Our executive

Professor Mehdi Doroudi PSM, GAICD

Chief Executive

As Chief Executive, Professor Mehdi Doroudi's primary focus is on advancing the prosperity and sustainability of South Australia’s primary industries and regional communities.

Professor Doroudi works in partnership with all levels of government, industry, regional communities and research organisations to:

• increase productivity of our primary industries and agribusinesses
• grow regions by supporting key regional development drivers
• lead and influence evidence-based policy, programs and regulatory frameworks to drive efficiency, effectiveness and unlock potential
• secure production through biosecurity, food safety standards and efficient and sustainable use of agricultural and aquatic resources
• deliver and facilitate the adoption of applied science that leverage South Australia’s competitive advantages
• manage adverse events effectively and help primary industries and regional communities improve preparedness, resilience and recover well
• enable market access by working with primary industries to respond to evolving requirements of domestic and global markets and consumers
• champion South Australian primary industries and regions in relevant state, federal and global forums.

Professor Doroudi is a proud and passionate leader in agriculture, food, fisheries and forestry with over 30 years of experience. Prior to becoming the Chief Executive, he was the Deputy Chief Executive of PIRSA where he was responsible for the South Australian Research and Development Institute (SARDI), Fisheries and Aquaculture, Biosecurity SA, Forestry and Agriculture, Food and Wine.

He has also held executive positions within the Department of Primary Industries in both Victoria and New South Wales and in the private sector.

Professor Doroudi completed his degree of Doctor of Veterinary Medicine at Tehran University and his PhD at the School of Marine Biology and Aquaculture, James Cook University and holds an Affiliate Professorial position with the University of Adelaide.

He was awarded the Australian Public Service Medal in 2019 for outstanding public service for his efforts in the advancement of science to inform policy and the management of primary industries in South Australia.

Michelle Griffiths

Executive Director, Corporate Services

As Executive Director of Corporate Services, Michelle Griffiths' primary focus is to work in partnership with the Department’s divisions to provide high quality, customer focussed corporate services, aligning with divisional needs and the Department’s directions.

Michelle joined the Department in January 2018 and brings diverse experience in corporate services.

Michelle represents PIRSA on the Across Government Facilities Management Arrangements led by the Department of Planning, Transport, and Infrastructure, as well as the State Emergency Relief Fund Committee, specifically for the SA Bushfire Appeal.

She has held roles as Director Finance and Business Services and Chief Financial Officer in the Department of Environment, Water and Natural Resources (DEWNR) from 2012 to 2018.

While at DEWNR, Michelle worked on a large accommodation project, consolidating city and metropolitan sites, reducing the footprint for the agency and contributing towards the achievement of a five-star green star rating.

Michelle has previously held roles in the Department of the Premier and Cabinet, the Auditor-General's and the former Department for Water.

She leads a dynamic group of people in People and Culture, ICT, Asset Management and Facilities, Business Services, Procurement, Finance and Prudential Management.

Michelle holds a Bachelor degree in Economics (Accounting), a Master in Business Administration and is a Fellow CPA.

She is also a member of the South Australian Police Risk and Performance Committee.

Professor Peter Appleford

Executive Director, Major Programs and Regions

Professor Peter Appleford leads the Major Programs and Regions division, responsible for the executive management and oversight of the division.

Major Programs and Regions works in partnership with industry, local, state and Australian Government agencies, and community to develop and deliver initiatives to realise economic and community development opportunities. The division has a critical role in supporting primary producers and communities to recover from and build resilience to adverse events, including natural disasters, drought, climate change and biosecurity outbreaks.

He has been in range of roles at PIRSA since 2017. Prior to working at PIRSA, he spent nearly two decades as a senior leader in key Victorian Government agencies including the Department of Primary Industries and the Department of Sustainability and Environment.

Professor Appleford has extensive experience in implementing change while driving integrated and improved performance.

He applies decisive action and sound judgement to deliver value to PIRSA's objectives, highly skilled people, stakeholders, and the wider community. He brings an energetic leadership style to inspire, address barriers to growth and drive better outcomes.

Jo Collins

Executive Director, Industry, Strategy and Partnerships

Jo Collins leads the Industry, Strategy and Partnerships division within the Department of Primary Industries and Regions and is responsible for the oversight of strategic policy and legislative reform; industry partnerships and intelligence; forest industries; and communications and engagement.

