GIWA Team

Ian Longson is currently providing project coordinator support to GIWA. Prior to June 2009 he was on the Executive team of the Department of Agriculture from 1995 to 2004, finishing up as Director General of the Western Australian Department of Agriculture and Food (DAFWA) for five years from 2004 to 2009.

Prior to joining DAFWA (now Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development DPIRD), Ian was senior consultant and manager of the Perth Office of ACIL Consulting (now ACIL Tasman) and has also worked for the Dairy Industry Authority of Western Australia, the Asian Development Bank and early in his career as an extension adviser with the Western Australian Department of Agriculture in the South West.

Ian holds a bachelor degree in Agricultural Science from the University of Western Australia and a masters degree in agricultural marketing from the University of Guelph in Canada.

Rachel Nash joined GIWA in November 2015 with over 15 years’ experience in marketing, events and communications. Having spent 12 years at a mid-tier accounting firm, Rachel completed a BA (Marketing, Advertising and Public Relations) in 2013 then spent two years with Fortescue Metals Group, including living and working in the Pilbara for a year.

Rachel has worked as a freelance consultant with a range of different industries and has extensive experience organising events, marketing and communications solutions for a wide range of audiences.

Deborah is a skilled events, marketing, and communications specialist with 17-years’ experience, including more than a decade within the Australian agricultural industry. With a Bachelor of Commerce in Marketing and Commercial Law from Curtin University, Deborah has worked on a variety of projects with industry stakeholders such as the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, CBH Group, Australian Export Grains Innovation Centre, Murdoch University, AgriFutures Australia and Kondinin Group. 

Deborah joined GIWA towards the end of 2022 after providing professional project support to the team since 2014 through her independent consultancy.