They know their banana plants but what do you know about them?
Our team of Australian banana researchers working on industry funded research and development span across several government departments, universities and organisations throughout Australia.
Collectively they have over 400 years’ experience in banana research!
Over time, we aim to introduce you to our researchers and give you some insight into the work that they do as well as some fun facts about each of them.
Sharan Muthukumar
The potential of banana diversity is what fascinates Sharan
Sharan is a Technical Officer working at the Department of Primary Industries (DPI), South Johnstone. Born in a town called Mettupalayam in southern India, Sharan moved to Australia to pursue his Master’s in Agricultural Science (Horticulture) at UQ Gatton campus. He has been working with DPI since September last year (2023). His primary research areas include the agronomic evaluation of new TR4 resistant Cavendish varieties and Race 1 resistant Lady Finger-like varieties. He’s also responsible for the maintenance of the Australian field collection of banana varieties at South Johnstone, which is a significant undertaking to ensure that the collection remains available for future research.
Sharan Muthukumar
Technical Officer
Department of Primary Industries
Centre for Wet Tropics Agriculture
South Johnstone
Sharan is passionate about working with different banana varieties and learning how to identify them. He finds the diversity of bananas fascinating and believes that exploring their genetic intricacies could reveal potential solutions to emerging challenges. One of the most exciting aspects of Sharan’s work is taste-testing different varieties, which allows him to experience firsthand the diverse flavours and textures they offer. In his free time, Sharan enjoys listening to music and going bushwalking. He’s excited to be a part of DPI and being able to make a positive contribution to the Australian Banana Industry.
Our banana researchers
Jeff Daniells
Principal Horticulturist
Department of Primary Industries
Centre for Wet Tropics Agriculture
South Johnstone
Profile
Richard Piper
Entomologist
Department of Primary Industries
Centre for Wet Tropics Agriculture
South Johnstone
Profile
Wayne O’Neill
Plant Pathologist
Department of Primary Industries
Ecosciences Precinct
Brisbane
Kathy Crew
Plant Pathologist (Virology)
Department of Primary Industries
Ecosciences Precinct
Brisbane
Tegan Cavallaro
Senior Development Horticulturist
Department of Primary Industries
Centre for Wet Tropics Agriculture
South Johnstone
Profile
Kathy Grice
Senior Experimentalist (Plant Pathology)
Department of Primary Industries
Mareeba Research Facility
Mareeba
Profile
David East
Plant Pathologist
Department of Primary Industries
Centre for Wet Tropics Agriculture
South Johnstone
Profile
Tony Pattison
Principal Nematologist
Department of Primary Industries
Centre for Wet Tropics Agriculture
South Johnstone
Hazel Gaza
Soil Ecologist
Department of Primary Industries
Centre for Wet Tropics Agriculture
South Johnstone
Profile
Katie Robertson
Research Horticulturist
Department of Primary Industries
Centre for Wet Tropics Agriculture
South Johnstone
Profile
Stewart Lindsay
Team Leader – Banana Production Systems
Department of Primary Industries
Centre for Wet Tropics Agriculture
South Johnstone
Sharan Muthukumar
Technical Officer
Department of Primary Industries
Centre for Wet Tropics Agriculture
South Johnstone
Profile
Carole Wright
Senior Biometrician
Department of Primary Industries
Mareeba Research Facility
Mareeba
Profile
Ingrid Jenkins
Senior Horticulturist
Department of Primary Industries
Centre for Wet Tropics Agriculture
South Johnstone
Steven Norman
Sub-Tropical Horticulture Development Officer
NSW Department of Primary Industries
Wollongbar Primary Industries Institute
Wollongbar
Profile
Sarah Williams
Development Horticulturalist
Department of Primary Industries
Centre for Wet Tropics Agriculture
South Johnstone
Profile
Daniel Farrell
Technical Officer
Department of Primary Industries
Centre for Wet Tropics Agriculture
South Johnstone
Profile
Nandita Pathania
Plant Pathologist (Bacteriologist)
Department of Primary Industries
Mareeba Research Facility
Mareeba
Jennifer Cobon
Principal Experimentalist
Department of Primary Industries
Ecosciences Precinct
Brisbane
R&D organisations working with the Australian banana industry
