Biosecurity leader Michael Moerkerk, and Global Victoria Market engagement manager for India and the Middle East Brian Kearns, both recently celebrated 30 years working at the GIP.

Mr Moerkerk is considered one of Victoria’s leading weed and weed identification specialists.

He has worked as a weeds agronomist, weeds and pasture agronomist and leading biosecurity officer during his career, and is regularly sought out by farmers and agronomists to identify weeds and other plant species.

He has also co-authored several weed identification books, including More Crop Weeds and Weeds - The Ute Guide.

On top of that, he has developed practical solutions for weed management, focusing on the emerging pulse and oilseeds industries, and difficult-to-control weeds in the Wimmera such as bedstraw and bifora.

Mr Moerkerk said he had experienced many highlights during his career at the GIP.

“For me, the highlight has been sharing my knowledge on weed identification with the farming community through developing ‘seedling weed identification’ and ‘integrated weed management’ workshops for farmers,” he said.

“It’s working with a diverse group of people and colleagues that makes it rewarding to come to work every day.”

Mr Kearns has spent his career showing the world what the Wimmera has to offer. He started his career at the GIP in 1989 as a Field Crops Extension Officer.

From there, he increasingly focused on international agri-food product markets and was a part of Victoria’s first major agricultural trade mission to Indonesia in 1996. The visit had a lasting impact on his life and career.

“Trade missions are crucial to connect Victoria’s exporting companies to growing markets in the Middle East and Asia,” he said.

Mr Kearns has assisted Victorian food and beverage producers access overseas markets, leading trade missions to the Middle East and India.

He also played a large part in extending crop gross margin information to farmers – much of which is still used today.

Other GIP staff members who have amassed 30 or more years’ service include Graham Exell, Russel Argall, Jayne Wilson and Dennis Ward. 

GIP site leader Traci Griffin congratulated Mr Moerkerk and Mr Kearns on their contribution over three decades.

“We are proud of the expertise and experience of our staff here in Horsham. Their work on agricultural research, development and extension is having an important impact on the local community, as well as taking the best of Victoria to the world,” she said.