Announcing the appointment after the Pork CRC’s annual general meeting in Canberra, Board Chairman, Dr John Keniry, said Ms Adams would bring significant skills and experience to the Board, especially in the areas of intellectual property management, sustainable business management, change management and corporate governance.

"Nigel made an outstanding contribution, in particular by bringing a sharp business perspective to Board discussions and his commitment to the Pork CRC and the wider pork industry over decades needs to be noted and remembered," Dr Keniry said.

Ms Adams held senior executive positions in government agencies and business enterprises, including as CEO of two Research and Development Corporations, after beginning her professional career as a bacteriologist.

She has been a Senior Researcher with the Australian Centre for Intellectual Property in Agriculture at Griffith University, Queensland, Director of the Queensland Horticulture Institute, inaugural registrar of Plant Breeders’ Rights in Australia and an Executive Director with Queensland Environmental Protection Agency.

Her non-executive directorships have included Food Science Australia, Plant Health Australia, Safe Food Production Queensland, R&D Corporations and Co-operative Research Centres,

Retiring Directors re-nominated and re-elected to the Board of the Pork CRC at the 2011 AGM were Professor Robert van Barneveld, Mr Sam McIvor and Mr Rod Hamann.

Other Board members include Dr Keniry, Mr Brian Halstead, Professor Simon Maddocks, Professor John Pluske, Dr Hugh Wirth, Mr Kenton Shaw and Mr Andrew Spencer.