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.

	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.

	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.

	Tom Farmer

	Dimity Hunter