FAR chief stunned, can't believe she is now a Dame

It’s been a special King’s Birthday royal honours list moment for the arable sector with a familiar face becoming a dame.

She’s chief executive of the Foundation for Arable Research (FAR), Dr Alison Stewart, who is one of three to receive a DNZM in the King’s Honours list unveiled yesterday.

The other dames were Auckland’s Ranjna Patel for services to ethnic communities, health and family violence protection and Masterton’s Catriona Ruth Williams for services to spinal cord injury research and equestrian sport.

The three new DNZM and three KNZMs received the country’s third most senior honour, which means they can use the title Dame or Sir And for Dame Alison, a veteran plant scientist, she admitted it felt surreal to be on a list that saw 188 New Zealanders recognised for excellence in their fields.

“I’m probably suffering a little bit from imposter syndrome, and I’m not 100% sure I really believe it’s happening,” said Dame Alison, who is internationally respected for her work on the biocontrol of plant pests and diseases.

She pioneered the implementation of sustainable farming practices that can improve crop yields and quality while minimising environmental impacts.

Locally, she has been with FAR, and its Mid Canterbury farmers, for seven years as chief executive but will step down from the role at the end of June.

Originally from Glasgow, Scotland, she moved to New Zealand in 1994 to work in universities, first at the University of Auckland and then Lincoln.

After a stint with a biotech company in California, she returned to work in forestry

before becoming FAR’s chief executive.

“A lot of other organisations have watched [FAR], seen that it’s progressing well and started similar ventures.”

She said it was something special to be recognised as a plant scientist in a diverse agriculture sector.

“Plant scientists don’t usually get these types of honours.

The livestock sector trends to be the high-profile sector in the agricultural space in New Zealand.

“Having the little arable sector recognised, and plant scientists FAR chief stunned, can't believe she is now a Damebeing recognised, that’s what I really like about this.”

Dame Alison was also made a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit in 2009 for her contributions to biology and plant pathology.

But she felt her new honour belonged to the arable sector as much as it belonged to her.

“I’ve been a plant scientist for more than 40 years.

“In the science space, even in the agricultural crop production space, you don’t achieve anything without having lots of support and help along the way.”

The award list citation said she had been “instrumental” in promoting the arable sector as part of FAR.

“[She] has strongly advocated to government and the public on the importance and value of plant production systems in New Zealand.

“She is a great proponent of cross sector engagement, fostering collaboration between researchers, growers, government and industry stakeholders for continuous improvement.

by Anisha Satya