The Secretary of the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) has appointed long-serving senior public servant Paul Morris as the new Executive Director of the Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Sciences (ABARES).

In a press release issued today, the secretary of DAFF, Dr Conall O’Connell, said Mr Morris was previously the Deputy Executive Director of ABARES and played a key role in leading the bureau’s delivery of research and commodity forecasts.

“Mr Morris has been a professional public servant in the agricultural, fisheries, forestry and resources areas for more than 25 years,” Dr O’Connell said. “During this time he has served in research, policy and senior management positions, bringing a wealth of knowledge into these roles.

“The new Executive Director will be dedicated exclusively to the running of the bureau. This reflects the importance of this role to the department and it reinforces the strong reputation of ABARES for providing professionally independent advice to decision makers.”

Mr Morris returned to ABARES as Executive Director on 27 January 2012 after his involvement in the department’s live animal export program initiative from 10 June 2011. While in the role, he was involved in the development of a new regulatory framework for livestock exports.  Prior to this, he had been Deputy Executive Director of ABARES since January 2010 and oversaw the merger of the two former research bureaus.

Mr Morris said he is pleased to assume the role in advance of the agriculture sector’s major conference, Outlook, on 6-7 March, which will examine issues facing the agriculture, fisheries and forestry sectors, recent movements in global markets and future opportunities for Australian producers.

“Outlook will give key decision makers the forecasts they need to make informed policy and business decisions,” Mr Morris said. “I’m very pleased to be leading ABARES in providing independent, world-class research, analysis and advice to inform decision-makers on policy challenges affecting Australia’s primary industries.”