As 2025 draws to a close, I want to thank our Members, partners and the PHA team for your commitment to strengthening Australia’s plant biosecurity system.

This has been a significant year for our organisation with PHA celebrating 25 years of protection, partnerships and progress, and marking 20 years of the Emergency Plant Pest Response Deed (EPPRD) being the foundation of national collaboration in plant pest responses. These anniversaries are a timely reminder of the strength of our partnerships and the value of nationally coordinated action.

Throughout 2025, PHA delivered strong outcomes across emergency response, partnerships and innovation, to underpin a robust and resilient national plant biosecurity system. Key highlights included supporting all notified plant pest incidents under the Emergency Plant Pest Response Deed (EPPRD), developing Owner Reimbursement Cost (ORC) frameworks and coordinating cost claims while participating in major national and trans-Tasman preparedness activities, including the brown marmorated stink bug exercise’Harvest Shield 2.0’ and Xylella national preparedness workshop. PHA strengthened response readiness by delivering Industry Liaison Officer (ILO) training across three jurisdictions, simulation exercises for two industries and supported Members through the development of contemporary and accessible elearning resources such as the Youth Biosecurity Hub. We also continued to build on new and existing partnerships through national committees, working groups and cross-sector collaboration delivering initiatives such as National Biosecurity Week.

Significant progress was also made in maintaining the high priority pest lists, developing and updating industry biosecurity plans, coordinating biosecurity and national surveillance programs and managing levy-funded biosecurity projects across multiple industries. Investment in digital systems saw users, records and images grow in AUSPestCheck®, Australian Plant Pest Database (APPD) and the Pest and Disease Image Library (PaDIL) as well as improvements in cybersecurity, governance and data sharing. Internally, we’ve focused on developing and refining process related to the implementation of our Enterprise Resource Planning system to further strengthen financial and project reporting while implementing initiatives and building a values-driven organisation to attract and retain staff.

The Know Before You Sow campaign, highlighted our internal marketing and communications capability and assisted the Australian Seed Federation to educate stakeholders on the importance of seed quality and collaboration across the supply chain. In June, PHA attended Hort Connections, hosting a trade booth and engaging directly with delegates, raising awareness of biosecurity programs and resources across the horticulture sector.

The past few months have also seen notable leadership changes across the sector. John McDonald will retire from Greenlife Industry Australia (GIA) in February 2026 after more than 35 years in horticulture, leaving a lasting legacy in nursery biosecurity and best practice. Joanna Cave will depart GIA following four years of dedicated leadership and service to the industry and we look forward to working with Sean Cole who will commence in the CEO role in the new year. We also welcome Justin Lane as the new CEO of Dried Fruits Australia, bringing fresh leadership to the dried fruit sector. Clare Hamilton-Bate CEO if the Australian Macadamia Society will depart in mid-2026 following a period of organisational renewal, while John Tyas will step down as CEO of Avocados Australia in July 2026 as recruitment for his successor commences. At the Commonwealth level, we welcome Victoria Anderson as Secretary of the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, with Justine Saunders returning as Deputy Secretary.

In this edition of Tendrils, we share outstanding results delivered through the 2024–25 season of the National Forest Pest Surveillance Program, Forest Watch Australia, and we recognise 20 years of the Plant Industry Forum, highlighting how plant industries work together on shared biosecurity goals. We outline the national Biosecurity Plan for the cherry industry, developed with Cherry Growers Australia and Hort Innovation to strengthen preparedness and market confidence. We also share an updated Khapra beetle factsheet for the grains sector to support pest and disease recognition, reporting and early action.

Thank you for your partnership throughout 2025 and for the role you play in safeguarding Australia’s plant health. I wish you a safe and restful festive season. Please note, the PHA office will close at 5 pm on Friday, 19 December 2025 and reopen on Monday 5 January 2026.

Regards,

Sarah Corcoran