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Robert Banks

Director - School of Environmental and Rural Science

Phone: +61 2 6773 2425

Building: Homestead Building

Biography

Rob Banks is a PhD graduate of UNE, with a career in Research and Development for the genetic improvement of Australia's extensive livestock industries. He worked for Meat and Livestock Australia for nearly 25 years, initially in the role of establishing the genetic evaluation system for the Australian lamb industry, LAMBPLAN. Rob then led the process of extending LAMBPLAN to provide genetic evaluation for the Merino industry.

More recently, and in response to rapid advances in genomic technologies over the last five years, Rob led the development of Information Nucleus flocks and herds. Intensive recording of performance in these populations will help maximise the returns from investing in genomic testing in the Australian red meat industries.

Rob's role in Meat and Livestock Australia extended to include management of R&D investments across the full spectrum of pasture improvement, grazing systems, climate change adaptation and genetic improvement.

Since taking up the role of Director, Rob has guided projects focused on genetic evaluation of dairy goats and honeybees, as well as contributing to AGBU's portfolio of projects.

The University of New England respects and acknowledges that its people, courses and facilities are built on land, and surrounded by a sense of belonging, both ancient and contemporary, of the world's oldest living culture. In doing so, UNE values and respects Indigenous knowledge systems as a vital part of the knowledge capital of Australia. We recognise the strength, resilience and capacity of the Aboriginal community and pay our respects to the Elders past, present and future.

Robert Banks

Biography

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