Professor Michael Friend was appointed to the position of Acting PVC, (Research and Innovation) in May 2019 following a secondment in this position since October 2018 and after also briefly serving in this role between July-September 2017. Michael has extensive international experience, having undertaken research in the UK and USA, and collaborated with researchers and educators from across the globe.  Michael is passionate about strengthening the University’s existing partnerships in education and research, and developing new partnerships.

Michael is a highly experienced researcher, having secured in excess of $10m in external grant income as Principal Investigator.  He has led several national programs and projects, spanning fields of animal nutrition, farming systems research and participatory action research.  He is a highly experienced research leader, having led the Future Farm Industries CRC New Livestock Systems Program between 2010-14, and more recently as Director of the University’s largest research Centre, the Graham Centre for Agricultural Innovation between 2015-18.

As CRC Program Leader, Michael oversaw the ‘EverGraze’ project, which was a finalist in the Sustainable Agriculture category for the Eureka Prizes in 2014, while the ‘Enrich’ project within the New Livestock Systems Program was the winner in the category in 2013.  As Director of the Graham Centre, Michael developed the Centre’s new Strategic Plan, restructured the Centre, and oversaw record growth in external income.  Michael has over 100 refereed publications, and has supervised more than 15 PhD and MPhil students, and numerous Honours students.

Michael has over 20 years of university teaching experience , having taught animal science subjects at both Charles Sturt University and University of Tasmania.  He has held various leadership positions in teaching, including as Chair of Learning and Teaching Committees and Discipline Leader.