USC’s Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research and Innovation) Professor Roland De Marco has welcomed 14 agricultural scientists from across the Asia-Pacific region to the Sunshine Coast, where they will begin their John Dillon Fellowship.

The Fellows first touched down in Canberra late last month, after being selected for the prestigious Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR) John Dillon Fellowship program.

Professor De Marco met the Fellows on Thursday 5 March at the official launch of USC’s Forest Research Institute, where they enjoyed presentations from internationally renowned speakers, research funding agencies, USC academics, and key Australian industry and government partners.

He then introduced the Fellows to USC’s Centre for International Development, Social Entrepreneurship and Leadership (CIDSEL) in Noosa, where they will spend the next three weeks.

During this time, they will develop leadership skills in areas of agricultural research project management and be exposed to Australian agriculture across a range of best-practice organisations involved in research, extension and policy making.

Professor De Marco said USC and CIDSEL were proud and privileged to host the John Dillon Fellows in 2020.

State Member for Maroochydore Fiona Simpson will also welcome the Fellows to Parliament House for lunch with the Minister and Shadow Minister for Agriculture.

The fellowship supports outstanding mid-career agricultural scientists, economists and researchers involved with ACIAR projects.

The Fellows are from Fiji, Indonesia, Philippines, Myanmar, Papua New Guinea, Tanzania, Vanuatu, Vietnam and Australia, and will undergo professional development in some of the most beautiful regions of Australia.

USC CIDSEL Director Tami Harriott said her staff were looking forward to working with the Fellows and providing them with some unique learnings and memories.