Mr Les Baxter

Les Baxter is Research Program Manager for Horticulture. The program focuses on improving the productivity, profitability and sustainability of fruit, vegetable and ornamental crop production in developing countries and Australia.

Mr Baxter is also the Principal Regional Coordinator for Papua New Guinea and the Pacfic. This position involves identifying strategic directions and providing high-level oversight for ACIAR's program in this region, together with managing stakeholder relations both in Australia and in PNG and the Pacific.

Mr Baxter has a Master of Business Administration, Master of Agricultural Science, Bachelor of Applied Science (Horticultural Technology), Postgraduate Diploma in Law, Associate Diploma in Rural Techniques (Agriculture) and Associate Diploma of Maths and Computing. Prior to joining ACIAR, he worked as a consultant in the area of business and commercialisation of education. Mr Baxter has worked as a General Manager for Illawarra Technology Corporation and IDP Australia; and as the New South Wales State Manager for AusIndustry. Mr Baxter has filled numerous positions in the field of horticulture at the Queensland and Tasmanian Departments of Primary Industries and Fisheries, the Horticulture Research and Development Corporation, and several commercial horticultural production and processing companies.