Congratulations to Emeritus Professor Geoff Fincher and Dr Brian Richards on being recognised in the Queen’s Birthday Honours for 2017.
Emeritus Professor Geoff Fincher (School of Agriculture, Food and Wine) has been named Officer of the Order of Australia in the General Division (AO).
Professor Fincher was recognised for distinguished service to science, and to education, in the area of plant genomics, as an academic, researcher and administrator, through scientific advisory roles, and to international professional societies. Through his many years at the Waite, he has made a distinguished contribution to cereal chemistry and the grains industry through his work on the structure, biosynthesis and digestion of plant cell walls. He was the inaugural Director of the ARC Centre of Excellence in Plant Cell Walls.
Dr Brian Richards has been named Officer of the Order of Australia in the General Division (AO).
Dr Richards was recognised for his distinguished service to geotechnical engineering and soil science, particularly through research and development of measuring and understanding soil suction and its effect on soil strength. His connection to Waite is as a volunteer with the Waite Arboretum and Urrbrae House Gardens. Brian is also the husband of Beth Johnstone OAM who is the President of the Friends of the Waite Arboretum.
Congratulations to both Geoff and Brian from everyone at the Waite.
