Jillian Walsh
Laos

Jillian will spend a year in Vientiane working with as a Plant Pathologist working alongside other scientists at the Lao PDR Department of Agriculture Plant Protection Centre (PPC). She will also be working in conjunction with the Australian Partner Organisation UniQuest Pty Ltd.

Jillian will support the PPC in building plant pest and disease diagnostic capacity by assisting in field surveys, pest and disease diagnosis and the development of a pathology pest collection in order to enhance Laos’ capability to trade in agricultural commodities.

Jillian holds a Bachelor of Environmental Science with Honours from the University of Wollongong and a PhD in Plant Pathology from the University of Sydney. She developed an interest in agricultural capacity building projects during her PhD candidature where she worked with scientists from Vietnam, Indonesia, Bangladesh and Kenya.

Since gaining her PhD, Jillian has been working at the Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service. Through this experience she has developed an appreciation of the importance of knowledge of plant health status in order to meet the quarantine restrictions imposed on world trade of agricultural commodities.

While she has travelled through America and Europe, this will be her first extended trip to Asia. She looks forward to working with the scientists at the PPC and further developing her plant disease diagnostic skills, as well as immersing herself in the Lao culture.