HORTUS TECHNICAL SERVICES | Australia’s leading independent laboratory and agronomic services company with the “know how” to grow

Services

Consultancy Services

	Jack Milbank BAppSci (Agronomy) N.Sch - Managing Director Jack completed his formal qualifications at UQ’s Gatton Campus before taking a job at Crop Tech in 2001. Jack left the company in 2004 to further develop his capability, this saw Jack spend a year travelling, a year with Ausveg as an industry development officer and 3 years running his own intensive orchard in the Mary Valley. Jack set up Global Fresh Connect P/L, a horticultural marketing company in 2005 which continues to thrive focused on premium quality fresh produce export. Jack was awarded the prestigious Nuffield Scholarship in 2006 which saw him research horticultural production, processing and marketing using renewable energy in India, China, America and the Middle East. Jack returned to Bundaberg in September 2009 when he and a partner purchased Crop Tech from John Deere and rebranded the company to Hortus Technical Services. Jack brings vast broad ranging innovation, experience, direction and purpose to Hortus with a clear vision to make Hortus Australia’s leading independent laboratory and agronomic services company.

	Andrew Bauer BAppSci (Agronomy) – Technical Services Manager Andrew grew up on a cane cattle and tomato property in the Bundaberg region he completed his tertiary qualification as an agronomist at UQ’s Gatton Campus. Andrew started his career implementing innovative drip and fertigation technology to Australia from the US in the mid 1980’s. Andrew then progressed on to become the regional sales manager for a liquid fertiliser company servicing QLD and NSW before becoming the Asia Pacific Manager. Andrew has also been the head of Maryborough TAFE’s Horticulture department. With a post graduate diploma in training Andrew brings a level of expertise to the training Hortus conducts to key staff of corporate clients. Andrew joined Hortus in 2005 and is now the Technical Services Manager and lead Agronomist for Hortus.

	Sarah Watson M.Sc. - Laboratory Manager Sarah completed her Bachelor Degree with Honours in Toxicology at The University of Edinburgh in Scotland and her Masters at The University of Sydney. She has been working within the scientific field for 8 years and has established herself within the scientific community by contributing strongly to the Australian Research and Development sector. For most of her career Sarah has worked in R&D and her previous position in Sydney before joining Hortus Technical Services involved the managing of a large research group at the Centenary Institute. Sarah has a first author paper published from her Masters and another paper currently submitted to Nature Biotechnology. She has recently joined our team as laboratory manager and brings with her vast experience and knowledge in analytical science and molecular biology.

	Trish Hawkey B.App.Sci.- Rural Technology - Administration Manager Trish completed her Bachelor of Applied Science – Rural Technology at the University of Queensland – Gatton. She has 20+ years experience in administration and has been with Hortus Technical Services since 2004. Trish is responsible for the development of project submissions, budgets, appraisals and allocation of appropriate resources to ensure clients needs are met through the efficient coordination of Hortus’s administration and human resource capability.

	Lore Saupp-Saunders B.App.Sci.- Agronomy – Key Account Agronomist Lore spent her formative years living on and assisting in the day to day management of her parents’ vineyards and broad acre farm in Germany. Lore completed a Bachelor degree of Agricultural Science from the University for Applied Science in Nϋrtingen, Germany. Her field of specialisation is economics, marketing and management. During her time at University she was involved in various field trials from the impact of non-tilt farming practises to soil structure and nutrient loss. Lore also worked on a broad acre farm in the North of Germany for a grain and sugar beet harvest period. Prior to her move to Australia Lore worked as a Area Sales Manager in Animal Health and as a Sales and Marketing Advisor for organic meat and bakery products. Since arriving in Australia Lore added to her list of expertise working as a Station hand on a cattle station in the Northern Territory and working as a Kakadu National Park Ranger. Since Lore’s move to Bundaberg over three years ago she has worked for Hortus Technical Services as an Agronomist including IPM-monitoring.

	Kerran Nicolle BSc Agric - Crop Science – Broardacre Agronomist Kerran completed his Bachelor of Science degree in 1985, majoring in Crop Science and has over 20 years experience in the agricultural industry. Kerran ran his own agricultural consultancy company for 16 years offering farming clients agronomic advice, sales and services on all aspects of crop production on a wide range of field and horticultural crops and sales of all agricultural inputs. Kerran personally took care of all the sales and marketing that was required and dealt with a number of seed houses, fertilizer suppliers and chemical companies who supplied his company directly with his client’s requirements to on sell. He dealt with a wide range of growers and was personally involved with recommending fertilizer, chemicals and seed varieties for broad acre crops including maize, soya beans, wheat, sunflower, sorghum, tobacco, cotton, peanuts and paprika, as well as horticultural crops like strawberries, tomatoes, roses and flowers. With his extensive broad acre experience Kerran joined Hortus Technical Services last year as a Consultant Agronomist and is actively involved with promoting Hortus to the Agricultural Industry as well as assisting the in house agronomists with the continuous recommendations required for all samples that come out of the laboratory.

	Eddy Dunn B.App.Sci.- Production Horticulture - Orchard Agronomist Eddy grew up in Stanthorpe on a fruit & vegetable farm. He completed his Bachelor of Applied Science in Production Horticulture at the University of Queensland – Gatton and on completion commenced work with Hortus Technical Services in 2002. Eddy is an active member of the Queensland Crop Consultants organisation and is widely regarded as one of the best integrated pest management consultants in the citrus, passionfruit, avocado and macadamia industries. Eddy has been responsible for servicing such clients as Timbercorp, Rewards Group, SP Exports and Moorlands Produce during his time with Hortus.

	Josh Green – Agronomic Technician Josh grew up in Bundaberg on a sugarcane farm, and brings to the team an unrivalled work ethic, with exceptional local knowledge. As Hortus’s longest serving member of the Technical Services team brings a wealth of experience to any new project. Along the way he has completed a course in Plant Protection at the University of Queensland – Gatton and having been with Hortus Technical Services since 2001 has gained his qualifications by ongoing practical involvement in the horticultural industry. Josh has been trained in Hortus’s integrated pest management methodology, nutrition recommendation writing for the client he works closely with on a daily basis. Josh’s crops of expertise are Cucurbits, Snow peas, tomatoes, capsicums and chilies. Josh is the lead inspector for Hortus’s pre-shipment inspection quality assurance program.

	David Gillespie BIT Cert. Horticulture – Senior Plant Breeder and Research Technician and Consultant for Plant Breeder's Rights David bred 6 sub-tropical low THC industrial hemp varieties that have certificates of grant from IP Australia for Agri Fibre Industries Pty Ltd. Before joining Agri Fibre Industries David was a Senior Research Technician for the Department of Primary Industries for 29 years where he gained skills in experimental design, layout and statistical analysis techniques. David bred two low seeded irradiated Murcott clones and bred other seedless, easy peeler mandarins. David also has extensive disease resistance knowledge and bred disease resistant tomatoes and capsicums. David was a consultant for the Australian Business Volunteers (AusAid funding) for two projects involving Citrus agronomy in Papua New Guinea in 1998 and 1999 and gained a citation for sustainable development from the former Commonwealth Government. David has joined Hortus as avaluable part of the research and development team.