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Admin and Technical Staff
The administration and technical staff are professionals who take pride in the skills and expertise they bring to achieve the seamless operation of the research and research training programs of the Institute. Administration staff provide accurate advice on financial, governance and policy matters, while technical staff provide expert knowledge across a range of complex facilities and discipline areas.
Mr Burhan Amiji
Mr Burhan Amiji is the Senior Technical Officer responsible for the smooth operation of the Hawkesbury Forest Experiment site - specifically the whole tree chamber installation within the Institute.
Doctor Craig Barton
Dr Craig Barton is the Technical Manager, Field Based Research Facilities and has responsibility for the smooth operation of the Institute’s field-based climate change facilities. These facilities include CO2 /climate controlled whole tree chambers (WTC) and associated eucalypt plantation (Hawkesbury Forest Experiment, HFE), a Free Air CO2 Enrichment (FACE) experiment in native woodland, Rain-out Shelters and an Eddy Covariance Flux site.
Ms Danielle Creek
Ms Danielle Creek is the Technical Officer responsible for investigating plant hydraulics and water relations within the Institute.
Doctor Gerard Devine
Dr Gerard Devine is the Institute’s Data Manager. He is responsible for ensuring that the large amounts of data being generated by HIE activities is managed in an efficient and responsible manner.
Doctor Jasmine Grinyer
Dr Jasmine Grinyer is Senior Research Officer (Rural Industries) and provides research support for projects aimed at solving problems identified by industry partners, particularly in the area of soil biology within the Institute.
Doctor David Harland
Dr David Harland is the Institute Manager and is responsible for providing support to the Director and Director of Research by managing the Institute’s financial, physical and human resources.
Mrs Patricia Hellier
Mrs Patricia Hellier is a Senior Administration Officer, Office of the Director and is responsible for administrative issues within the Institute, particularly the provision of accurate information on the website and within publications and promotional materials.
Doctor Caroline Janitz
Dr Caroline Janitz is the Senior Technical Officer responsible for the next-generation sequencing facility within the Institute.
Doctor Marcus Klein
Dr Marcus Klein is the Technical Officer responsible for the molecular biology laboratory and the laboratory-based climate controlled facilities within the Institute.
Doctor Vinod Kumar
Dr Vinod Kumar is responsible for co-ordination, documentation, and delivery of expert scientific, technical and problem solving services, associated with all aspects of field experiments, to the Institute’s academic staff, students and visiting researchers. In particular, Vinod works closely with the Institute’s senior academics and other technical staff to ensure the smooth operation of the EucFACE facilities.
Doctor Nga Le
Dr Nga Le is the Technical Officer responsible for the molecular biology laboratory and the laboratory-based climate controlled facilities within the Institute.
Ms Chelsea Maier
Ms Chelsea Maier is the Technical Officer responsible for the operations of the Eddy Flux Tower and Rainout Shelter facilities within the Institute.
Doctor Pushpinder Matta
Dr Pushpinder Matta is the technical officer responsible for laboratory based soil, plant and other biological analytical techniques and instrumentation within the Institute.
Mr Gavin McKenzie
Gavin McKenzie is the Technical Manager, Laboratory and Controlled Environments responsible for the smooth operation of the laboratories, controlled-environment glasshouses, and environmental growth chambers and associated equipment within the Institute.
Mr David Thompson
David Thompson is the Web Development & Digital Communications Officer. He develops communications and marketing strategies with the goal of promoting the capabilities, achievements and facilities of the Institute.
Mrs Gillian Wilkins
Mrs Gillian Wilkins is the Senior Administration Officer responsible for administrative issues within the Institute, particularly the provision of high level administrative support, budget preparation and monitoring, and administrative support for strategic planning activities.
Mr Steve Wohl
Steven Wohl is the Senior Engineering Officer responsible for the operations and management of the Eucalyptus Free Air Carbon Enrichment (EucFACE) facility within the Institute.
