Agricultural Leaders: From Research to Impact

Join the ARC Training Centre for Future Crops and the Agrifood Innovation Institute (AFII) for a conversation about the people, partnerships and opportunities that help research gain traction in the real world.

At the heart of the discussion is a simple but important idea: scientific excellence alone does not create impact. Meaningful outcomes depend on understanding and engaging with industry, policy, economics, communication and the people who ultimately use and benefit from research.

The session brings together four phenomenal speakers whose careers have crossed the boundaries between research, industry, policy, communication and sustainability:

• Prof Bruce V. Lewenstein – a globally recognised leader in science communication and public engagement
• Russell Reinke – an internationally respected crop scientist and agricultural innovation leader
• Dr Jana Phan – an agricultural research, policy and industry advocacy professional
• Dr Leonie Pearson – a leading researcher in sustainability, governance and systems thinking

Together, they will share insights from their diverse careers before joining a facilitated panel discussion on working across disciplines, sectors and communities, exploring what happens when research meets policy, how industry engagement shapes adoption, why timing and relationships matter, and the conditions that enable research uptake, adoption and lasting impact.

Ideal for early career researchers, emerging research leaders and anyone interested in research impact, the session features a dedicated Q&A and networking opportunities, giving participants the chance to engage directly with the speakers, exchange ideas, build connections and learn from others working across research, industry, policy and practice.

Date: 9 November 2026
Time: 2:00pm-4:00pm
Location: Eucalyptus room, RN Robertson Building, ANU, Canberra