The Board of Plant Health Australia Limited (PHA) is pleased to announce that Sarah Corcoran has been appointed as the company’s next Chief Executive Officer. Sarah’s appointment follows a rigorous recruitment process undertaken by the PHA Board that attracted a strong field of candidates for the position.

Sarah has over 20 years experience in biosecurity and leading responses to exotic pest and disease incursions. She is currently Executive Director, Biosecurity and Animal Welfare; Infrastructure and Major Projects with the Northern Territory Government and has been at the forefront in leading the response to the citrus canker outbreak. Prior to that, Sarah held a number of senior plant biosecurity positions with the Queensland Government and led the largest invasive ant eradication program ever undertaken in Australia.

Throughout her career, Sarah has been an active participant in Australia’s national biosecurity preparedness and response arrangements and is currently the Northern Territory Government’s representative on the National Biosecurity Committee. She is also a Member of the Centre of Excellence for Biosecurity Risk Analysis Advisory Board.

Sarah will take over the role currently held by long-serving PHA CEO and Executive Director, Greg Fraser. Greg was appointed to this role in 2008 and in the ensuing 12 years, has led PHA with distinction and made a significant contribution to Australia’s plant biosecurity system. Under Greg’s leadership, PHA has expanded its role in response to increasing plant biosecurity risks by developing and delivering a number of important national programs to help industry and government better prepare and respond to these risks. Greg has also established a strong relationship between PHA and its members to ensure this expansion of role has had their support and investment.

Greg will finish his term at PHA on 8 July 2020. Sarah will remain in her role with the Northern Territory Government before formally commencing as CEO when Greg departs.