Dr Simon Hearn

Dr Simon Hearn is ACIAR’s Principal Adviser. He is responsible for a variety of strategic planning and budgeting activities, including identifying strategic directions and providing high-level oversight for ACIAR's research and development program. Dr Hearn also acts as a senior point of contact for ACIAR inter-departmental and government relations activities.

Dr Hearn has a BSc (Hons) in Agriculture and Economics from Reading University and a PhD in Agricultural Economics from London University. He has worked in agricultural and mining policy development and economic analysis both nationally and internationally.  He has also occupied a number of senior research and senior executive positions and participated in a range of Government and industry negotiations on trade and commodity matters in Europe, Asia, America and Africa, including as Minister/Councillor Agriculture in the Australian Mission to the European Union. He has served on a number of commodity and research boards and councils including the Energy Research and Development Corporation, the BHP Coal Research Council, the Australian Meat and Livestock Corporation, Wool International and the Australian Rural Leadership Foundation.

Dr Hearn has also worked as a senior research economist for ABARE; First Assistant Secretary and Executive Manager in the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Australia; the Chief of Staff for the former Minister for Employment, Education and Training and was the Managing Director of the Rural Industries Research and Development