Michael Thomson
Communications & Stakeholder Engagement
School of Health, Medical and Applied Sciences
- m.thomson@cqu.edu.au
- ORCID: 0000-0003-1868-6867
- (07) 4930 6884
- 0408 819 666 Mobile Phone
-
Rockhampton North
Building 361 - G.20
CQIRP
About Me
Michael Thomson provides communications and stakeholder engagement support for the researchers within the Department of Agriculture, Science and Environment.
He has a research interest in supporting new methods of extending innovation and encouraging adoption of new technologies by the community, in particular the use of creative non-fiction storytelling to motivate a willingness to change behaviour.
General
Background
Universities Studied At
University of Queensland (1995-98) - B.A. (double major in journalism, minor in English Literature)
Awards
2006 - McKillop Prize for Rural Reporting from the NSW Farmers' Association, for coverage of the AWB Oil for Food scandal.
2005 - Finalist in the Eureka Awards for science reporting.
2004 - Rural Press Journalist of the Year.
2003 - Qld Media Award for Excellence in Rural Journalism from the Media, Entertainment and Arts Alliance, for coverage of the Qld land clearing debate.
Previous teaching
RHD communications training - two-day workshops for postgraduate scholars sponsored by Australia's red meat R&D corporations.
Professional Memberships
Rockhampton Golf Club Committee 2018 to present.
Professional Interests
2015 - Advanced Facilitation training
2014 - Certified in the use of Advanced Google Analytics
1995 - AMEB - 6th Grade Speech and Drama
1990 - AMEB - 5th Grade Theory of Music
Industry Reports
Lead editor and contributing author to the 2019 publication, 'Concept to Impact - The story of the Sheep CRC 2001-2019'.
Editor
2007-10 National Online Editor, FarmOnline network, Rural Press / Fairfax Agricultural Media
Consultancy Work
2010-15 Senior Consultant, Cox + Inall Communications, Australia's leading public relations firm specialising in agribusiness issues.
Recent Research Projects
Australian Sesame Program of Research (PRO-016365)
Grant: Competitive Grant (Category 1: Aust Competitive Grant)
Funding Schemes: AgriFutures Australia - Request for Quote - Australian sesame industry five-year program of research
Total Funding: $2,000,000.00
Integrating AgriTech into beef cattle enterprises to improve drought resilience
Grant: Contract Research (Category 2: Other Public Sector)
Funding Schemes: Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment (Cwth), Agricultural Innovation Hubs Program through James Cook University (JCU)
Total Funding: $123,989.00
Great Northern Spices (A.2.2122016)
Grant: Competitive Grant (Category 4: CRC)
Funding Schemes: CRC Developing Northern Australia
Total Funding: $2,525,000.00
Decide and thrive. Innovative and regionally-relevant livestock ranking strategies that secure the business into, during and out of drought, and preserve and improve natural capital in agricultural landscapes (C22/419)
Grant: Competitive Grant (Category 2: Other Public Sector)
Funding Schemes: Future Drought Fund Drought Resilience Innovation Grant - through University of New England
Total Funding: $920,000.00
Innovating communications for accelerated growth in emerging industries (PRO-015966)
Grant: Competitive Grant (Category 1: Aust Competitive Grant)
Funding Schemes: Agrifutures RFQ Emerging Industries Extension and Adoption Coordinator
Total Funding: $434,941.00
Grain and Graze: Dual purpose peanuts for Northern Australia (A.2.2021083)
Grant: Competitive Grant (Category 4: CRC)
Funding Schemes: CRC Developing Northern Australia 2020/21 Funding Call
Total Funding: $916,719.00
Increasing uptake of performance-recording genetics through automated livestock management systems (Phase 2) (P.PSH.1186)
Grant: Competitive Grant (Category 3: Industry and Other)
Funding Schemes: Meat & Livestock Australia Donor Company MLA-DC
Total Funding: $3,634,138.00
Automated livestock management technologies for Argentinean production systems (GIL 73665)
Grant: Competitive Grant (Category 2: Other Public Sector)
Funding Schemes: Department of Innovation, Industry & Science - Global Innovation Linkages Round 2
Total Funding: $751,514.00
Stories of Success: Case studies of Women Farmers in PNG. (Report women's experience of village based extension approaches in PNG TADEP program (C0020907))
Grant: Contract Research (Category 2: Other Public Sector)
Funding Schemes: Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research
Total Funding: $72,000.00
Automatic Weighing System Product(s) Implementation and Discovery prior to Commercialisation
Grant: Contract Research (Category 3: Industry and Other)
Funding Schemes: Contract Research - Gallagher Group Limited - Automatic Weighing System Discovery 2021/2022
Total Funding: $120,000.00
Long term site development to investigate the environmental benefits of riparian fencing on grazing properties
Grant: Contract Research (Category 3: Industry and Other)
Funding Schemes: Fitzroy Basin Association
Total Funding: $9,333.00
Research Interests
Agriculture, Land and Farm Management - Farm Management, Rural Management and Agribusiness
