Plant Health Australia welcomes new CEO Sarah Corcoran

July 13, 2020

In early July, Sarah Corcoran commenced as CEO of Plant Health Australia (PHA), the national coordinator of the government-industry partnership on plant biosecurity.

PHA Chair, Steve McCutcheon, said Sarah was awarded the position in April following a rigorous recruitment process undertaken by the PHA Board.

“She brings a wealth of experience to the role, with over 20 years working in biosecurity, including leading responses to exotic pest and disease incursions,” said Steve.

In her previous role as Executive Director, Biosecurity and Animal Welfare; Infrastructure and Major Projects with the Northern Territory Government Sarah was at the forefront of leading the response to the citrus canker outbreak.

Prior to that, she held a number of senior plant biosecurity positions with the Queensland Government and led the largest invasive ant eradication program ever undertaken in Australia.

In welcoming her to the company, Steve McCutcheon said that he looked forward to working with Sarah to continue PHA’s ongoing work in the plant biosecurity system.

“PHA’s unique role is to bring stakeholders together from government, industry and the supply chain to generate biosecurity solutions that benefit Australian producers and the environment.”

Sarah said that she is eager to take on a broader role in the national system.

“In the past I have worked with PHA on a number of projects and responses to incursions. But there’s much more to PHA, including working with our members on preparedness, training and investment priorities for RD&E. In my role as CEO I look forward to building on the good relationships we hold with our stakeholders and continuing to bring people together to create solutions from a national perspective.”

Sarah takes over the role from former long-serving PHA CEO and Executive Director, Greg Fraser.

Greg was appointed to this role in 2008 and, in the following 12 years, made a significant contribution to the growth of the organisation and Australia’s plant biosecurity system.