Craig Burns has over thirty years’ experience working in agricultural and resource development policy.

He was Managing Director of the Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation (RIRDC – now Agrifutures Australia) from 2010-2016. Prior to this, Craig held senior positions in the Australian Government, mainly in the areas of agricultural trade, biosecurity, resource management and R&D. He served as Minister-Counsellor (Agriculture) in Australia’s Delegation to the OECD in Paris (1999-2002). This role also included representation to other Europe based international organisations.

Craig served on the Board of the Australian Rural Leadership Foundation and the Foundation’s Finance and Audit Committee from 2013-2016.  He has previous Board management and corporate governance experience in Commonwealth agencies. Craig has been Chair of the International Grains Council, Vice-Chair of the OECD Committee for Agriculture and Chair of the OECD’s Working Party on Agriculture and Trade. Craig was chair of the Climate Change Research Strategy for Primary Industries (CCRSPI) 2013-16 and  chaired a meeting of G20 Agricultural Chief Scientists in 2014.

Craig is experienced in facilitating stakeholder engagement on strategic policy development and corporate planning.