CropLife Australia Board appoints Matthew Cossey as CEO

    14 December 2010

    Mr Lachlan McKinnon, President of CropLife Australia, the peak industry association representing the Australian plant science industry, today announced the appointment of Mr Cossey as the new Chief Executive Officer for the organisation.  Mr Cossey will commence in the role at the end of January 2011.

    In announcing the appointment, Mr McKinnon said, “the CropLife Australia Board of Directors is very pleased that Matthew has accepted the role of Chief Executive Officer. Matthew comes to the role from a senior executive position with Raytheon Australia, one of Australia’s largest defence and technology companies.  Prior to that, Matthew held a number of senior political and parliamentary adviser positions for more than a decade, as well as working in both the private and public sectors.

    “Matthew’s background and significant achievements in politics, industry and public policy make him the leader of choice to guide CropLife as we further strengthen our impetus towards achieving reform of the regulatory framework for Australia’s plant science industry. Under his leadership, we look forward to progressive development of CropLife’s vision for this critically important industry for Australia and its agricultural sector, as well as new opportunities for stakeholder engagement”.

    “We are delighted that Matthew will join CropLife Australia at this crucial time for our industry’s future and at a time when there is great enthusiasm for contributions to the quality debate on public policy in respect to the significant issues facing Australia’s plant science sector,” Mr McKinnon said.

    Mr Cossey said, “I am very pleased to join CropLife’s experienced and dynamic team, all of whom are committed to ensuring a strong future for Australia’s plant science industry, an industry which is critical to the ongoing success of Australian agriculture. CropLife Australia leads efforts to ensure a science based, efficient and effective regulatory and policy environment that supports innovation and encourages high quality products.

    “I look forward to working with the Board, member companies, the broader agricultural sector and government in growing and securing a strong future for this important industry in Australia.”