Executive team

Dr Kelly Pearce is an Agricultural Scientist with more than 22 years of research, development and extension experience in industry and academia. She runs a farming property in the Western Australian Wheatbelt with her family. Kelly is a 2012 Nuffield Scholar, Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and a Research Fellow with the Australian Farm Institute. She holds various board appointments including: Western Australian Meat Industry Authority board member, Biosecurity Council of WA Advisory Committee member and Advisory Member of the Gene Technology Technical Advisory Committee with the Office of the Gene Technology Regulator. Kelly most recently held the position of Facey Group Chief Executive Officer. She has a degree with Honours in Agricultural Science (UWA) and a PhD in the field of Farming Systems from Murdoch University.

Debra Mullan graduated from The University of Western Australia with a Bachelor of Science in Natural Resource Management and since then, she has gained extensive experience working in the research and agricultural sectors. Most recently, Deb was Business Manager for the National Environmental Science Program (NESP) Resilient Landscape Hub. She previously held positions as Business Manager for The UWA Institute of Agriculture and Executive Manager for Rural Edge. Throughout her career, Deb has built a broad depth of knowledge in operations management, planning, budgeting, financial control, resource allocation and reporting.

Sian Orchard has enjoyed a diverse career in journalism, corporate communications and public relations roles. She graduated from Curtin University with a Bachelor of Arts in Communication and Cultural Studies, and later completed postgraduate studies in Marketing from Monash University. Sian has lived and worked across regional and metro Western Australia, and overseas in Milan and London. She began her career as a journalist, and then editor, working for Fairfax Media’s regional newspapers in Mandurah and Kalgoorlie. The invaluable experience she gained working in print and online media provided foundations for a strong, transferable skill set in communications. Sian has worked across the education, water and environment, agriculture and food, and regional development sectors. More recently, she has held communications adviser roles at The Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) in Grains, Food Industry Innovation, Media and Internal Communication, and Biosecurity and Sustainability.

Jenny Crisp has had a long and diverse career at the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD). She started as a Development Officer in the Western Australian Wheatbelt, which inspired her to undertake postgraduate studies in agricultural extension. Since then, Jenny has developed and managed a WA extension-related capacity building program, developed and implemented an agency-level evaluation framework, managed the Biosecurity Research and Development Fund, and provided planning and evaluation analysis support to various agricultural programs and projects. Jenny’s key skills include strategic program planning and evaluation, program logic development and analysis, community development and engagement, and capacity building.

Paulette Szczurowski has over 30 years of experience in both the private and public sectors. Paulette joined the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) as an Administration Officer for the eConnected Grainbelt project, administering grant programs via SmartyGrants. She later supported the Agribusiness Food and Trade team by managing grant administration for the Food and Beverage Fund and coordinating Ministerial events. In her current role, she provides project support for the eConnect+ project, overseeing program administration, operating procedures, and project reporting. She ensures the effective monitoring of progress reports, milestones, and payment schedules. Previously, she has had extensive experience in property development and property valuation as Administration Support and Office Manager, overseeing project delivery and office/strata management.