is available on the UNE Business School Memorial Lectures webpage.
Lucinda has made a significant and broad-reaching contribution to the Australian agricultural industry, through running a leading Angus genetics business, ‘Rennylea’, as well as her many industry roles.
Lucinda joined Rennylea in 1986 from a background in the speciality fibre industry and CEO of a national breed association. Her childhood on a large merino sheep property, first class honours degree in Agricultural Science, then working in agribusiness for a number of years, added depth and experience to the Rennylea team. Lucinda has skills and experience in governance, business management, marketing, research, climate change and innovation through the value chain. At Rennylea she guides finance, marketing, strategy, research and succession.
Lucinda is the current Chair of the Board of the Animal Genetics and Breeding Unit, which is a long-running joint venture between UNE and the NSW Department of Primary Industries.
In the lecture, Lucinda conveyed her deep understanding of the challenging issues facing agriculture and the environment, and the role that sustainable intensification can play in feeding the world while reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The lecture stimulated a very interesting discussion.
The lecture is held in memory of John Louis Dillon (1931-2001), who was an agricultural economist of international stature. At the age of 33, John was appointed Foundation Professor of Farm Management at UNE and he spent the remainder of his academic career based in Armidale. John performed significant leadership roles at UNE and an unprecedented number of international agricultural research centres. He published more than 200 scholarly works and was the recipient of numerous awards, medals, fellowships and honorary doctorates. In 1997, John was invested as an Officer in the Order of Australia for services to agricultural economics and international development economics.
