Our team

NVT Senior Manager

Sean Coffey

Sean joined the NVT program in April 2019 and is responsible for the team oversight. Prior to NVT, Sean has a background in project management, stakeholder engagement, business development and strategy, having spent many years in leadership roles in both cropping seed and pasture seed businesses in both domestic and international markets.

sean.coffey@grdc.com.au
0428 652 226
Adelaide, SA

NVT Program Administrator

Dianne Wright

Dianne started her career in finance, in roles such as bookkeeper, accounts payable supervisor and accountant and holds a Bachelor of Commerce majoring in Accounting, which followed on from completing her Associate Diploma in Accounting. Before joining GRDC, Dianne was a Contracts Officer at Flinders University. This experience served Dianne well in her position as Program Administrator for NVT.

Dianne started with NVT in March 2020 and is responsible for ensuring all NVT contract obligations meet GRDC’s policies and procedures, including tracking milestones, payments and reporting.

dianne.wright@grdc.com.au
(08) 8198 8400
Adelaide, SA

NVT Systems Manager

Neale Sutton

Neale has been involved in the NVT program since 2007 and manages a vast array of systems used to store and communicate trial data, information, and results. He also manages the Pathology project that delivers cultivar disease resistance ratings.

Neale looks forward to improving data capture efficiencies and accuracy through adopting new technologies and being part of the digital farming and modern agricultural revolution.

neale.sutton@grdc.com.au
0438 579 992
Melbourne, VIC

NVT Operations Manager

Sara Blake

Sara brings extensive experience in pulse pathology R&D, and in engagement with grain growers, advisors, researchers and breeders to the NVT team. She manages, coordinates and communicates with key NVT stakeholders including variety owners, trial managers and biometricians.

With over 13 years’ experience in project management, Sara enjoys applying her aptitude for organisation to support delivery of the NVT to the Australian grains industry.

sara.blake@grdc.com.au
0472 782 389
Adelaide, SA

Strategy and Support Consultant

Ben O’Connor

Prior to joining, Ben knew a lot about NVT from previous roles, like how to manage trials and sell seed based on data. Now he manages, coordinates and communicates with key stakeholders including variety owners, trial managers and biometricians.

The thing Ben enjoys most is the programs diversity - from the seasonal activities, to the regions covered and diverse range of stakeholders.

ben.oconnor@grdc.com.au
0499 887 749
Geelong, VIC

NVT Manager – South

Brooke Bennett

Brooke's background is in small plot trial management, and she has experience in managing teams to deliver a broad range of projects across the Southern region.

Brooke grew up on her family farm in Central Victoria before studying Agricultural Science at La Trobe University. She will utilise her experience in small plot trial work to support the successful delivery of the NVT program.

brooke.bennett@grdc.com.au
Horsham, VIC

NVT Manager - West

Isabelle (Issy) Rogers

Issy joined the NVT program in 2022, after working as part of the Operations Group in the GRDC Perth office. She spent plenty of her childhood running amok on her grandparents farm in Katanning, WA, and has continued to develop her passion for agriculture through her studies, completing a Masters of Agricultural Biotechnology in 2020.

Issy is looking forward to growing her skills in the grains industry and will use her experience to support the NVT program in delivering value to Australian agriculture.

isabelle.rogers@grdc.com.au
0427 419 509
Perth, WA

NVT Manager – North

Laurie Fitzgerald

Laurie was born and raised in the farming community of Felton East on the Darling Downs and in his early years had a myriad of jobs, like farm hand and sales rep before spending 24 years with Pioneer Seeds.

Laurie took on this role in December 2018 because it provided him the opportunity to continue working in the agriculture sector, especially research yield trials, utilising his skill set and experience of plant breeding and crop research field work.

laurie.fitzgerald@grdc.com.au
0455 957 712
Toowoomba, QLD