A respected and driven government leader, Jo has extensive skills in strategy development, international relations, organisational performance and reform, communications and engagement and positioning government agency effort to best deliver strategic policy outcomes.

Jo led the development of a Food, Wine and Agribusiness Growth State Plan to grow the sector to $23 billion by 2030; secured South Australia's membership to the Great Wine Capitals Global Network; spearheaded the Fight for the Murray campaign, a cornerstone of the state’s ultimately successful strategy to secure an extra 450 gigalitres of water; and led the communications and engagement underpinning Water for Good - SA’s plan to ensure water security to 2050 and beyond.

She has held leadership positions with the Department of Environment, Water and Natural Resources (DEWNR), the Premier’s Murray-Darling Basin Taskforce, the Department for Water and SA Health.

Jo has also served as a Board Director for the South Australian Tourism Commission, Goyder Institute for Water Research, Local Advisory Board for Economic Growth on Kangaroo Island, and was elected Vice President of the Great Wine Capitals Global Network.

Gavin Begg

Executive Director, Fisheries and Aquaculture

Professor Gavin Begg was appointed Executive Director, Fisheries and Aquaculture Division in November 2020, to oversee the delivery of legislative and regulatory outcomes to grow the commercial, recreational and Indigenous fishing and aquaculture industries and opportunities in South Australia.

Professor Begg is responsible for the collaboration with industry, other government departments and other divisions within PIRSA, such as the South Australian Research and Development Institute (SARDI), Agriculture, Food and wine, Rural Solutions SA and Biosecurity SA to deliver a range of fisheries and aquaculture related services.

He brings with him more than 20 years’ experience in research, policy, scientific management and leadership advice in the fisheries sector.

Prior to joining the Division, Professor Begg was Research Director at SARDI, and also worked in the Commonwealth Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry and the Australian Fisheries Management Authority in Canberra, the CRC Reef Research Centre at James Cook University Townsville, the Marine Research Institute Iceland, and the National Marine Fisheries Service USA.

Professor Begg has completed a Doctor of Philosophy at the University of Queensland, as well as a Bachelor of Science at the University of New South Wales.

Nathan Rhodes

Executive Director, Biosecurity

As Executive Director of Biosecurity, Nathan is responsible for leading and ensuring the efficient and coordinated delivery of South Australia's biosecurity policy, strategies, legislation, procedures and activities.

Biosecurity's priorities include ensuring market access for producers and protecting and improving South Australia's economic, environmental and social assets and public health.

Appointed to the role in August 2019, Nathan has wide-ranging experience in biosecurity regulation, policy development, operational service delivery, leading remote teams, and working collaboratively with a wide range of stakeholders from national policy makers to industry. He brings a wealth of experience in policy development including across international fisheries, trade and market access, food security, agricultural productivity, and research and development.

More than 14 years with the Australian Government Department of Agriculture included senior roles with biosecurity operations of the department, in import regulation and export certification. As Director of the Inspection, Audit and Assessment groups of the Commonwealth’s Biosecurity Operations Division, Nathan was responsible for the regulation of all international imports in South Australia and the Northern Territory, including air and sea passengers, cargo and shipping.

Nathan holds a Bachelor of Arts and an Honours degree in Marine Science from Flinders University, and formal qualifications in government management.

Hannah Brown

Acting Executive Director, SARDI

Hannah is an Adelaide born and educated, internationally trained, executive leader in the research, development and innovation sector. She is the Executive Director of the South Australian Research and Development Institute (SARDI), the research organisation based in the Department of Primary Industries and Regions in South Australian Government. She previously led Strategy, Innovation and Operations at the Victorian Heart Institute (VHI), in Melbourne, Australia.

Having trained and worked as an academic, she now enjoys the challenge of sitting at interface between science and the rest of society, helping to turn ideas into impact through relationships, partnership and deals with industry, end-users, and key stakeholders. A key part of her role is to remove and break down barriers which would otherwise prevent turning new knowledge into action.

She believes in the power of storytelling, and that creating clear and consistent narrative, engaging broadly with consumers, and embracing authenticity, integrity and humour are the keys to effective communication, and relationship building.

Over several years, Hannah has consulted on a range of projects in the communications, research and business strategy, and diversity, equity and inclusion fields and is currently a Board Director for Women in STEMM Australia.