DataGene CEO receives breeding Fellowship
Outgoing DataGene Chief Executive Officer Dr Matthew Shaffer has been awarded a Fellowship of Australia and New Zealand’s peak body for animal breeding and genetics.
Dr Shaffer was last week elected as a Fellow of the Australasian Association for the Advancement of Animal Breeding and Genetics (AAABG) for his outstanding contributions to the genetic and herd improvement industries in Australia.
The Fellowship was announced during AAABG’s 26th annual conference in New Zealand. AAABG is a professional organisation focused on the science of animal breeding and genetics, particularly in livestock and aquaculture, in Australia and New Zealand.
AAABG Fellowships are presented to people who have rendered eminent service to animal breeding in Australia and/or New Zealand or elsewhere in the world.
Dr Matt Shaffer has been awarded a Fellowship of Australia and New Zealand’s peak body for animal breeding and genetics.
Dr Shaffer, DataGene’s CEO since its formation in 2016, will take on the role of Dairy Australia Chief Executive Officer from July 16. His Fellowship citation says he led the transformational change from the former Australian Dairy Herd Improvement Scheme to a contemporary organisation with broad industry support.
“The successful delivery of DataGene, and its programs, is one of his greatest professional achievements,” it states.
“The Australian dairy herd improvement industry has been heavily influenced by Matt’s leadership over the past two decades. His breadth of experience, networks and focus on delivering for farmers has benefited research and industry organisations and led to ground-breaking initiatives.”
He played an instrumental role in establishing the Herd Improvement Industry Strategic Steering Committee, developing Ginfo – the national reference herd of genomic information, modernising the centralised data repository and genetic evaluation system, ImProving Herds, and the rapid acceleration of genetic gain towards an agreed national breeding objective.
“Matt is respected by his peers in Australia and overseas for the way he works with people to listen, promote diversity and find common ground, especially when the issues are complicated,” the citation states.
His significant influence has stretched beyond Australia as a past chair of the Interbull steering committee (a standing committee of the International Centre for Animal Recording) where he was a founding innovator of the International Dairy Data Exchange Network, and as a past president of the World Holstein-Friesian Federation.
“He has been generous with his commitment to global-scale collaboration to advance dairy genetics and is very highly respected across the world for his contribution to the genetics and herd improvement sectors,” the citation states.
For more information contact: DataGene 1800 841 848 or enquiries@datagene.com.au or www.datagene.com.au.
DataGene is an initiative of Dairy Australia and the herd improvement industry.