My Research in 3 Minutes Competition Panel of Judges
Professor Paul Gadek Chair of The Academic Board James Cook University Professor Gadek is currently Chair of Academic Board, a member of the University Council, and a member of the University’s Senior Executive. He holds directorships in JCU Singapore Pty Ltd; Advance Cairns Ltd; Regional Development Australia FNQ&TS Inc; Chairs the Scientific Advisory Committee of the Wet Tropics Management Authority; and is a Board member of the Australian Tropical Herbarium. He is a member of the panel of AUQA auditors; the Queensland Governments ‘Mentoring for Growth’ Panel at Cairns; and has been Chair of BioNQ, a regional bioindustry cluster. Professor Gadek’s research interests and professional activities encompass a broad knowledge and expertise in many aspects of plant biology, plant biotechnology, management of pure and applied competitively funded and consultancy projects, and fungal and plant pathogen research. He is currently a member of the editorial Board, Plant Species Biology Journal, Japan, and is an Associate Editor of the Journal of Systematics and Evolution. Professor Gadek has been active in raising awareness and developing opportunities in collaborative regional biobased industries in northern Queensland. He has established a Centre within JCU (Centre for Tropical Agri-Tech Research, CTAR) that links plant bioindustry and biotechnology research, sustainable agricultural practice, and economic and educational capacity building expertise within JCU pertaining to tropical regional agri- and bioindustries. At Cairns, he played a leading role in the development of the Australian Tropical Forest Institute (ATFI) complex and the establishment of the Australian Tropical Herbarium (ATH).
Ambassador Mark Hong Tat Soon Ambassador Vice Chairman, International Committee Singapore Business Federation
Mark Hong served 33 years in Singapore Foreign Service, overseas postings in Cambodia, Hong Kong, Paris, New York and Moscow, where he was Ambassador for 6 years. Education: Raffles Institution (1960-65), Singapore, BA Hons (Economics-Cambridge University, UK (1966-69), Master of Science-Foreign Service, Georgetown University, Washington DC, USA (1980-82); 4 Scholarships: President, Humanities (1966), Best Entrant, University of Singapore (1966), Fulbright (1980). After retiring from the Foreign Service, joined Institute of Defense and Strategic Studies, Nanyang Technological University (2002-04); then Institute of Southeast Asian Studies (Feb 2004 to Oct 2011), where he was head of the Energy and Russia Programs.
Mr Tony Walter Second Secretary Australian High Commission in Singapore
Tony Walter took up the position of Second Secretary at the Australian High Commission in Singapore in February 2009. Prior to this, Mr Walter served overseas as Vice-Consul at the Australian Consulate-General in Guangzhou, China (2007-2009). In Canberra, he has worked in the WTO Trade Law Branch and on the Africa Desk at the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT). Mr Walter joined DFAT in 2005. Mr Walter holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Arts and Law from the University of New South Wales and speaks conversational Mandarin. He is married with a son and a daughter.