Personnel Profiles:

Protech Consulting staff

Rosemary Henderson

Rosemary Henderson has been the managing director of Protech Consulting Pty Ltd, since its formation in May 1989. She graduated from La Trobe University in 1977 with a Bachelor of Agricultural Science (Honours) degree. She is a member of the Australian Institute of Agricultural Science and Technology, a certified Practising Agriculturalist (CPAg) and a member of the Australasian Register of Agricultural Consultants.

Prior to establishing the consultancy she worked in research and development for Hoechst Agrivet for 11 years after periods with the Soil Conservation Authority and the National Parks Service. Her career with Hoechst started in the field conducting field trials with experimental products and then moved into the regulatory area. Her major tasks included maintaining the registration of all agricultural, horticultural and animal health products by assembling data and preparing submissions for the registration of new products. She recorded, collated and assessed agricultural trial reports from local and overseas sources and co-ordinated the analysis of trial data. Her responsibilities also covered updating product labels to ensure they complied with relevant regulations. She prepared and presented technical data and information for use in training, marketing and sales and the production of technical and promotional literature. As editor of the Hoechst Agrivet journal, 'The Herxter', Rosemary was responsible for the circulation of technical information to research and sales staff in the field.

As managing director of Protech Consulting, Rosemary provides technical support to a range of companies servicing the agriculture industry. She also contributes to Industry Associations through committee involvement. As a member of the Weed Science Society of Victoria Inc., she has been its secretary from 1982 to 1986 and first woman president from1987 to 1989. She was the organizing secretary of the first International Weed Control Congress in Melbourne in 1992. A long term member of the AVCARE Victorian committee, Rosemary held the position of Chairman for two years and Secretary for six years.

Janet Macdonald

Janet Macdonald also graduated from La Trobe University with a B.Agric.Sci. (Hons) degree. She is a member of the Australian Institute of Agricultural Science and Technology (AIAST), a member of the Register of the Australian Association of Agricultural Consultants (AAAC) and is a Certified Practicing Agriculturalist (CPAg).

Janet previously worked for the CSIRO Division of Animal Production in new product development and novel administration methods, particularly controlled release applications, of animal health and nutritional products for sheep and cattle, encompassing laboratory work through to field trials and liaising with companies commercializing the new products.

Janet has been working with Protech Consulting since Jan 1991, preparing submissions for approval of new active constituents, registration of new agricultural and veterinary chemical products, and ongoing regulatory support for crop protection and animal health companies. This support includes submissions to the APVMA in Australia and the ACVM Group and ERMA in NZ, maintenance and updating of existing registrations, label updates, applications for trial permits, updating MSDS's, knowledge of hazardous substances and dangerous goods legislations.

Kathryn Eke

Kathryn completed her tertiary studies in the UK by gaining a BSc. Hons.(2.1) Applied Biology, specializing in crop protection. After working in the field by carrying out field evaluations of new agrochemicals and providing agronomic advice, Kathryn then took up positions with the National Rivers Authority and British Agrochemical Association. During that time she researched and wrote the first comprehensive report on pesticides in water and updated the UK “Code of Good Practice for the use of Pesticides in Amenity and Industrial Areas”. Since moving to Australia, her work with Protech Consulting has included preparation of submissions for home garden, biological and petcare products and critical review of legal documents.

Catherine Jorgensen

After graduating from the School of Agricultural Science at Melbourne University, Catherine began her career in the Agricultural Chemical Industry twelve years ago with Shell Agrochemicals as a Field Development Technical Officer. During this time she planned, conducted and reported on field evaluation trials. She then spent a short time as a Sales Representative for companion animal vaccines with Cyanamid Websters, before taking a Regulatory Affairs position with AgrEvo. There she concentrated on Regulatory work in Crop Protection whilst also providing technical support to Market Development activities for four years. More recently she has resumed her professional career in a part-time capacity due to family reasons, but remains committed to providing Regulatory Affairs and other services for a range of product types.

Kylie Cooper

Kylie graduated from Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology with a Bachelor of Applied Science in Applied Chemistry. Before joining Protech Consulting four years ago she worked for Alfa Laval Agri. Some of her responsibilities at Alfa Laval were Production Supervisor, registration of all the companies products (both Ag and Vet) and developing in-house procedures similar to ISO9002. She was also the liaison with the Occupational Health & Safety Authority to ensure these issues were adequately addressed in the company, initiating an Occupational Health and Safety committee within Alfa Laval.

Marianne Sparks

Marianne studied Environmental Science at Deakin University in Melbourne and gained a Bachelor of Applied Science and Graduate Certificate. She worked as a Land Protection Officer for the Shire of Nillumbik in Victoria and then as Land Programs Manager/Properties Manager for the Trust for Nature (Victoria). Marianne joins the Protech team as course co-ordinator and works on various regulatory and training projects.