Research Connections and Consulting
Research Project Development, Management, and Implementation
Project leadership and management
John's 35-year career as a research scientist has focussed on the successfully leading and managing R&D projects. This has included:
- developing, leading and managing research projects (including multi-million dollar national and international projects across scientific discipline areas) on a wide range of agricultural and horticultural crop pests,
- implementing hands-on pest management research and development experimental programs,
- setting organisational, work-group and project priorities,
- managing organisational relationships and risk (including financial, intellectual property, and occupational health and safety risk), and
- project reporting.
Managing the development of science teams
John has experience in managing the processes associated with developing science teams established to meet high-priority organisational objectives. In doing this, he has used appropriate people-management processes to balance:
- the need to create and maintain a supportive culture that allows researchers to reach their creative potential, and
- the need for financial and corporate accountability.
A strong focus on building human resources, and recognition that innovative R&D is a creative process rather than a managerial/ administrative process are key elements.
Writing up of research results/ project completions.
John's wide experience in applied entomology research and development enables him to cost-effectively assist leaders of R&D projects complete the analysis and reporting of R&D projects, e.g. where contract staff leave prior to project completion. During his career, John has undertaken research, and published papers on, most aspects of pest management, including
- insect ecology,
- pest damage-assessment,
- plant resistance,
- pheromones, and
- evaluation and use of pesticides and biopesticides.
Contact Research Connections and Consulting for more information about their research project development, management, and implementation services.
Case Studies
- Queensland Department of Primary Industries 'Supporting Green Industries' New Initiative. John was the person primarily responsible for the implementation and management of the New Initiative. This involved him in the recruitment of scientific and technical staff for new multi-disciplinary research teams (spanning entomology, animal behaviour, invertebrate pathology and chemistry), and management of major laboratory refurbishments and equipment purchases, all within very tight time frames and with an imperative for financial accountability. The research team he assembled achieved a strong record of technical success, as well as strong financial support from external funding agencies. At a technical level, this program contributed to making Queensland the world leader in the development and farmer use of 'clean and green' options for management of Helicoverpa.
- ACIAR Project CS2/9450 'Management of white grub in peanut-cropping systems in Asia and Australia'. John led the conceptualisation, planning and development of this project, including identifying and assessing potential collaborators, developing and evaluating research operational plans that meet the needs of both Australia and the developing country partners, and actively building research capacity in both countries. He was also the overall project leader, directly managed project teams in Brisbane and Kingaroy, Queensland, and at Hyderabad, India, and provided support and assistance in the supervision of the team at Jaipur in northern India. John was responsible for the annual planning and review processes for staff in all four teams (total staff of 12 - 15), and had day-to-day supervisory responsibilities for the staff at Brisbane, Kingaroy, and Hyderabad.
